Reference Points: The Rails

In this week’s Reference Points, where we ask artists to talk about something outside the world of music that affects them personally and creatively, we spoke to The Rails – who, considering they comprise of Kami Thompson, aka the daughter of Richard & Linda, and her husband James, who has played guitar for everyone from the Pretenders to the Pogues, had a lot to say about the amazing people they’ve encountered in their lives.

Read on for some personal stories about the musicians that have helped the duo cultivate their rich, melodic twist on classic folk and country. First up, Kami Thompson:

Eliza Carthy

I’ve known Eliza for a long time. An incredible musician, she not only plays the meanest fiddle in the land, but when she sings it feels like someone’s ripping your heart out with their bare hands. You know, in a good way. She’s a few years older than me and growing up I would see her at folk festivals (to which I had been dragged, kicking and screaming) and I just thought she was So. Cool. Folk was devastatingly untrendy when I was a kid and Eliza stuck out as a beacon of relatable grunge ‘fuck you’ in a sea of socks and sandals. Eliza helped me to gain an appreciation of folk on my own terms.

Will Oldham

Will gave me my first proper gig, touring in his band, when I was in my early twenties. I had been working in an office full time, failing to find any direction as a singer or songwriter. He happened to see me guest on a song with my dad and out of the blue invited me on tour with him. I’d never heard of him until then and when he sent me his back catalogue to learn I nearly keeled over. The music was killer, I fell in love with it. I don’t think I added much to the band, but being out on tour felt like some kind of rebirth. When I got home I quit my job, broke up with my boyfriend, wrote a bunch of songs and went to New York to make a record.

Teddy Thompson

There was going to be a family member in here somewhere, wasn’t there? Teddy is my big brother and I dutifully idolise him. He has the sweetest, most beautiful singing voice I’ve ever heard. I could listen to him forever. Watching him over the years has taught me a lot about how to use your voice effectively. He has been very supportive of my efforts over the years and you can always depend on him for a good bit of constructive criticism. He’s also one of the last proper gents out there – he still stands up at dinner if a lady gets up from the table. A proper class act.

And now for the choices of her husband, James Walbourne:

Jay Farrar

I have been playing off and on with Jay Farrar for over 10 years now and his musical influence on me has been great in many ways. Jay started off in a band called Uncle Tupelo in the late 80′s and then formed the band Son Volt in the mid 90′s – even managing a successful solo career in between. At 16 years old the thing that first drew me to his music was the blend of heavy rock and country/folk. Through his music I indirectly discovered great American bands such as the Replacements and Big Star and older stuff like the Anthology Of American Folk Music. It’s always a buzz to play with Jay and I put him up there with the great singer/songwriters. His is the loudest band I have ever been in and his musical influence has been invaluable.

Peter Bruntnell

Peter Bruntnell is responsible for my awful A level results. He is also responsible for taking me under his wing at age 17 and letting me play in his band. During that time we drank Surbiton dry and played a lot of music, culminating in 1998′s album Normal For Bridgwater and several subsequent records. Pete is a very unique singer/songwriter and a very British one at that. He taught me how important it is to sing in your own voice and it was through him I heard a lot of British folk music for the first time. I wish more people would take notice of Pete because he is a true original and a great talent. I’m also pissed off at reading ‘The UK’s best kept secret’ on all his posters. A good place to start is Peter And The Murder Of Crows, and its taking Psych Folk to new places.

Chrissie Hynde

Playing in Chrissie’s band is a guitar player’s dream. She lets me play what I want and loves it when I fuck up. A great bandleader, singer and songwriter, sharing the stage with her has been an education. See below…

The Rails’ debut album, Fair Warning, is released on 5 May via Island Records. The band play the Lexington on 25 March – for tickets and information head here, or for a track from the band, head here.