Lucy Kitchen Talks New Single, Favourite Musical Instruments And More

 Rising UK artist Lucy Kitchen unveils her latest single ‘In My Corner’, out now via her own Bohemia Rose Records and Make My Day Records. We sat down with her to find out more:

What is your earliest musical memory?

This is tricky! There was always music on at home. My Dad listened to a lot of jazz and Bob Dylan as well as classical so I was surrounded by music from a very young age. When I was about six I heard James Galway play and I became really fixated on learning the flute so that was when I first got the music bug. 

When did you begin songwriting? 

I started writing songs when I was 16. My Mum and Dad knew that I was writing a bit and I came home from my summer job one day and there was a guitar on my bed. As soon as I could play two chords I was off. 

You have your new single ‘In My Corner’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

In My Corner is two-fold for me. It’s about losing my husband to cancer three years ago. He used to cheer me on through everything I did and I miss having that in my life. But it’s also about how I choose to live my life now and not wanting his loss to dictate how I live. I have so many things I want to do so it’s also about not playing small and still going after the life I want. 

Did you solely write the track or was it a co-write?

I wrote this one solely, which is how I tend to work but then we filled out the various parts with the band over a couple of days rehearsal before we went into the studio to record. 

Was it a difficult song to write?

Strangely, no. It was one that I wrote in a really short space of time and it just really flowed. I started out with the chorus and then the verses and bridge came really easily. 

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

I worked with a film student called Maria de Lima on the video. We shot it in the New Forest which is near where I live. I liked the idea of it being me on my own, isolated. I’m playing a concert but it’s just me singing to the trees. 

 Where did you record the single and who produced it?

We recorded the single at The Ranch studios just outside of Southampton. It was produced by Tali Trow and me.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

We were lucky to have Jon Thorne on double bass for the sessions and he was staying at the studio one night and got locked in the outhouse loo and couldn’t get out. I was sound asleep and missed all his calls. He managed to get hold of the sound engineer and she drove 40 minutes to come and rescue him. I felt terrible when I picked up all his messages the next day but he was really good about it.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

I used my Gibson Emmylou guitar for all my acoustic guitar tracks. It’s got such a lovely sound. On tracks where I play electric I ended up using the studio’s Telecaster as it sounded better in the studio than my electric. We recorded all the vocals using 3 mics – a ribbon mic and two different condensers and then chose our favourite for each song. I recorded some vocals and the flute at home using a Neaumann mic. We mastered the album at Tilehouse Studios and ran everything through the vintage Studer desk which really pulled everything together. 

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

I wouldn’t say any of my songs are overtly happy, although many of them do actually have happy elements to them. But possibly my song ‘Charis’ off of my last album.

I haven’t got a single angry song (maybe I should write one…)

For most reflective I’d go with ‘Summer Queen’, which is also off of my last album but I feel I have a few songs that would fit this category. 

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025/2026?

My next single ‘The Boatman’ will be coming out on the 7^th November and my new album will be coming out in February. 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I would always hope to have connected with people and moved them. I’ll always critique my own performance and playing but I think if you’ve done those two things then you’ve given people something to take away with them at the end of the night. 

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

I always take my Gibson Emmylou acoustic guitar but I am playing my electric (Epiphone Sheraton) more now which gives a nice contrast. I’ve just started playing around with pedals but I keep things pretty simple. 

How do you look after your voice?

I drink plenty of water and try to get enough sleep. If I’m tired and my voice feels strained I keep my neck warm and drink green tea with honey. 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I would love to write a score but there’s so many books that I love! I think something like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern would be amazing to write for as it’s such an immersive story with such a strong visual element I think you could have a really strong musical theme running through it. 

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

I live in Romsey in Hampshire. It’s historical, charming, riverside, market-town, green. 

Do you have any live dates in the UK/Europe planned for 2025/2026?

I’ll be playing shows around the UK around the release of the album and am currently booking my first European shows in Germany and The Netherlands for the Spring. 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Mazzy Star, Beth Orton, Laura Veirs…I’ve been listening to a lot of Waxahatchee since she released Tigers Blood last year, Julie Byrne is a regular I listen to but I also like to listen to some soul and dance music to mix things up. 

What makes Lucy Kitchen happy and what makes you unhappy?

I like to enjoy what I call small joys – a nice coffee sat outside a café, a glass of my favourite wine, time in nature, hanging out with my daughter, playing my guitar. I do love to travel and that makes me very happy. I find anything upsetting my daughter makes me unhappy, obviously things have happened in my life in the past few years that have made me very unhappy but I don’t want that to change me and how I live. 

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Measure PR 

Lucy Kitchen’s latest single ‘In My Corner’,  is out now via her own Bohemia Rose Records and Make My Day Records.

Stream Here: https://slinky.to/InMyCorner

Official LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/lucykitchen