Lorraine Nash - On Our Radar Q&A: "No matter how much you try to be in control of a situation, there’s always other things that get in the way"

What was the inspiration behind ‘February Snow’?
We had really bad weather here in 2018, and it was so bizarre because everything had been shut down, and it was late February. I just remember everyone talking about how strange it was. There was such a sense of climate anxiety around that, so this song was what I wrote when I was stuck in my house because of the snow. In a broader sense, it’s about how no matter how much you try to be in control of a situation, there’s always other things that get in the way.

Who are your primary influences and how have they shaped your music?
When I was younger, it was only traditional Irish music that I played. That definitely shaped a lot of the instrumentation I use. Even the style of my singing uses a lot of elements of traditional singing. I guess there was also a lot of country music in my house as well. Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton and The Highwaymen were constantly playing, so I do think I have strong country influences as well.

How has your music evolved since the release of your EP Wildflower in 2020?
Well, lyrically I hope I’ve improved! And also maybe the instrumentation; I think I’m feeling a bit more confident with the style I’m going for. With the EP, I was still kind of trying things out. They were the first songs that I had properly recorded, so because I was a bit more confident with the album, I took a few more risks.

What have you got in store for the rest of 2024?
A lot of writing. When I come back from Australia in April, I’m going to focus on getting new material written and recorded. I do have something else I’m planning. I don’t even know if I can say this, but we’re planning some gigs with another artist at the end of the year.

‘February Snow’ is out now.