POETRY

Murray Lachlan Young in conversation with Paul Blezard

Here at Lockdown LitFest we ‘have history’ with Mr Murray Lachlan Young, eternal enfant terrible of poetry and performance art, famed for social-satirical gems like Simply Everyone’s Taking Cocaine, A Love Bomb Has Fallen on Hay-on-Wye, and A Dogging I will Go.

He also does childrens’ parties. His epic, twisted Gothic verse show, The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps, premiered at London’s Wilton Music Hall in November 2019 to plaudits from Michael Rosen, Claudia Winkleman, Rhys Ifans and Hilda (aged 6), who rated it 10 out of 10 in The Guardian.

It’s with delight that we present our interview with Murray.

As the UK relaxes lockdown rules in non-essential retail, we commend to you Hartnoll & Young’s oblique ‘celebration’ of the moment. Paul Hartnoll, one half of ground-breaking electronic dance music duo Orbital, has been working with Murray on an album of lockdown-inspired musical collusions. Its first fruit is the single I’m Going Shopping, with artwork by British sculptor Abigail Fallis, famed for her commentaries on over-consumption, and a video by long-time Orbital collaborator, Giles Thacker.

Says Murray:

““Paul and I both thought whilst lockdown seemed to be shifting its shape on an almost hourly basis – it might be useful to try to offer a little bit of light-hearted perspective on things.  Lyrically, I felt it was important to not lose sight of the surreal elements of the whole experience. I also felt that people could do with a bit of a laugh.”