Julia: Ruth Barker, front woman is with me in the studio this afternoon.
Ruth: Do you mind being called that?

Ruth: Oh, no. I've had worse!

Julia: But you are, aren't you? The lead vocalist is always called the front man or front woman even if you're not. Even if you've go the easy job.

Ruth: Yeah. But I do actually class myself as the front woman. I do all the patter on stage and keep the lads in check.

Julia: You have to don't you? They're a troublesome lot. Who are we joined by this afternoon?

Ruth: We have Arthur who's playing the guitar and the cello. We have Amar on the keyboard and we have Ian on the bass. Unfortunately we haven't got the drummer today, but hey we didn't have the full band last time. We might make it one day!

Julia: You might yeah, but I know you'll make a lovely sound this afternoon. Breaking the Colours is the new album. So tell us about the making of that. What kind of experience was it?

Ruth: The first thing that comes to mind is lots and lots of hard work. And money! We rehearsed for weeks and weeks. There is no point recording an album if you go into the studio and rehearse because it costs you more money. So after the rehearsing we went in, record, there was mixing, mastering, artwork. Amar, the keyboard player did all the artwork. It's excellent Amar by the way. We got some students in to do photography, put it all together and off for copying, and now we've got it in our hands for people to listen to.

Julia: Are you pleased with the results?

Ruth: Brilliant. I love it! Even though I'm saying so myself, I'm very proud of it. I think the lads are as well.

Julia: Have you had good feedback so far?

Ruth: Yep. Absolutely brilliant. Not just from family and friends. My mother is the number one fan, but total strangers come up to us and say it's absolutely fantastic and people love it. The general feeling is its great.

Julia: Now I know that you love performing live and you've earned your stripes on the live music circuit but how do you feel about going into a recording studio then given, as you say, it's a very expensive business and the pressure is on to get it right? No matter how much you rehearse. You want to get it right in as short a space as possible. Do you enjoy that bit of it?

Ruth: I'm actually not that keen on studio work. It's a bit like having your photo taken. You have to be perfect and everything has to be so right, whereas when you're live you can get away with a few dodgy notes. It's all part of the atmosphere. In the studio, well what actually happened was I recorded all my vocals, went home and cried. I phoned up the studio and said 'I want to come back'.

Julia: Why weren't you happy?

Ruth: I just wasn't happy. It's there forever and I know that I could do better.

Julia: So what stopped you the first time, nerves?

Ruth: I think the tension. It was 'Oh I must get this done in a day, must get this done! I think is just stopped me performing to my best level.

Julia: And you went back?

Ruth: Yeah, and I'm really pleased I did even though it cost more it was worth it.

Julia: And listening to the end result when you heard it for the first time were you completely happy or are you a bit of a perfectionist?

Ruth: I think no matter what I do ever I'll always pick out something that I wish was different, but overall I had a huge grin on my face right the way throughout the album and I couldn't wait for people to hear it.

Julia: What about the rest of the guys, are they happy with the results or do you have someone within the band who's never going to be satisfied and is very picky.

Ruth: Everyone has their own parts which they're not too keen on but with reassurance from the rest of us they learn to live with it. I think that's the case with all musicians. If you're a good musician you'll never be happy, one hundred percent happy with what you do.

Julia: Earlier on in the last hour we had Rob Peters on the programme with Della Roberts and they're performing in the region tonight. They were playing a gig last night, further south, and the were saying that there was a very appreciative crowd but a small crowd and I think a lot of bands an a lot of artists find this, it doesn't matter how good you are it's very difficult to persuade people to get out of a night, especially as the nights are drawing in, part with their well-earned money and support live music. What's you're experience been?

Ruth: Well lately it's actually been better. There are a lot of organisations now around the Northeast working very hard. There's Oozells Promotions, who do a lot of work with the Cluny. There's Northeast Band Zone and Generator and Northern Arts. They're working very hard and I must say it's improved a hundred per cent. Keep up the good work guys!

Julia: So when you're saying they're helping, they're supporting, are they promoting.

Ruth: Promoting, they're organising. Yes. Letting people know what's happening. Spreading the word. Doing a very good job.

Julia: So what of the future, because Gladstone, you all have other interests don't you? You all have sort of 'pay-the-rent' jobs. What's the long term plan? Full-time music?

Ruth: That would be my dream come true. I've always loved music. I did full time music when I did the club circuit but I think I had enough of that whereas original music would be fantastic. That's why we work. That's why I do my job, so that one day it will happen. I have total faith that it will.

Julia: Good luck. We'll let you get back next door.

Ruth: Thank you Julia.

Julia: Walk Slowly. We don't want you to be out of breath when you get into the next studio. Ruth Barker thanks very much for joining us. You can hear Ruth and the rest of the band in just a moment. Let me remind you that Gladstone's new album 'Breaking the Colours', is out now. You can buy it form Pet Sounds in Newcastle, Reflex, RPM and Spin. They're going to play a couple of tracks for us this afternoon back to back. The second piece of music is a song called Try Your Own Words but firstly, for Radio Newcastle across the Northeast this is Gladstone with Curse.

Songs…..

Julia: Gladstone, live across the Northeast. You heard Curse firstly, followed by 'TYOW'. And buy the album. It's out now in Pet Sounds, Reflex, RPM and Spin.