Horsing around at Maifeld Derby 2018: Part 1 with The Wombats, Fenne Lily and Sam Vance-Law

This year’s Maifeld Derby Festival once again didn’t disappoint their fans with one stunning performance chasing the other on the three sunny days of the festival. Located at a horse race track the festival is all about the horse: One stage is inside a horse training field and the stables provide for the backstage area with each artist in their own box. We took the chance to have a chat with some of our favorite artists in the line-up. In this first part Fenne Lily, Sam-Vance-Law and Tord from The Wombats answered six not too serious question about horses.

Fenne Lily

If you were a horse, which breed would you be?

Fenne Lily: A Shire Horse. That are those horses that pulled carriages, but also pilled plowes in the old days. And they got these fluffy feet. That’s really cool. They are not meant to run anywhere. And everyone respects them because they’re really rare and old.

Do you like horse riding?

Fenne Lily: I used to ride horse quite a lot. I grew up in the countryside in Dorset, which is by the sea. And I rode a horse called Katie. And I stopped horse riding because I never used to use a saddle or any tag, so I just held on to her mane and I fell off and she almost stepped on my head. So I had to stop horse riding, because my mum was there and nearly saw my head get squashed.

If you would ride a horse through the wild west and could only take one instrument, which one would that be?

Fenne Lily: Is size a problem? What about a organ?

Well, you are on a horse. The horse could pull the organ.

Yeah, maybe if I had a Shire Horse… I would probably take a Melodica. Those things you blow into.

Why that?

Because they are hilarious (laughing). And I don’t want to be boring, this is a fun interview!

Which awesome race horse name would you choose?

I don’t know, I only know the one called ‘Seabuscuit’. Basically I could choose any two words, couldn’t I? (thinking) Lesley Chrush!

Do you have any songs or bands that you like with the word ‘horse’ in it?

Patti Smith got a record called Horses. I saw her the other weekend, it was amazing! She played in London at a festival called All Points East. And I just read her book as well.

‘Just Kids’?

Yes, and the other one M Train. There is a band called Band Of Horses. And Sparklehorse! That’s one guy, with a band. He is amazing!

If you were a horse, who would you let ride on your back?

I guess someone who is not very heavy. Maybe like Kylie Minogue.

And where would you take her?

Wherever she wanted. Apart from back for Australia, because that’s very far. Maybe just around some lush fields. Or the fence, that’s kind of my name. Probably I would take Kylie Minogue to the fence.

Sam Vance-Law

If you were a horse, which breed would you be?

Whatever the best one is.

Any special color or shape you prefer?

Yeah, horse shaped and probably one of the brown ones. Like a really nice brown glossy coat. And I would have people that would groom me every day and clean out my hooves and stuff.

Do you like horse riding? 

Yeah, I’ve ridden horses before, I looked at horses before, I’ve seen them on television. So I would say I’m very much a horse person. I have a good friend who is a horse. His name is Jolly and he lives in Niedersachsen.

And he is a real horse?

Yes, he’s a real horse. He is one of those horses who look like a cow. He is white and black with spots and everything. And he is huge.

How did you become friends with him?

We’ve gone riding together for the last six or seven years. We’re super close. True story. True fucking story!

If you would ride a horse through the wild west and could only take one instrument, which one would that be?

Like any musical instrument, you mean? I probably take a bugle. It’s like a trumpet thing. I would figure in the wild west you get lost easily. And they are super loud, so if I get in trouble I just blow it. Or one of those sea shells, like horns.

Like in Lord Of The Rings?

Yeah, and you blow it and the Elves come and rescue you. Or the eagles or something. It’s America, so it’s probably the eagles. That’s the only reasonable instrument to take. If anybody done this interview and said something different, they are idiots.

Which awesome race horse name would you choose?

‘Check, One, Two, Three, Check’, that would be the horse’s name. People can remember that, plus it’s fun to say. And on every show people would be refencing my race horse.

Do you have any songs or bands that you like with the word ‘horse’ in it?

Yeah, there is this band called something with vegetables …Prefab Sprout! And they have a song called Wild Horses. I don’t like many horse themed songs, because most of them are not realistic or accurate enough. But that one is. I don’t know if it’s actually called Wild Horses, but something with a horse. And the chorus is great. ‘Wiiild, wiiild, horses’, something like that. It’s a beautiful song, but I don’t know the band. And I’m not a huge fan necessarily of the band, I just know that song and it’s an excellent song.

Did you ever thought about recording a song about a horse?

No, I can’t claim to speak for horses. I don’t want to speak for horses. I can’t write the type of music that they should be writing for themselves. I’m a white, gay male. Human. And I don’t feel like I can write on the behave of other species.

But you could write about them, maybe in a very positive way.

I could definitely do that. I’m a horse ally, definitely! But I feel like that’s maybe something they should do. And obviously I stand behind them and promote that work and help them with it. But that’s a voice that needs to be heard by them, not from me. It’s a message that we need to hear not through some white dude. But through the actual people coming from that place.

If you were a horse, who would you let ride on your back?

Sam: Justin Bieber. Also if I wasn’t a horse. Any animal including human.

And where would you take him?

Sam: Just my bedroom. I think that’s far enough. I hope he hears this.

The Wombats (Tord Øverland-Knudsen)

If you were a horse, which breed would you be?

I’m probably a pony, because I’m not very big.

Do you like horse riding? 

We actually went horse riding in Denver, Colorado on Tour. We had a day off in Denver and we went to this horse riding thing. It was me, Dan (drummer) and Sarah, our tour manager. She was really into horses.

Was it the first time for you?

I tried it before, I’ve done it many times. Me and Dan actually been riding horses in the south of France before.

Any funny stories about that?

When we were in the south of France I lost control over my horse. And it started sprinting into this piece of wood and there was this stick right in front of my face and I managed to duck. My girlfriend was riding in front of my and Dan as well, and they could see my deathface as the horse as just gong for it. I managed to stop it though, but it was a moment were I was like ‘This is not going to end well’.

If you would ride a horse through the wild west and could only take one instrument, which one would that be?

I would take something really small, like a harmonica.

And what would you play?

Just like a classic chord pattern, similar to Dylan or something. As simple as possible.

Which awesome race horse name would you choose?

I go with Steckenpferd.

Do you have any songs or bands that you like with the word ‘horse’ in it?

I like Band Of Horses. I’ve seen them several times, a really good live band and I like the records. Hmmm….I don’t think many people write songs about horses. The Seahorses is a band as well, isn’t it?

 If you were a horse, who would you let ride on your back?

The king of Norway. Because, this is actually a true story: I got a studio in Oslo in a stable. Well, it’s not a stable any more, but it used to be a stable. And the queen used to have her horses in this stable. It’s just behind the castle in Oslo. This is a real story! She’s not alive anymore, but I would take the current king of Norway.

And where would you take him?

To my stable and play him some Wombats songs. (laugh)

The second part featuring Hinds, All Them Witches and ÄTNA will soon be released on NBHAP.