 | | | | INTERVIEW WITH JARLATH HENDERSON
BBC Folk and Acoustic cornered Jarlath for a quick chat before euphoria set in ...
BBC FOLK & ACOUSTIC:
We love the new haircut ... who did it?
JARLATH HENDERSON:
Oh great, thank you! It was done at James Taggart, he's a hairdresser where I live. It was a lady works for him, I think her name's Kiera. It's light and fluffy and spiky all at the same time! I got the colour out of it, which I didn't like ...
Have you enjoyed the experience?
Definitely. I've met so many people and the great thing is, it's extremely eclectic. Hearing people playing different instruments, totally different styles and backgrounds, it's got to be good for you - for your playing and your mind. Everybody's so into what they're doing. I've enjoyed it even more that I've won but had I not won, I still would have enjoyed the experience. I've said to a couple of people [that] I wouldn't mind not winning so I could enter next year and do it all over again! You meet so many people and have so much fun.
What was the semi-final like? It seemed like everyone was very supportive of each other.
That was unbelievable, being able to go up to the top corner of the audience and watch - you had a great view and were able to listen to everybody. Everybody really was behind everyone else. I came about six hours late but I was welcomed with open arms and I didn't feel like I didn't get to know everyone. Everybody bonded really well as a group and everybody got something out of everyone else's styles. Everyone did well, they're fantastic musicians.
What went through your mind when the decision was announced?
I honestly don't know ... My life did NOT flash before my eyes but things did seem to slow down. It was maybe the way she [Eliza Carthy] said it but I just thought, No, it's not my name ... I was totally dumbstruck - the opposition I was up against - not opposition in a bad way, but just knowing how good they are, you don't expect it to be you. I'm sure everyone else was in the same position - I was just the fortunate one on the night. On any other night it could have been anyone else.
Was there any other performer you particularly liked tonight or did you think everyone was equally good?
Everybody stands out in a different way. Arlen are very contemporary and they make a great sound. XYZ are a very modern sound, very lively, upbeat trad music; Tom Kitching is great at what he does - unbelievable European-style fiddler and interested in everything there is going. And when I first heard Jackie Oates, it was special, just listening to someone sing and play the fiddle at the same time was new to me. Emma Sweeney's great - I've heard her play at fleadhs before but I only really got to know her here - but again, top class fiddler, absolutely brilliant. So ... everyone, really.
What's your next move after this, after it's all sunk in?
I don't know ... I've a lot of school work to catch up on, to be honest! I really just want to go out and thank people, because I couldn't have done this alone. Everyone ... dead or alive, on LPs, CDs and tapes and in contact with me, has influenced me in some way ... so I suppose, really, just enjoy myself and keep learning. I'm in upper sixth in school so I'm filling in UCAS forms ... I was thinking a year out. I've applied to four medicine courses and to the folk course as well ... I really don't know, but no matter what I do I'm not stopping playing music so a year out's really quite tempting at the moment. We'll see what happens ...
| |  | |
| | | |
|
Young Folk Award 2003
