One Sided Horse was formed 4 years ago after Mark, drummer / singer with Evil Blizzard decided to try his hand at writing more relaxed music. After picking up a cheap guitar and knowledge of 4 chords the road to being a singer/songwriter began.
Months of painful fingers and trying to write more mature songs paid off when one night a song was written called Crackerjack. What followed was a set of songs and a debut solo acoustic CD. The songs being likened to Nick Cave, Tindersticks, The National and even Neil Diamond!
A chance meeting 2 years ago with Steve Firth from Yorkshire indie rock band Embrace started a musical journey that enabled OSH to join forces to record a debut album featuring all the Yorkshire musicians. This has given the songs a huge soundscape and more dynamic power.
Since recording the album Between Light and Space as a band they have gone on to play various sold out gigs.
Over the last 4 years OSH as a solo artist has been played all over the UK and Italy. Support slots with Wire, The House of Love, Embrace and an acoustic UK tour with Dodgy has enabled the songs to be heard by a larger audience.
Currently booking more house gig and a foray into South America means the future looks exciting for this songwriter.
Further band gigs with the Embrace lads are also being planned for when they are not on tour themselves. Check out Between Light and Space below!
We managed to catch up with One Sided Horse as they talked about their latest release and more!
How has the release of Between Light and Space gone down with fans?
The reaction to the album has been fantastic. This album has been in the making for about 3 years so its been a long wait. People who have bought it have said it is epic, reminds them on Tindersticks, Bowie, Richard Hawkins and The Blue Nile and that’s great.. Having the lads from Embrace playing on it really give it a glorious texture but there is enough of its own identity to move away from what they have done before. I really want to put this out on vinyl so currently I am looking for any label that would like to do this.
Can you tell us something about the release no one else knows?
The backing singer on Crackerjack in none other than Dominic Brunt (Paddy from Emmerdale)
What is your favourite track from the album?
For me it has to be Pure As Snow. I love the strings and the way it starts very subtle but ends as this huge orchestrated sound,
Will be working on new music this year?
I have already written at least another 30 songs that hopefully as a band we can develop into a less solo structure. Much the same as I did with the debut.
How much are you looking forward to playing the Ritz on The Membranes festival?
This gig will be special as it’s the first time as a band we will have played there. I played it last year with Evil Blizzard and it was great. In fact this year I am performing two gigs in a day, as Blizzard are playing again. The sound in the Ritz I think will really suit us and its nice to play on such a big stage. The lads from Embrace already sold the venue out a few weeks ago on their own tour and said how great it was.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I would love to work with Iron and Wine. I think he is one of the greatest song writers of the last 10 years. His voice is incredible as are his songs. I would love to duet a song with him as our voices are very different but would work together well I think. Another artist I like is Kalli from Iceland. Again a great talent. As a band it would have to be The Bad Seeds.
What do you get up to in your spare time when no working on music?
I don’t tend to have much spare time with being in two bands but when I do I love to watch movies or travel. I am hoping to take my music to Costa Rico so I could travel and play music so best of both worlds.
What got you into the music in the first place?
I have always been a drummer and from an early age just sitting in front of the TV playing on tins. I suppose music has always been in my life due to my mum being very musical. The first album I heard proper was Tubular Bells drifting out of the record player.
Over the years I have played drums for many people, but its only in the last 4 years I have really taken to the front of the stage to sing.
What was the first gig you ever attended?
My first ever gig was The Wombles which could be in someway why Evil Blizzard exits. In fact 3 other members of the band were there too! My first rock gig I would say was UFO at the Preston Guild Hall. Since then I have seen hundreds of bands but can anything match seeing The Wombles.