Rebecca Downes
The Bonamassa-approved singer comes to a venue near you.
The Midlands-based singer continues her quest for the perfect balance between blues and hard rock.
The CD version of The Space Between Us, your latest and fourth studio album, begins with a needle dropping onto vinyl, followed by a crackly opening number Beccs Blues. It’s a nice, oldschool touch.
With blues you can get into the roots of appropriation, and that’s us saying: “It’s still there, folks, and this is us trying to take things forward.” I still prefer physical product to streaming, and thank god that rock audiences still want that.
The album presents a nice mix of tuneful blues and guitar-oriented hard rock, with some darker, atmospheric moments.
You’re talking about Not On My Knees with the moodiness. Somebody called that ‘apocalyptic’, which I really loved. It has a bit of a Nick Cave vibe. Let’s face it, the essence of blues and rock is not that jolly. But with this album I think we’ve found the best balance so far between those two styles. Its premise was raising a middle finger to lockdown and also to those naysayers who write: “Oh, she’s not blues, she’s rock.” I’ve a lot of influences.
Was there a crystalising moment that inspired you to immerse yourself in the blues?
The drummer I’m with now [Neil Ablard] and I were in a prog band first of all, but at thirteen I auditioned for a school group. As soon as they struck up, from the first note I felt that connection and it’s been there ever since. It [the blues] has weaved in and out of my life, but that was the starting point.
Tell us about Steve Birkett, your co-writer who plays guitar and many other instruments on the record.
Our paths crossed about twelve years ago. We’d both become worn out through similar experiences with the business, and getting together to jam reignited that love of music.
On the record there’s a remake of Free’s A Little Bit Of Love. Are you a big fan of Free?
As a singer how could I not be? Though compared to other classic songs by Free, that one is not as universally known. We recorded it because it’ll be a complete banger played live, and also for fitting the album, though we changed the key just a little.
Joe Bonamassa has given you his nod of approval, including you in a shortlist of female artists that confirm “the blues in the UK is most definitely in a very good place”.
That’s something Joe said three or four years ago, though I only became aware when I was interviewed by the person he said it to. When ‘the real Joe Bonamassa’ followed me on several social media platforms, I was blown away.
As a self-financed, independent artist, when it comes to touring what differences are you finding? Are things far tougher than they were two or three years back?
People buy tickets much later than they did. And I understand why. It’s so tough for the promoters who have to hold their nerve for as long as possible. Even the biggest shows are often only seventy per cent full. Covid has changed things for lots of people that simply don’t want to go to gigs any more.
The gods of music allow you to go on tour with an artist of your choice. Who would you choose?
I’ll pick one past and another present-day. I’d love to have gigged with Freddie Mercury-era Queen. Freddie will always be the best. And from the current era, I’ll go for Melissa Etheridge. She’s the unsung female Bruce Springsteen. Rebecca Downes is on tour throughout 2023.