IMOGEN GRIST

HAILS FROM EORA/SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES PLAYS SOLO (AS BABITHA)

SOUNDS LIKE SMOKE-SOAKED DIVE BAR FOLK LATEST DROP BRIGHTER SIDE OF BLUE (LP OUT NOW VIA SPUNK)

How did you first discover the guitar?

As a kid we used to go on a lot of camping trips with other families. One year, a boy my age brought along his guitar, and let’s just say I became quite enamoured. My mum uncovered her old Washburn acoustic and signed me up for some lessons with her former teacher. I learned a bunch of old folk and country songs, as well as some traditional Spanish numbers. I couldn’t sight-read so I’d just copy my teacher and play by ear, pretending to follow the sheet music. It wasn’t until my late teens and early 20s that I started to meet other musicians who couldn’t sight-read and just played intuitively, so I felt much more at home playing that way.

What’s your current go-to?

It’s a Hofner Verythin in metallic silver, which was a birthday present from my husband. I had been playing a hand-me-down Epiphone Dot for years and it was time for an upgrade. I bloody love the Hof, and I’ve since added a baby blue bass to the collection.

Who and/or what are your main influences?

I love music that evokes a certain place or time, and tones that pull you into a particular cinematic landscape. I tend to be drawn to songs that carry imperfections in them – whether it’s a warped recording, a guitar slightly out of tune, a snare that lags behind the beat, or vocals with a casual, indifferent quality. The work of Lou Reed and Townes Van Zandt spring to mind. In my own playing, I try to embrace the little quirks and mistakes that add character to a song.

Are you much of a gear nerd?

I prefer a simple setup when I’m writing so I don’t get carried away with production and making cool sounds – I’d rather focus on the song in its stripped-back state, then consider tones and effects later. On tour, I only carry a tuner, reverb and compression pedals – any more and I think I’d get too overwhelmed. I generally like to take the “less is more” approach. I have other hobbies that eat away at my bank balance, like film and photography, so there’s no way I could throw another obsession into the mix.

Do you have any ‘white whales’? Probably a white Gretsch Falcon from the ‘70s.

What would your signature model look like?

A cheap and cheerful 12-string Danelectro in glittery pink.

What advice would you give your past self? F*** the tabs!

If you could jam with any guitarist, dead or alive, who would it be? I would love to do a duet with Buffy Sainte-Marie.