Feather Beds is the solo project of Dublin-born, London-based artist/producer Michael Orange.
He has just released his new album 'Softer Measures' via Strange Brew. The album is his first full-length record since 2017, and explores questions about the fragility of memory and cognitive ability, as well as how much we take them for granted.
We caught up with him to learn more.
1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
Tears for Fears. Depeche Mode.
2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
Nervous, excited, alive.
3. How do you wind down after a gig?
Few beers, catch up with people, have a laugh.
4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
'Shaking Hand' by Women.
5. What is your pet peeve?
Bad spelling, people that walk slowly, people that say 'pacific' instead of 'specific'. I should probably chill out a bit, really.
6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
'The Party' by Andy Shauf, 'I Wanna Be Yours' by John Cooper Clarke, and 'Half Nelson'.
7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Stanley Kubrick and Jim Carrey. For the craic.
8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Thai red duck curry. With prawn crackers.
9. Describe your perfect day off.
Go for a coffee when I wake up, hang out with my little girl, nice dinner somewhere with family, a gig somewhere maybe in the evening with friends, plus a few beers.
10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
Because I have a lovely ponytail and it's not something you'd wanna miss out on seeing.
BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.
'The Trap Set' with Joe Wong. Started off as a podcast about drummers, but focusing more on their lives and philosophy and not just muso stuff. It incorporates all artists now, not just drummers.
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'Softer Measures' is out now.
