We caught up with Bo Bruce ahead of her appearance at The Great Escape.
Your new album has been in the top 40, how proud are you of the album?
It went in at number 10 it was an amazing day, I feel very proud mainly because, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to make that record. I did and it’s been received so well which is all I really wanted. I will now be able to take that and tour with it, and meet some of the people that made it all happen. It’s going to be amazing and I just can’t wait to get on the road.
You’re playing a lot of festivals this year how did you decide which ones to play at?
There’s a team helping me and its really important for to me to be playing small gigs and small venues. When you play a Festival there’s the lights and the cameras and the huge stages and an idea that its all sparkles. I needed it to be a bit more organic, the route that I would have taken had I not diverted and gone on The Voice. I wanted to be able to meet some of the people I wanted to look some of the audience in the eye and them not be so far away because the connection is what really matters to me so yeah we thought very carefully about where I would play and why.
You’re at Great Escape On Friday the 17th May will this be a dress rehearsal for what we will see on your tour?
We’re playing in a small venue and it’s going to be a very short set but, everything we do as a band feels like a rehearsal. We are all so excited about the tour itself. We will give it our all but it’s going to be the first official thing we’ve done so yes a rehersal for the tour, we’re really looking forward to it.
Have you been to many festivals?
Yeah loads I’m a big festival goer.
Who have you seen at a Festival who’s set has inspired you?
Everyone and everything is a big inspiration to me at the moment, any time I see anyone doing anything on stage whether they’re reading a poem or singing, so much goes on in the brain. When you’re standing in front of a crowd like that and I’m still learning, I get stage fright it’s a sort of weird thing for me to do. To get up in front of all those people, but you know live music is what it’s really all about so I want to give that back and get out there and do it.
Will your festival set be different from your tour set?
Yes I think so, particularly with my album, there’s a few songs that are pretty low fi, down tempo and emotional which isn’t always right in the middle of a sunny field. So I think we will focus on more of the upbeat tunes at the festivals. Testing the vibe and judging the crowd, finding what people really want to hear.
How important is Facebook, Twitter and in general Social media for you to engage with your fans?
It’s hugely important. I love to be able to interact with my fans, when the album came out I asked them what their favourite track was. I know what I’m most drawn to on that album, but I wanted to see it through other people eyes.
They replied and I made a little graph of what was the most popular. It’s really cool to just let them know how I am and thank them, mainly thank them as they’re such an integral part of me getting to where I am and so it’s cool having that communication.
You have a lot of talented co-writers and producers working on your album, how did you get them on board?
It just happened, I came off that show and planned to go down to the West Country and write my album in the middle of nowhere. As the days went past I had people saying “hey I’m so and so I’d really like to get involved and would you like to work with this person”.
It became a bit overwhelming because they were all people that I adored and felt honoured to be on the radar with. Then I thought you know that means you’re going to have an album with a lot for other people on it and is that what you want.
I figured at this stage working with those people would be is such an honour that there was no way I was going to say you know what I’m going to make a great record on my own. They wanted to get involved and they were really heroes of mine and so I thought this is what’s meant to happen.
Do you feel the mentoring you received from your coach Danny O’Donoghue and The Voice team gave you invaluable help or shaped and enhanced you as the performer you went into the competition as?
I would say the help and support I have had since the competition has helped. The boys from Snow Patrol and Henry, have been far more hands on and have really been a help. The show was an amazing platform for me but it’s just a moment, it’s not writing songs. It’s when you get up there and sing and go out on the road, it’s a whole different thing.
I was very grateful for the friendship with Danny and the support and the backing that he gave me but I would say the help that was invaluable came after that show.
You’re EP shot to number 2 on the itunes chart how was that?
That was a pretty mad night, I was watching Coldplay and they were at number 3 and I couldn’t get my head around it. That’s where I met my agent that night actually and the Snow Patrol guys it was a very strange night it all happened in this box watching Coldplay.
If you could do a duet with anyone who would it be?
Guy Garvey and he’s got the most astonishing voice in the world and I love him and would just adore to sing with him.
Anything in the pipeline?
There are a few exciting things that I’ve got to keep schtum about for now, it’s really focus on the tour. I’d tour forever if I could so if this one goes well there’ll be another one and another one and another one and then I’ll never have to go home.
For more details about Bo's tour and festival dates click here
