In this episode of the Folk My Life podcast, Andy chats with Alicia Best and Robert Jackson of A Different Thread, exploring their musical journey from a chance encounter in Galway to their current tour in the Folk and Americana scene. They discuss their unique sound, the emotional connections in their songwriting, and the importance of live performances. The conversation also delves into their relocation to the United States, the album creation process, and their commitment to sustainability and community engagement through their music and merchandise. The episode concludes with personal song recommendations and reflections on the power of music to connect people.

We discuss how a chance encounter in Galway sparked a musical partnership, that would span 10 years and lead to a creative partnership that has endured. Alicia discusses her difficult time in the US which prompted her escape to Guatemala and how their paths once crossed without them knowing while they were both busking on the same street in New York.

They share the story of creating a community quilt, embroidered by Alicia and made up of hundreds of pieces of fabric collected at Gigs during their tour, weaving together the stories and sentiments of hundreds of fans into a patchwork quilt that symbolises there core message of inclusivity and diversity.

Musical Inclusions.

This episode includes tracks from their new album including the beautiful and lilting “come on home molly” and the painfully honest track “Call of the Road”. We discuss the origins of these great songs and the process of crafting them from the heartfelt raw emotions of their genesis to the rounded and accessible pieces they are, now they are out in the world.

Alica and Robert also tease us with a sample of their latest release “Sorrow Brings Me Joy” and leak some interesting revelations about the new album, and their process of touring the music from it. Robert describes how this is an antidote to the digital age.

Also In this Episode

They share a great “Folk My Life” moment which involves an epic tale about a ferry, some harmonicas and long stick

Alicia and Robert's Musical Recommendations

The songs Alicia and Robert decided to share form their own collection of outstanding music were, 'Not Good With Words', 'Try to ask you', 'Cherry Tree' and the beautiful tune "Linda's Crossing'. The stories and reasoning behind these song choices are beautiful and we reveal these in the podcast.

The music they chose for thier playlist by other artists were

The Barrel - Aldous Harding

Throw Another Cap In The Fire - Sam Doores, Riley Downing, and The Tumbleweeds .

Certainly worth a listen.

Timing

00:00 Introduction to Folk My Life Podcast

01:24 Chance Encounter in Galway

04:03 Traveling Musicians: Background Stories

10:56 The Sound of A Different Thread

12:29 Songwriting and Emotional Connections

13:51 Music - Come on Home Molly

17:03 The Journey Through Their Music

19:11 Relocation and New Beginnings

22:20 Touring and Audience Engagement

26:24 Album Release Strategy and Future Plans

30:33 Merchandising and Fan Interaction

31:55 Music - Call of the Road.

35:31 The Inspiration Behind the Music

38:03 Crafting Unique Merchandise

41:27 Ethics in Music and Merchandise

45:31 Community and Inclusivity in Art

48:06 Experiences at Stonehenge

49:52 Music - Sorrow Brings Me Joy

51:42 Musical Recommendations and Personal Stories

57:34 A Folk My Life Moment.

You can find out more about this episode at www.folkmylife.co.uk

You can also follow A Different Thread on their website http://www.adifferentthread.com

Support their Patreon Account at https://www.patreon.com/c/adifferentthread/home