Bex Marshall Talks New Album, Recording Sessions And More

British blues roots rock guitarist and vocalist Bex Marshall has released her latest album ‘Fortuna’ which is out now on Dixie Frog Records. We asked her about the new album, its recording sessions and more:

Your new album ‘Fortuna’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

First I felt confident that this was the right time to record the next record, although it had been sometime since the last one ! I was ready to commit to it, I had the songs and the time and it being in the same studio as the last recording process with some of the same players, I felt good about it, I guess it was a proven formula and I felt I had found the right people to work with then, who for many reasons I wanted to work with again, I have a free spirit when it comes to making music and there’s a fine line between running with things creatively and then just wasting time indulgently! So being in that environment worked for me. There’s always a certain amount pressure when the studio time is ticking and trying to nail things when recording and I think it is a good in a way to have a little time for freedom of creativity in the recording process. It works for me and I wanted to do that this time.

Where did you record it and who produced it?

The recording process at the House of Mercys, Snake-Pit Studios was super chilled .. its like a little log cabin in the middle of London’s Crouch End, with a plethora of history and memorabilia adorning the shelves and walls, it makes you feel like your gonna record a great record before you even pick up a guitar, it was built and used as a radio studio for several years by my late husband Barry Marshall-Everitt (an original pirate DJ (Radio Caroline, KDKB and tour manager for T Rex/ Joan Armatrading/the LAs, to name a few) over his last few years he recorded and interviewed touring bands who came through London and we would put them up, feed them and generally look after them for their stay, thus the name “THE HOUSE OF MERCY! (which I also named my last album).

The Snakepit Studio has a welcoming, woody cabin vibe and although the atmosphere is always chilled and homey, we started the recording, the tracks were fairly new although we had demoed them in the studio through lockdown, they needed to come alive and getting the vibe right in the Snakepit was a serious musical coming together, is not a big space , the air gets hot and intense after a while .. that’s why it’s called the “Snakepit“ ..it gets sweaty and almost spiritual when the music starts and when the musicians exit the studio , it’s like there’s been a a musical exorcism, we worked fast and we laid down the tracks in around 6/7 days, these super talented folks tore it up in there, we then started to edit and that’s what Nick is so great at, he’s super talented when it comes to engineering he just flys through the raw tracks. The record was produced by myself and Nick Hunt and we worked together on my previous release “The House Of Mercy” so it’s like a proven formula, we knew how each other worked and respected that. I think it’s difficult to find people you click with at a level, but he knows how to bring the best out in me and all of the musicians in the studio.

I wanted to take as much time as needed for the mix, several weekends and odd days over several months, I also needed to give myself breaks from listening to the tracks over and over, with fresh ears listen to it through until I was happy, not looking for absolute perfection…Cause that’s not quite right!

Nick lectures at one of London top sound engineering colleges and the album was submitted for his masters degree which he passed with flying colours!

It’s genuinely a pleasure to work with him, we always have a good brunch and discuss the state of the planet, then once we get that out of our system we get back to head bobbin in the studio, it’s a great routine, and routine is something I’m not used to!

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
Well the recording studio is in my house and we have a bar built beside it that we call the Dodgy Fox, it serves as a great after session party venue to eat and drink before the musicians head off, there has been many a fine meal and drinks moments listening to the mixes etc .. although I did get a noise complaint from the council during the mix sessions lol ! (From the new lot across the road I think ) the rest of the street dig the record lol!

Who played on the album with you?

Toby Baker-Keyboards/Hammond/Rhodes/Wurlitzer (Clapton/ Malcome McDonald )
Bass Guitar – Robert Eugene Daniels (Tracks I Cant Look You In The Eye/Table for One/Fortuna/When Its Gone) and Aurora Mannola

Drums – Richie Stevens

Scott Coopwood ( (I can’t look you in the eye)

Brian Schilling – Rhythm guitar (I can’t look you in the eye )

Drums Barry Bays – (I can’t look you in the eye)

Mike Lacopelli – Recording Engineer (Clarkesdale MS)

Dobro – BJ Cole

Shola Adegoroye – Gospel BVs

Danny Bryan – Congas / Darabukka / Percussion

In addition, you have your single ‘I Can’t Look You In The Eye’ which is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the song?

Actually there was a musician who I met who I just couldn’t look in the eye no matter how much time we spent together, I wasn’t really an attraction thing more of a meeting of energies, we were very similar people I guess and intense energies lol.. I took that sentiment and evolved it to the sexual attraction scenario when I wrote the song!

The rhythm track was sent to me by Scott Coopwood who not only is a fabulous musician, publishes Delta Magazine and who looks after tourism in Clarksdale MS, the track was quite heavy rock and so I wrote the blues riff, the lyrics and arranged it and we recorded it in his studio in Cleveland MS with some of Clarksdale’s finest!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones?

I like Boss pedals a overdrive and tuner normally but with this recorded I have a boss delay for 5am
to be honest I like to keep it simple, Sure 58 microphone generally covered in red lipstick lol

Do you have any live plans for 2024 in the UK and Europe?
Yes I’m gearing up for a big 25. It has been a while since I toured and needed to get my profile back up with the new record first
I have signed with several international agents for next year including USA, Norway, Italy and Germany! And I have a UK tour being booked for Sept 24 including a live band show booked with BBC RADIO 2s Cerys Matthews so should be fun.. I also want to get back into the Studio .. I have a lot of things I want to do now .. the lockdown made me very prolific.

How do you look after your voice?
I don’t smoke and I rest it .. sleep is the best medicine for vocals!

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Plymouth – seaside, Janners, Pasties, Friendly, Barbican

Could you please tell me about the final track on the album ‘When It’s Gone’?

it is a poignant song reflecting the importance of never taking anything or anyone for granted! .. I think when your faced with loss sometimes you can regret not savouring the moments you had more.. I have reflected in this song about losing several people in my life to losing eras, it could be related to things like youth or health and tales of broken relationships because you just stop trying many scenarios that song touches on,
The melody is something that other musicians have mentioned to me as being a fav! It came to me after I heard about a book my late husband Barry was reading many years ago about the sad tale of a wolf and her cub which she lost….

Was it a difficult album to write?

No I don’t think writing is difficult and the songs should evoke emotion, I love writing .. it’s all the tricky things that come afterwards lol

What makes Bex Marshall happy and what makes you unhappy?

Playing guitars, making music and jamming makes me happy .. broken/ crackly jack to jack leads not so happy,
able to produce my writing retreat in North Cyrus by putting great musicians and people together and throwing great week long parties of songwriting
and food makes me very happy,
Rudeness of fools and being taken for granted makes me not so happy
Old vinyl 🤪
Anything Gold color makes me happy
Cool lighting .. HAPPY
Freedom to travel the world and being in my own space amongst the elements makes me happy
People trying to rip me off makes me very unhappy!
Family time banter makes me happy
Inspiring people on my travels and touring makes me happy
But last orders at the bar 🤨