“everything still worries me” is the debut album from Abbie Ozard. It is at heart “a celebration of friendships, family and relationships, all the while presenting an underlying sense of uncertainty”. When I had the opportunity to ask Abbie questions about the album I knew I had to try and ask as many questions about the creative process, the meanings behind certain songs and more importantly not only what the album means to her but what she hopes it means for fans.
Beth Ray: Hi Abbie, how are you feeling now the album release is only weeks away?
Abbie: Nervous, but excited. It sounds like a really boring answer but it’s true.
BR: There are lots of different themes across the whole album. What sort of messages did you want to convey?
A: I think there are a lot of messages throughout the whole entire album. It’s very much a reflection of being in your twenties and there are a lot of different things going on. There are a lot of changes, transitions, a lot of things going wrong. So it’s kind of like a mismatch of all those themes but at the same time I like to think of it as a celebration of life.
BR: As so many songs on the album are very self-reflecting and honest, how do you find writing such honest and at times vulnerable lyrics?
A: Quite easy to be fair because I was in a very comfortable environment when I wrote it with friends and stuff so it was easy for me. Looking back it’s weird because I wrote it a year ago now so I’ve one hundred percent moved on and I’ve changed so much already in a year so it’s weird to have an album out. I feel totally different now but at least that’s kind of cemented and it’s in one place so I can be like on to the next.
BR: Many of your songs such as “how you’re holding up?” and “I miss when we were just friends” tell a story throughout the song, is that how you intended for them to be?
A: Yeah one hundred percent. I think a lot of the time I naturally gravitate to storytelling in lyrics anyway, because you’ve got the beginning, middle and the end. It seems more colloquial and easy and like a conversation. I really enjoy storytelling it just comes straight away.
BR: “how are you holding up?” reminded me of many nights out in my early twenties, was there a particular night this song was about or just a collection?
A: Erm probably a collection. I’m trying to think [Pauses] Probably about uni really.
BR: Was there a Jane? (In the song “how are you holding up?” the lyrics state “and Jane asks “how are you holding up?”)
A: Jane is actually a colleague of mine at work at the cafe. She’s very much like a motherly figure and when I come in and say “I’ve got this going on and this going on” she’s like ‘I’ll come and check in”.
BR: Does she know she features in the song?
A:[laughing] No she doesn’t actually! I haven’t told her. She’s like a motherly work figure.
BR: What was your first and last track you recorded?
A: That’s a really good question. I think one of the first tracks was “monsters” and then “the window”. [Changes mind] No actually it was “party 4 1”, that was written in lockdown. We’ve been sat on it for ages and I’ve always just loved it and all my friends love it as well. They were like “when is party 4 1 coming out?” so I was like “yeah I’m going to put it on the album”. So we’ve been through five different versions of that. I’m really happy with the one we’ve got now. I think the last one was “think for yourself” so I think it’s actually in order [of the album track list].
BR: The latest single “Miss American Dream” featuring Pixey has a really fun music video, what can you tell us about it?
A: Well I was driving on the motorway and I saw this pink church in the corner of my eye and I was like “What is that?”. I texted Chaz, who I do all the videos and photographs with, she’s like my creative soulmate and I was like “Oh my god did you know there was a pink church in Sandbach?”. So we went and thought this is unreal, so we did the album shoot and then we didn’t know what it looked like inside until we were doing [it]. We said this is ridiculous, it just looks something like out of.. I dunno it’s really American. It just worked perfectly. The day was unreal, just 15 girls frolicking around in this pink church it was a dream.
BR: You’re going on tour in November, what can fans expect from the tour?
A: Lots of fun, I feel like our set has gotten so much better. We have all improved so much after doing support tours and festivals so we are just buzzing to have some fun and show everyone the songs.
BR: Which songs are you most excited to play live from the new album?
A: Party 4 1. I know [for] my guitarist Jack that’s his favourite and “everything still worries me” is his favourite so we’re really excited to play that. We’re picturing flashing lights for “party 4 1” and “everything still worries me” I love playing that live. It feels very emotional.
BR: I’m also really excited for “night time” I hope that’s on the setlist. It’s really pop and upbeat.
A: Yes it’s a live song! I definitely wrote that with live in mind.
BR: Do you have any tour rituals?
A: Do you know what? No. I forget everything, I’m like yeah I’m going to have some food, then some water and then one beer before I go on but I just get really over stimulated and end up sat in a room panicking [laughs].
BR: I’ve seen in past interviews you’ve mentioned getting a meal deal, so I just wondered have you upgraded?
A: To be fair yeah we always get meal deals. We just kind of hang out in the green room really me, Jack and Luke. We just mess around. It’s kind of one of my favourite parts of touring really, just hanging out in the green room it’s my favourite. We definitely need to get some sort of ritual sorted as we always just get distracted and over stimulated.
BR: So for me I find “Everything still worries me” a musical companion for any young woman navigating uneasy relationships, worries of their future, social media and societal expectations but in a fun, indie-pop way. What do you hope for fans to get from it?
A: I love that. That’s bang on, that’s perfect. I think a soundtrack to my mid/early twenties and I hope it soundtracks girls and boys, everyone. Especially girls I think as there’s lots of lyrics in there that maybe the male man wouldn’t understand [giggles]. I hope it helps them and navigate it, I guess feel less alone.
I know I’m biased as I’ve already said on my socials how much I love Abbie’s music even before I heard this album but let me say it one more time. “everything still worries me” is SUCH an amazing debut album and we need to protect it at all costs, as we do with all of our new and upcoming indie artists that produce such great music. The album is such a great companion to anyone experiencing their twenties or for those (who are like me) having already passed that era, want to remember the nostalgia of the uncertainty and excitement of those times. At times the album is sad and pensive but then Abbie takes you to these fun, happy, exciting and romantic memories which may turn out to be a bit messy or where we might have our feelings hurt or maybe we’re doing the hurting to other people’s feelings. She tells stories that I’m sure most people can relate to on at least one track, if not a few, with such cool melodies, guitar sounds and her soft voice oozing into your headphones. Abbie features friends in the album, her best friend Max opens up the track “Party 4 1” with him checking in on her and work colleague Jane get’s a shoutout in “how are you holding up?”. Ozard has made sure the album tells a story and is like the best friend who reassures you It’s ok to fuck up and feel like shit because she does too sometimes. It has been created with playing it live in mind so make sure you check out her tour dates here in November. I’ve ordered my vinyl with my local record shop Applestump who are doing an in-store album signing with Abbie on the 27th of August. Those who pre-order the album with them have priority access so make sure you’re quick to RSVP and buy your vinyl! Let me know what you think of the interview below and who I should interview next!
Beth x
This interview was originally featured on Beth's blog, Beth Ray Writes. Read more of Beth's articles here: https://bethraywrites.com
Comments