There has been a lot of interest in recent years in making live music and gigs more accessible and the up-and-coming band, Chasing Deer, have chosen to put it at the forefront of their latest album – so we thought we’d ask them a few questions:
How did you first become interested in sign-language:
The main thing for us was the universal nature of a hand sign such as fingers crossed. It made us realise that all around us hand signals and signs mean many things, one of them being an entire signing community we may not notice or understand.
When did you first team up with the British Deaf Association:
We first approached them for advice to make sure each piece of artwork was BSL Interpreter approved. We wanted to do the project accurately as well as artistically.
What has been the most memorable moment since incorporating British Sign Language into your live set:
Whilst doing our larger budget and venue shows we have insisted on having our musical performances signed / interpreted. Our performance at Trafalgar square was the biggest one of these performances. It’s a whole new feeling of songwriting pride when you see your song essentially being ‘sung’ in sign language. The signers we have worked with also have a very fun way of joining in with the movements of the song whilst also portraying the words. Our Bush hall performance will be signed.
What does the future look like for sign language in live performances:
It means a lot to us to open up our music, which we write for anybody and everybody to be accessible to all too. There’s a big market for deaf stand up comedy nights and large venues, tours and festivals are slowly catching on to having signers at performances too. We went to British Summer Time this year and we’re please to see British sign language live on the big screen.
Chasing Deer’s debut album will be launched at a show at the historic Bush Hall and will see them perform a fully BSL accessible show, with an interpreted performance on stage. Audience members will be able to get their hands on the CD a whole week before general release, in addition to copies of a very limited vinyl release!
Buy tickets here https://bushhall.seetickets.com/event/chasing-deer/bush-hall/1227795
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dYpvLzQD7hengPe9uhize?si=xk3A1vssRpGnlU1AuqfYdQ
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chasingdeer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chasingdeer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chasingdeerband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasingdeerband/