“I believe the legends didn’t build their legacy by simply saying ‘yes’ to everything.”
— Katherine Parlour
Inspired by the film ‘Walk The Line’, Katherine grew captivated by a particular icon—Johnny Cash—from an early age. So when the chance arose to record their debut album in Nashville with Gabe Simon, it was an opportunity they couldn’t overlook. Although ‘The Parlour’ has much of its foundation in the UK, the “alternate universe” of Nashville, where music is treated like a conventional job, contributed an American flair to the album.
While this sounds great in theory, it presented the challenge of finding comfort in an unfamiliar environment, ensuring that the album’s final version maintained the authenticity and precision it deserved. Ella shares, “Everyone was incredibly warm, welcoming, passionate, and supportive of our work. There was a sense of urgency [in Nashville]. If I got stuck on an idea, I would lose my mind and stay in the studio all night until I cracked it. But that’s what makes you feel alive. I want to be obsessed over this amazing guitar line!”
With ‘The Parlour’ taking shape, fueled by Jack Daniels and coke, the final product reflects the duo’s journey thus far, capturing everything from the emotional ballads of ‘The Travelling Show’ to the “frustration and rage” stemming from the tumultuousness of their breakthrough time, which they express in a playful manner through ‘Talk About It’.
As they wrap up their discussion on a street-side bench, they are currently demoing songs for their “darker” second album. Does that signal the end for ‘The Parlour’? Katherine humorously remarks, “I think we’re stuck with ‘The Parlour’ forever! The stuff we’re working on now feels like ‘The Parlour’ has been shut down; it’s all left in ruins, with one old man still there with his whiskey, refusing to depart. There’s just one candle flickering in the corner…”
After taking the time to decide what kind of band they wanted Picture Parlour to represent, Ella and Katherine feel they're “10 steps ahead,” already deep into their second album before the first one has officially launched. They emphasize to DIY that the momentum is now entirely in their control, ready to “crack on” with a fresh clarity that they “maybe didn’t have two years ago,” reflects Katherine.
“As they say, hunger is the best sauce, and that’s what I’m living by,” she smiles, as Ella reinforces the sentiment with a final affirmation. “We are very hungry for it.” ‘The Parlour’ is available now through Island.
With their long-anticipated theatrical debut album, Picture Parlour invites us into the environments, culture, and enchantment that influenced them, leading to the creation of the imaginary realm known as ‘The Parlour’.
