Jill Lorean

After the success of the Jill Lorean full length debut ‘This Rock’, singer/guitarist Jill O’Sullivan returns with her second long player ‘Peace Cult’ working again with producer/bassist Andy Monaghan and drummer Pete Kelly.

Recorded once again at Andy’s 312 studio in Glasgow, Jill says the band talked a bit about what sort of record they wanted to make.

“We thought we could make ‘This Rock’ again, but that it would be nice to push the boat out a bit further and make it a little bit different. So that’s what we’ve done.

“I think, maybe the idea was to sit back a little more. My instinct as a performer is to shout loudly and be really in your face and bolshy. I think I wanted to try to almost control my voice for this.”

In terms of how songs have turned out, Jill identifies one key difference from the last record.

“I think the material’s maybe slightly heavier than ‘This Rock’, and maybe the vibe is a little bit more reflective and contemplative. I think it’s just natural to respond to your environment as the writer and that’s what I was doing.”

Which does beggar the question what the next album might sound like in response to recent events. But in the meantime, Jill explained where the inspiration for the title track came from.

“I was looking up like peace movements and protest music for a project that I was involved in whilst I was, in the middle of writing songs for this album. And I came across this really fantastic academic paper on peace cults in ancient Greece. In Antiquity, I think maybe cult had a slightly different meaning – it was just a group of people who wanted peace so they would pray to Eirene, the goddess of peace.

“When you look at the history books, we just hear all about wars in ancient Greece, like the Trojan War. I mean, they go on and on and on! But actually, there were groups of people even back then, in their own sort of ancient way holding up placards saying, can we like maybe not go to war? And I thought that was quite fantastic.”

The trio will launch the album with two show – the first in Glasgow and the second slightly further afield!

“We’re going to play Mono on the 4th of December, then we’re going to play London on the 7^th. A promoter, who I’ve known for years who also plays music and runs a really nice night in London, actually got in touch.

“I remember at the time thinking, I’m not going to London. No way! I sort of gave up on that idea years ago! But then we’re thought, actually, it could be really fun!”

Subsequent to our chat, Jill and band were also confirmed for the afternoon show at Lost Map’s ‘Humbug’ but the band are looking to play more shows in the New Year.

“We’re in the middle of booking a few February shows in hopefully, Aberdeen and Stirling, and maybe Edinburgh. We’ll see if we can get those confirmed. it would be really nice because I do always look forward to live shows.”

“I think everybody wants to do more but I realise I’m working with two people who are incredible, working musicians, and are busy, same as me.

“But I think the idea is we’ll do what we can around the schedules.”

‘Peace Cult’ is released on vinyl and download Monohands Records on Friday 15^th November.