Idris Needle, currently performing under the name of Schlumbergera, is a UK based musician and artist creating songs reminiscent of 1960s psychedelic folk. Let’s find out more about them.
Tell us where were you born and where do you live now?
I was born in Knighton, Wales but have lived around Shropshire for most of my life mainly in Shrewsbury for the past 9 years. In September, I moved to London to study music at Goldsmiths University and currently live in New Cross.
When did you start creating songs and what instruments do you play?
I’ve been writing music for most of my life, even before I could play guitar I’d be strumming rhythms and making little songs from that. Guitar and Voice have been my main instruments since around the age of 6, but I have most recently been teaching myself Banjo and a little bit of clarinet and piano.
As a solo artist I understand you are in search of musicians to accompany you and expand the music. Finding the right chemistry and personalities can be a challenge. What are the qualities you are looking for in bandmates?
I haven’t done a lot of working with other musicians outside of participating in ensembles etc. When I was doing my A Levels I worked a lot with Ryan Joseph drumming, which was the first time I’d properly played schlumbergera songs with other people. Ryan also impacted a lot of the material I brought to play, changing its contexts and trajectory. Since moving to uni though it hasn’t really been possible to do any work with him. I have however been playing as a part of the band Youth Rifle adding Lap Steel, Banjo, Backing Vocals etc. and am in the process of writing some music to potentially be used for that project. I think at the moment I’m more focused on writing as much as possible to improve my songwriting and not as much on forcing a band situation, whatever happens happens.
Do you have a home studio for your productions?
I used to record just using an audio interface in my room but I’m not very technically skilled with electronics and the whole mixing thing and I just got a bit sick of trying to make everything sound perfect. In the past year I’ve started just using a Zoom H1n field recorder and some Immersive Soundscapes Cardioid Microphones, then just overdubbing to layer parts. I think it makes me less precious about the mix as there is no way of mixing afterwards, you just have one master track with all of the layers.
Please give our readers links to your music.
I’m currently only really on Bandcamp as I removed myself from streaming.
Are you working on a new project now?
I’m currently working on another EP of songs which I’ve aimed to write in just a few days and then move on from, adding to the EP gradually rather than putting it out as one big release. Last year I did the same with “multiporpoise” EP which was mostly written and recorded on different holidays or walks etc. I would go away for a few days and write and record a song in that place, recording on beaches, in caves, on cliffs, in tents. So you can hear the background of the place the song was written. This new EP is slightly similar except it has mostly been written in my halls so far as I still find this to be a new space of inspiration- especially alongside learning more instruments.
Do you perform your material as a solo for an audience?
I haven’t done much performance lately but I plan to in the future. Over the years I have done a few solo performances in Shrewsbury and London and last year with Ryan we performed in Wolverhampton a couple of times too.
What are your plans and hopes for the future?
I just hope to continue being able to have a lot of time to make music and there’s a few bucket list festivals I’d like to perform at eventually but other than that I guess we’ll see what happens.
Hopefully artist will reach out to you – Please leave your email.
idris.needle@gmail.com
By David Anthony.
Dave Bixby 