Talented Naomi is a hit at 2009 Blues Weekend
Victoria Olson
Naomi Mather
BLUES songstress Naomi Mather certainly knows how to hold an audience in the palm of her hands, with a combination of first-class musicianship and songs that tell stories about her life and loves.
Her clear voice makes the blues sound effortless and her highly effective delta blues guitar style, with lots of slide, is a refreshing change from other young musicians around these days.
It was standing room only in the Stromness Hotel for her Saturday afternoon gig, and it was soon easy to see why. Mainly playing her own songs, like Not Dream About It, Slip Away With Me, Done it All Before and You Took My Heart, which had a very rhythmic, funky and almost folky feel to it, Naomi is an original and engaging performer.
Using her foot to great percussive effect and slapping her guitar and strings to add extra beats to her songs, she creates a big sound for one woman.
Like many blues musicians, relations and heartache is a theme of Naomi’s music. Sweet Loving is one of her only love songs and is about how hard it is to find a good man. Played on a lap steel guitar, using a stainless steel slide that was made for her by her dad, this is a great song that sticks in your head long after it’s done.
Based on the book The Alchemist, Eyes Wide Open is a song about going through life
looking for signs and then reacting to them. Another particularly appropriate song for our times was Unemployment Blues, a good old fashioned blues number which Naomi wrote when she was finding it hard to find a job.
“I have got one now, but I’m going to sing it for you anyway,” she said.
Naomi also covered Stop Breaking Down by legendary blues musician Robert Johnson, before finishing her well-received set with My Baby Says I’m Lazy, a fun number she dedicated to all of her lazy boyfriends.
Orkney Today spoke to Naomi after her set following, I was really inspired by them.”
and discovered this was not only the first time she had been to Orkney, but her first ever visit to Scotland.
“I think it’s really beautiful,” she said. “On the drive up here there were so many things to see, you have really stunning scenery in Scotland.”
She said she had been shown around Orkney by members of the Blues committee during the weekend and thought it was lovely: “I was quite shocked by how small the Orkney community is, but there seems to be a huge community spirit. Everyone is really friendly, people have been really supportive and the gigs are going really great.”
“I’ve seen a few of the local bands so far; Bad Taste are great musicians and have a really good following, I was really inspired by them.”
Originally from just outside Liverpool, Naomi now lives in the city and works in bar as well as trying to play a couple of gigs a month. However, with her talent I’m sure this won’t be the last Orkney hears of Naomi Mather.