“Sorry it’s taken so long,” says Chris D. “I’ve been intending to do one of these Meet Moselele questionnaires for years!” Well, I think we can probably forgive him, because if he wasn’t spending time with his family, he was probably busy creating an ambient soundscape, or studying ancient folk music, or being in a punk band, or soldering an analogue synth, or writing about music, or podcasting about music, or… or…
You might know him as Brumcast, or DNP, or Dub Not Pop… but we know him as Chris, and we’re very pleased he includes singing his head off at Moselele in his many musical motions.
1) Tell us how you started playing the ukulele. (How long ago? Did you play other instruments before?)
I saw the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at Moseley Folk Festival in 2010 and immediately ordered a very crappy ukulele off eBay. Before that, in the early 1990s, I played bass in a folky combo called ‘People Covered in Fish’ (the name was lifted from Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens). In the late 1990s I fronted a three-chord punk outfit called Beastly and played quite a bit around Birmingham.
2) What uke(s) do you play? (Have you made any adjustments/personalised it? Do you use a plectrum?)
I have too many ukes. Kala and Ohana ones. I’m currently looking to offload a couple to help pay off a guitar I recently got. Anyone interested?
3) Do you remember your first Moselele? (What prompted you to come along? What were your first impressions?)
Back in early 2011 I was kinda suffering from cabin fever with my eldest son, who was then only a few months old. I can’t remember how I found out about Moselele but turned up to Pat Kavs to see what it was all about. I felt very self conscious as there were only nine participants that first night but I was made to feel welcome and nobody seemed to mind that I could barely play. I remember Folsom Prison Blues being particularly dreadful that evening… [it was dreadful every evening. That’s why we all got sick of it and don’t play it any more. –Ed]
4) What keeps you coming back to Moselele?
It’s a great stress buster and I always end up laughing at some point. You can’t beat having a bit of a sing even if it is a Taylor Swift song.
5) What’s your favourite Moselele song?
Tough one – loads come to mind. I like the faster shouty ones… Love and Pride by King… the Wonder Stuff ones… Fell in Love with a Girl… Hotel Yorba… I kinda like some of the Spookelele book too. Bela Lugosi’s Dead and all that.
6) What’s your usual Moselele tipple?
Cheap lager, I’m not sophisticated.
7) Do you practise at home? (What do your family/housemates/pets think?)
No. Drives them mad. My youngest lad is interested, though, after seeing an episode of Tom & Jerry set in Hawaii, so I’ve taught him a few chords.
8) What’s your favourite Moselele story/memory (so far)?
The first Moseley Festival show – great fun to be playing music in front of people after over a decade off.
9) What would you say to anyone thinking of joining?
Turn up early if you want a seat.
10) Tell us a secret.
A while ago I was learning medieval lute music adapted for ukulele. Some of it even sounded half decent.
*suspicious face*
Well, if you’ve ever been to Moselele, and you think you might come back, why not answer the Meet Moselele questions yourself? You don’t have to be as music-mad as Chris (in case that isn’t already obvious from the Thursday night sessions…)
Go on, email or message Emma with your answers – and if you’re not sure how to do that, just leave a comment here or on the Moselele Facebook group.
Read previous Meet Moselele posts
Those we have loved and lost… and those who keep coming back for more. The crazy fools.
Meet Moselele: #23 – Ania M
Meet Moselele: #22 – Garry B
Meet Moselele: #21 – Katie C
Meet Moselele: #20 – Ian J
Meet Moselele: #19 – Peter H
Meet Moselele: #18 – Fiona C
Meet Moselele: #17 – Stephen P
Meet Moselele Takeover: #16 – Emma W
Meet Moselele: #15 – Sarah A
Meet Moselele: #14 – Tom H
Meet Moselele: #13 – Bob J
Meet Moselele: #12 – Conor C
Meet Moselele: #11 – Scott C
Meet Moselele: #10 – Paul P-D
Meet Moselele: #9 – Dave T
Meet Moselele: #8 – Lorna P
Meet Moselele: #7 – Phil B
Meet Moselele: #6 – Daz W
Meet Moselele: #5 – Mark S
Meet Moselele: #4 – Rhiannon D
Meet Moselele: #3 – John R
Meet Moselele: #2 – Ian E
Meet Moselele: #1 – Rob P
Meet Moselele: #22 – Garry B
Meet Moselele: #21 – Katie C
Meet Moselele: #20 – Ian J
Meet Moselele: #19 – Peter H
Meet Moselele: #18 – Fiona C
Meet Moselele: #17 – Stephen P
Meet Moselele Takeover: #16 – Emma W
Meet Moselele: #15 – Sarah A
Meet Moselele: #14 – Tom H
Meet Moselele: #13 – Bob J
Meet Moselele: #12 – Conor C
Meet Moselele: #11 – Scott C
Meet Moselele: #10 – Paul P-D
Meet Moselele: #9 – Dave T
Meet Moselele: #8 – Lorna P
Meet Moselele: #7 – Phil B
Meet Moselele: #6 – Daz W
Meet Moselele: #5 – Mark S
Meet Moselele: #4 – Rhiannon D
Meet Moselele: #3 – John R
Meet Moselele: #2 – Ian E
Meet Moselele: #1 – Rob P
Meet Moselele: #22 – Garry B
Meet Moselele: #21 – Katie C
Meet Moselele: #20 – Ian J
Meet Moselele: #19 – Peter H
Meet Moselele: #18 – Fiona C
Meet Moselele: #17 – Stephen P
Meet Moselele Takeover: #16 – Emma W
Meet Moselele: #15 – Sarah A
Meet Moselele: #14 – Tom H
Meet Moselele: #13 – Bob J
Meet Moselele: #12 – Conor C
Meet Moselele: #11 – Scott C
Meet Moselele: #10 – Paul P-D
Meet Moselele: #9 – Dave T
Meet Moselele: #8 – Lorna P
Meet Moselele: #7 – Phil B
Meet Moselele: #6 – Daz W
Meet Moselele: #5 – Mark S
Meet Moselele: #4 – Rhiannon D
Meet Moselele: #3 – John R
Meet Moselele: #2 – Ian E
Meet Moselele: #1 – Rob P
