Name: Randall Stephen Hall
Formed: On-going
Hometown: The little sea side town of “Obscurity”, (Between Larne and Carrickfergus, in deepest East Antrim).
Genre: Folk and Fusion
◀ Q & A ▶
▶ When did you start playing music and how would you describe your sound?
I began at the age of around 13 on acoustic. Switched to electric about the age of 16. Played in garage/pub bands in the late 70s. Played quite a few times at the original Harp Bar in Hill Street, with a group called Sixtelé and other local venues.
I would describe my sound now as folk with blues and world music influences, which have always been there. With quite a lot of harmonies.
I wrote and recorded a lot of songs from 1980-1983 in a group called Mudsi Muntu (Moodzi Moon To). All home recordings. Three albums on cassette. One was reviewed by Hot Press/Demo Derby in the early 80s.
▶ What releases have you put out so far?
My first solo CD came out in 2010. “The Wee Wee Man/Songs from the Moon Shed”, getting a lot of airplay on the Gerry Anderson Show/BBS Radio Foyle/Radio Ulster. Plus there is a large body of work now on Soundcloud, Youtube and Facebook by looking for “Randall Stephen Hall”. The work speaks for itself.
▶ Is there a particular live show that stands out amongst all the rest?
Playing live on the Gerry Anderson’s show with my friends, four times 2010-2011 and the live launch of my first CD at the Black Box 23.9.16.
▶ Can you talk about a Highlight and a low point of the journey so far?
High Points: Yes, launching my first CD in September 2010 was quite a challenge as I had never fronted or led a band before. It was also my first live gig in about 30 years. For all that time I had worked as an illustrator.
Low points: As my group “The Moon Shed” lived so far apart it eventually proved to difficult to meet up to rehearse but I carried on with Rohan. It worked. But since then I’ve played on my own as well. At the end of the day my songs can work stripped down to their original form.
▶ If you weren’t a musician(s) how would you spend your spare time?
I would carry on as an artist, poet and storyteller, which is what I do anyway.
▶ If you were to go on a world tour and you could pick any 3 acts come along, who would they be?
Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. There would be great harmonies.
▶ What would be the 3 strangest things on your rider if you were able to make any demand?
Plenty of sleep. Plenty of fresh air. Plenty of walking about, in the fresh air, outside,on a bright day. (In comparison with the usual stuff I imagine that might seem a bit strange).
▶ Is there a particular aim or goal which you hope to achieve through music?
Entertain, make people smile and think.
▶ Who has been your biggest inspiration as a musician?
People like the folk singers in the late seventies/early 70s. Soul and blues singers at the time, when my musical tastes were forming in my early teens.
All this music still stands out as classic work.
▶ Are there any other Northern Irish musicians we should check out?
Andrew Farmer/Sons of Caliber.
▶ What is next for you?
My third CD, half recorded…
◀ LISTEN ▶
Facebook ▶ /Randall Stephen Hall
