“Self releases are always pretty intense.” Harriet Doveton of Colour Me Wednesday: The GWG Interview!
I got chatting to Harriet Doveton co-frontwoman and guitarist of DIY Indie Pop band Colour Me Wednesday over on our twitter. She told me that Colour Me Wednesday are about to launch the pre-order of their new album [album #2] – the name of which is so far a mystery and to be revealed after the pre-order during the release in April. I was intrigued and we decided to set up an interview. Our new writer Kelly Ronaldson was originally going to do the interview as she loves Colour Me Wednesday, but when Harriet Dovetown popped up to chat on facebook, we ended up in a chat that naturally evolved into an interview. So here is how it went:
Harriet Doveton: Hey!
Hannah Golightly: Hey. How are you?
Harriet: Good thanks! Work got cancelled today haha. So trying to get through this mountain of album stuff.
HG: Yay! An extra day off!!! What album stuff are you working on today?
Harriet: Finishing off our pre order shop, ordering clothes for a photoshoot, lining up more press things.
HG: Sounds pretty fun actually! How’s it going?
Harriet: Pretty good. Self releases are always pretty intense. Like I usually write a list to Make myself feel better but then the list kept on going and going. And it made me feel worse haha. But all worth it.
HG: ha ha I am terrible with lists. If I write it on a list, I am not getting that thing done! ha ha I’m a bit weird like that I think. I have to do everything as soon as it pops into my head or it won’t get done. So what is top of your to-do list for the self release?
Harriet: Well we’ve finished recording and our producer starts mixing on Monday. But artwork is a big priority, photoshoot for the album. And then just finishing up the shop so everything is running smoothly. Got loadsa merch up there and bundles.
HG: Where did you record the album? Who produced it?
Harriet: In Leeds with a guy called MJ. His producer name is ‘Suburban Home.’ He’s great.
HG: Cool. What kind of sound would you say this record has?
Harriet: I’ve been describing it as Sinister Pop haha. Basically all the songs are essentially pop.
HG: Oooh Sinister Pop! Sounds enticing!
Harriet: But we’ve done heavier guitar stuff and dynamics on this record.
HG: Ooh I love some heavy guitars!
Harriet: Yeah, we were inspired by Wolf Alice and also a lot of 90s female fronted grunge like Juliana hatfield, Belly.
HG: Love those bands! Was it a conscious decision to go heavier with the guitars or a natural progression that evolved?
Harriet: Well I think I’ve always been into slightly heavier Guitar parts and solos but I guess I felt like I was still Progressing as a guitarist. So perhaps held back a bit before.
HG: I think all guitarists are always progressing.
Harriet: With this record I’ve really gone for it and my confidence has shot up.
HG: I’m really excited to hear it now!
Harriet: Yeah totally.
HG: That’s amazing. Like you’re leveling up.
Harriet: Haha yeah exactly. Always a nice feeling.
HG: What guitar did you use on this record?
Harriet: Well live I always use My fender telecaster thinline. Which I used a bit on this record.
HG: Nice.
Harriet: But I also used my Gibson Melody Maker quite a lot. And MJ’s jazz master, Jaguar. And his telecaster.
HG: I never knew Gibson did a guitar called Melody Maker– that’s the name of one of the biggest music magazines in the UK in the Nineties! And last night we just published a guest blog from Everett True– one of Melody Maker‘s most famous rock critics! Nice. You said you went heavier… what pedals or amps did you use to do that?
Harriet: Yeah I have some old Melody Makers my dad gave me! Got some cut outs on my wall of Juliana Hatfield and Evan dando from them haha. Everett true is great. He likes my other band the Tuts!
HG: Amazing!
Harriet: We used a bunch of pedals. I like the Full Tone OCD. And I’m obsessed with my EarthQuaker fuzz pedal ‘Spires.’
HG: He’s always been a feminist writer and supporter of women in music! One of the many reasons we are so excited to have him contribute!
Harriet: I’m on their website as they chose me as a medallion member! I used the Spires pedal a lot on the record.
HG: Yeah, I have come across the OCD… if my memory is correct, I think Skating Polly may have been using one when we played together. So cool!
Harriet: I also used a pedal called Broadcast (it was Mj’s) I loved it.
HG: If you ever fancy reviewing any of their pedals for us we would love to feature them! We love gear reviews written by women!

Harriet Doveton sent me this screenshot picture of her Broadcast Pedal.
Self releases are always pretty intense.