“Great LezBritian” is a fortnightly stroll through the very best of British lesbo-centric entertainment and culture. Plus there will be some jolly good interviews with the top ladies who are waving the flag for gay UK.
While the UK is not quite awash with out singer-songwriters and bands, over the last couple of years there has been a definite growing number of women with mics and guitars singing about their lady loves or at least saying “Yes I am.”
A lovely turn of events, we’d all agree, but while we salute the likes of Alison Goldfrapp, Jessie J, Heather Peace and Grey Matter, we will do a whole Royal Guard change in honour of Horse McDonald.
Horse released her critically acclaimed debut album The Same Sky with her band twenty years ago and since then has been hacking through the overgrown reeds of homophobia and misogyny in the music industry so that we can all follow behind admiring the landscaped gardens.
Currently working on her ninth studio album and getting ready to set out on an anniversary tour for The Same Sky, we caught up with Horse to talk about her early experiences in the industry, advice for younger musicians and her plans for the new album. AfterEllen.com: You’ve been out since the very beginning of your career — did that have to be a conscious decision?
Horse: I think growing up I was trying to figure out who I was and I always knew I rejected anything feminine, indeed I didn’t really want to be female and was very androgynous looking. My early years were very miserable — I was attacked and chased by gangs. So I moved to Glasgow and in my head I needed to escape and because I had been writing songs from an early age I worked really hard on that and with my band I got signed to Capitol.
AE: Because you didn’t look like your traditional pop star at that point how did the record label try and market you? H: They didn’t know what to do with me because at this point there was no k.d. lang so there was real difficulty there. I did feel quite uncomfortable in some of things they asked me to wear and I felt that they thought as me as a bit of a weird creature — so let’s try and market it as such. One of the routes they took was making some flyers at one of our first gigs which had the question, “Horse, what is it, a man or a woman?” I just had to file that away somewhere. We had some success but never quite broke it big time.
AE: How did you feel when k.d. lang did come along? H: For most people it was enlightening but for me it was quite frustrating because for the press and media she suddenly ticked a box. So because there was one like her, they didn’t need to try with us anymore. Which I think is also quite disrespectful to her. It still frustrates me when I am compared to her because I am really nothing like her.
AE: What do you think of the situation now in the music industry with artists such as Alison Goldfrapp coming out? H: It makes my stomach turn to think of how it was back then. It is obviously better now that there really isn’t such a big deal made of it, though there are still not a lot of artists that are out. But I feel that no matter what I will always be asked about my sexuality first and I have to work really hard for people to talk to me about my music.
AE: The music industry needs a trailblazer like you though to stand and represent the “lesbian” — much like Sandi Toksvig does in the entertainment industry — albeit that’s not ideal for you … H: I don’t want to be negative but I think when I am not here anymore then people will look back and think that I did a good job. I do get a lot of letters from woman coming out who tell me I have been really important to them and the music has meant so much. It’s the strangest thing to know that my music has supported people.
When Sophie Ward came out I sent her a message telling her that it is lonely place but that I was so grateful that she did come out. It is important for people in all sorts of professions to be out and for people to realise we’re just living our lives. For instance my music isn’t songs just for lesbians, it appeals to everyone.
AE: There aren’t that many young people in the entertainment industry that are under 30 and out – do you see that as a problem? H: Yes, I do because people need examples of people that are like themselves. I am horrified by the attention that is paid to Lady Gaga.When Lady Gaga brings out a single called Born This Way I don’t really think she is making any brave statements.
I think it is easy to make that statement but harder to be like an Alison Goldfrapp and actually act on it. I think you can be defined by the relationship you are in.
AE: If you were able to go back twenty years and agree to compromise your androgyny and just do exactly what the record label said and it would mean you achieved commercial success, would you do that? H: What I would have changed is not to be so protective and to do more interviews. I think I would have tried a few different things but I flinch at the thought of actually being molded. I will say that I have more passion now than I did at the beginning and I absolutely love what I do now more than ever.
I am working on my ninth studio album but if I had the success I so wanted all those years ago, I wonder if I still would be so hungry and I wonder if I would write as much?
AE: What can we expect from the new album? H: The inspiration for my songs are universal themes of passion, loss, greed and lust so I think everyone can relate to them and my melodies are always rich and mostly up-tempo but lyrically quite dark much like Leonard Cohen. A lot of people are spoon-fed music and just listen to what’s on the radio and record labels tend to find artists that fit into a box, have a spark and polish them like a diamond so that the original interesting thing that it was about them gets smoothed away. I just love one of the new tracks I am working on which will be called “Ghost.”
AE: You are signed to your own record label, Randan. Do you see that as advantage as you obviously have complete control? H: The only plus side of being signed to a major record label is the money. However, they then own the records and they can then just sit with no promotion behind them. So I am now in complete creative control of what happens, work with whom I want and now I wouldn’t want a major record deal.
It has taken years for me to shake off this stern image I was given and now I don’t even think about how I am going to market myself because I am confident as a singer and finally comfortable in my own skin.
AE: Would you ever look to sign other people to Randan? H: I would love to do that. I have seen so much live music lately, more than I ever have and saw Janelle Monae and I thought she was stunning but only performed for an hour. I think the most impressive artists are those that can command your attention for over an hour and half just by singing. I saw Saint Saviour who was a cross between Marcella Detroit (Shakespear’s Sister) with Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons) and the child was called Kate Bush. Absolutely amazing.
AE: What do you think of lesbian festivals like L-Beach and GOGO? H: I think in Europe there is certainly a demand and L-Beach is absolutely massive. In the UK, I really hope Gogo can continue to grow. It’s a great festival but we would need more out musicians to play it every year.
AE: Finally, what advice would you give a new artist coming onto the music scene? H: I would say get really good at what you do and be the best at what you can do and really just write a great song. It will then come to you and always be yourself. Even if you are not sure what that is, take the time to find out. Also enjoy what you are doing because when you live in that moment it is amazing. I opened for Tina Turner in the 1990’s and was too cautious about getting every note so didn’t actually enjoy it.
You can buy Horse’s albums and check out her tour dates at www.randan.org. She will also perform at L Beach in Hamburg in April and The GoGo Festival on Sunday 19th June. Follow her on Twitter at @horsemusic.
“Great LezBritain” authors Sarah, a Londoner, and Lee, a Glaswegian, met in a gay discotheque one bleak mid winter, eight years ago and have been shacked up together ever since. When not watching Tipping The Velvet, they find time to write, run a PR company, DJ at their own club nights and love a bit of jam on toast. Follow them on Twitter at greatlezbritain.
