Ten Things I Learnt On Tour
You'd think touring would be a good excuse to get away from your other half.... Wildbirds & Peacedrums Mariam Wallentin tells Ragged Words what she and sole bandmate/ husband Andreas Werliin have learned on tour
1
Andreas has this kind of phobia of getting too long nails, so he always packs a scissors, no matter how far he is going or what else he brings. He can forget his money, his passport or his instruments, but the scissors is always safely packed in his bag.
2
because when you have long periods just travelling in big cities you forget the smell of grass, flowers and trees. And that’s kind of important to remember, makes you more relaxed and gives you the feeling that you’re on a summer holiday. So if you’re passing a flower shop, get inside for a couple of minutes and just take deep long breaths, inhaaaaale!
3
cause that will make you blow up! Sometimes that’s the only thing you find yourself eating on tour, sandwiches, sandwiches..and maybe a pizza, with a bready thick foundation. Brrrr. Fruit and fish make your body swim, we always take the bread away on our rider (and please, what’s with all the Snickers? are Snickers sponsoring the whole music industry or what?)
4
You don’t need to know the language to know the people. Dance together, laugh together or just get really drunk together.
5
6
Yepp. People are mostly kind. Everything else is mostly about instability, sorrow and loneliness.
7
Are what you should look for on every street corner! There is nothing better than spontaneously stopping on your way to soundcheck for a quick fresh cup of cortado at that Spanish coffee stand. And champagne makes you live longer.
8
Hm, my most embarrassing moment EVER I think. I was tired and jet lagged and we´d been bouncing around different cities in different countries for about a week, and we went up on stage in Madrid to do a show and the first thing that comes out of my mouth is: “Hi! Its so wonderful to finally do our first show here in Milan!” Oops. A classic frog jumped out :). We all laughed about it and it was fine and fun (but I actually did it one more time during that evening, my god Mariam, be focused woman! :))
9
are the one’s that stay by your side. Even if you’re away for a year. Or if you live side by side 24 hours.
10
about what you do is sooo important. No matter if you work at the mail, work as a bartender or play music. Prouder people are happier people. And happier people are nice people to meet. And it’s nice to be able to look a person in the eyes when talking. That way a balance is restored.
In your words