Hello Wyrd Daze, I’m a musician/field recordist/producer who goes by the name ‘Poppy H’ – Poppy being the name everyone called my grandad who I never met. I began releasing music in October 2023 with the album ‘NOTHING IS PERFECT, EVERYTHING IS PERFECT’ – a record kindly reviewed by music writing legend and all round good guy Spenser Tomson for The Wire. ‘Grave Era’ was released by the great, patient and very supportive Steve at Cruel Nature Records in February 2024 – it has gained some nice comments from The Quietus, new music champion Stephan Kunze (check out Zen Sounds on Substack) and Philip Sherburne (who coined the term ‘Smartphone Concrete’ in relation to my style, as I record everything straight into the mic on my phone and mix and master on the same device) as well as several other quality mags, blogs, radio shows and listeners. In late Feb I went to Japan on a work trip and, not being able to sleep at night, I made an album instead – ‘Nemurenai’ is a digi only self-release on Bandcamp and was also covered by the fantastic Mr Sherburne in his Futurism Reinstated site on Substack. A few days after that, Cruel Nature opened tape pre-orders on ‘Confidence of Crisis’ – a three track album of menacing sounds and beats that is probably a bit much for some ears. I am working on a new record now that is sounding somewhat like a sequel to Grave Era, but I am also considering projects beyond pure music: working with visual artists, maybe some soundtrack work. I just have to keep busy, otherwise who knows what could happen?
Where did you come from and where are you going?
I’m from east London but have gradually moved further east toward the Suffolk coast. I’m happy here. No idea where I’m going particularly – if not for being fairly anchored by work I’d honestly go wherever the wind and music thing takes me.
What preoccupies your mind these days?
My mind is always whirring away, I think that’s why I always have a project or two on the go outside of work (I am never not making new music) – distracting myself from things, a bit of self preservation maybe. More specifically, I rarely stop thinking about the genocide in Gaza (neither should I), the eventual and inevitable death of loved ones, various social injustices made worse in Britain by years of Tory rule and right wing, racist parties gaining power globally. Then there’s the regular closures of music venues and the dismantling of cultural magazines and outlets. We need music blogs, mags, venues and writers more than ever. And full time musicians need to be paid properly for what they do. The world would be all the more shit without all of the above. All cheery stuff, like. On a positive note, music preoccupies my mind and ears any given moment. There’s a lot of beauty still in the world to soak up if you can, and a lot of incredible artists bringing it into focus.
Name a favourite taste, touch, sound, sight and smell
Taste: either the strongest black coffee imaginable or a very hot prawn pathia (no coriander) – I have the least refined palate – extreme, dark, spicy flavours are my jam. Touch: I vividly recall a certain sensory ecstasy kneading Playdough as a kid. Sound: outside of traditional music, the dawn chorus rocks and the accidental rhythm of machines, vehicles, raindrops etc. Sight: I never tire of that moment you reach the top of hill giving you the first glimpse of the sea. Smell: petrol, glue, a blown out matchstick – it really is a wonder, given my addictive personality, that I’m not a solvent-abusing arsonist. The list of things I’ve given up now includes meat, booze, gambling, crisps and chocolate. All or nothing.
Describe one of your most vivid dreams or nightmares
My most vivid dream/nightmare is recounted in my track ‘Two Lion Statues’ from my debut album – I dreamt that me and my mum were in a car crash resulting in her turning into two lion statues. It’s my earliest memory.
Have you ever had an uncanny experience?
When my mate I went our separate ways to university, we were living at opposite sides of the country. A bloke I quickly became friends with happened to be the mate of a fella my mate from back home had befriended hundreds of miles away. If that makes sense?
How does your sense of place affect the way you express yourself?
It’s incredibly important. Through field recordings, I bottle up how I’m affected in places I like being, places I feel uncomfortable, amused, threatened, unwelcome. More generally, I’m privileged to feel more settled than ever at home these days and that allows for a purity of expression, a blank canvas or slate from which to delve into the deep shit.
What has particularly touched or inspired you recently?
I can be inspired by just about anything, big or small – which is why I am always sending myself emails as reminders of what has moved or excited me. My paid profession is creative and ideas based, so I’m something of a well-oiled machine when it comes to processing a constant flow of inspiration that might relate to future music production. Recently, I’ve been particularly moved by a number of Studio Ghibli films – don’t know why I hadn’t watched them sooner – and those of extra-ordinary director Yasujirō Ozu (I could just live in his worlds night after night). Closer to home, Charlotte Regan’s brilliant and brutal film ‘Scrapper’ (2023), based in and around where I grew up, blew me away – as did Rafael Toral’s new record ‘Spectral Evolution’, and I have been touched by the general good vibes afforded me by the experimental music community.
Tell us a good story, anecdote or joke
This is by far the hardest question for me. I am so bad at telling stories, holding court and that, and I have such a bad memory for jokes. OK, a very short, unamusing, uninteresting anecdote. Through the day job, I booked Hue & Cry to perform live (as a kid I loved a few of their tunes), afterwards I cheekily asked them to play at my forthcoming wedding. Taking a good look at me, Pat Kane says something to the effect of “It’ll cost ya”, knowing full well that cost was well beyond my means – scruffy oik as I look. Nice bloke though Pat and one of many Scottish bands I’ve had a thing for. I don’t know my biological dad, but I’m sure there must be some Scottish in the bloodline somewhere giving my love of so much Scottish music. [I ended up DJing at my own wedding couldn’t leave that shit to chance…]
Poppy H
Wyrd Daze 