SINGER songwriters Blair Dunlop and Emma Stevens are touring together next month with their own shows. Both will be playing songs from albums released last year, Blair’s ‘House Of Jacks’ and Emma’s ‘Waves’. The pair will take to the stage at Fibbers in York on April 25 and Matt Westcott spoke to them. For more details on the gig visit www.fibbers.co.uk

Matt: Blair, you‘re not someone who relies on tried and tested formats when it comes to songwriting. Is it important to you that you push yourself and your audience?

Blair: Yes, I think it's so easy to stay in your comfort zone when thinking about writing an album and selling units. More than ever, I'm finding myself throwing songs away because I'm trying new approaches. Most of the time, I find, you retain the essence of what you've written previously anyway!

Matt: Your debut album led to an award at none other than the Radio 2 Folk Awards. How did you accept the acclaim that came with it?

Blair: It's always nice to be appreciated by peers, and the folk scene has been very kind to me. But it's the music that drives me, not awards or acclaim.

Matt: Having done so well with Blight and Blossom, was there any trepidation when it came to following that up with House of Jacks?

Blair: Yeah, it's a very different sounding record to the first as well, but I couldn't let other people's perception or expectation of me cloud the music. I knew I wanted to go out with a band, and I feel it's left the path even more open than before.

Matt: Folk is no longer the preserve of men with beards and corduroy trousers, it’s now part of the mainstream. How do you pay respect to its past while embracing its future?

Blair: I grew up in the more traditional folk scene, so I rarely struggle to pay respect to its heritage. I love traditional song and culture, and I'm always looking for traditional tunes and words to play around with. Folk is such an umbrella term, and people can get very touchy about what 'folk' music is perceived as - I think it's great that roots music is getting wider mainstream coverage, anything to make the mainstream as diverse as possible.

Matt: You are joined onstage for this tour by Emma Stevens. How does the dynamic work?

Blair: We met for the first time the other day and got on great, which is a relief. We're both from different schools of songwriting, but I think the show will work really nicely. Looking forward to meeting her band now, we'll be spending quite a bit of time together!

Matt: How would you define Waves, Emma?

Emma: Lots of stringed instruments, hooks, sparky pop and country. It takes you on a journey, with songs from my heart and soul.

Matt: At one point did you realise you had a talent, not just for singing but for writing songs?

Emma: It actually happened the other way around for me! I was in love with writing songs, and I loved performing. But it wasn’t until someone heard me do backing vocals and said “you should have a solo career” that I really thought I was good enough!

Matt: Were you always a confident performer and can you remember your first public performance?

Emma: I went to stage school as well as having music tutoring from an early age, but for me, confidence was always hardest thing. I’m my own worst critic and strive to be better and better. For me, my performance is about wearing my heart on my sleeve. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. I would rather be honest and true and for the audience to be right there with me, than to worry about a 100 per cent perfect performance. My first public performance was something I very much chose to forget many years ago now!

Matt: You’ve performed alongside a number of other artists, looking ahead who would you like to collaborate with and why?

Emma: I’d love to collaborate with Jason Mraz. I love his sound, what he writes about and the things he is interested in. I’ve seen him play a couple of times now and been blown away on both occasions. He’s such an honest performer and I would love to learn some things from him. He is very clever in the way he writes, too - making brilliantly intelligent pop songs.

Matt: I’ve asked Blair what he thinks of touring with you, so it’s only fair I ask you about him?

Emma: What did he say? I can’t wait. I met him last week and he seems like such a nice guy. Very talented too. I think it’s going to be really interesting to see how our fans get on at the gigs! I love what he does and can’t wait to hear more!