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PJ Harveyhas achieved one of musics rarest feats: a water-tight discography with few weak spots and little repetition.
For three decades, that approach has received unwavering adulation from fans, critics, and peers.
That rush followed a period of musical silence from Harvey.
You originally envisionedOrlamas a piece for the stage.
I think thatI Insideis a strong piece of work that stands on its own.
How far back does the catalog stretch on the setlist?Oh, back to album one.
I think itll be a really comprehensive show for all ages of PJ Harvey fans.
Its been a great joy actually to play some of those earlier songs.
I havent played many of them live for years.
So I think its gonna be a special show for that reason as well.
How has it been embodying the voices of early PJ?
I worked very closely with John Parish, whos been my right-hand man for 30 years.
But I think over the evening, it will be a very slow progression.
A sort of gradual change occurs rather than lots of greater changes all the way through.
Have you thought at all about what your relationship with the audience will be like on tour?
So Im looking after myself now as a 53-year-old and that will change the show.
But there are wonderful things too, in that my voice is actually better than its ever been.
The voice is an instrument that you carry with you inside and its affected by emotion.
Thats a phrase youve used a lot in your latest press cycle: As I get older.
I remember the other one was turning 30.
That felt like a milestone to me.
Im not sure when my next one will be 65, maybe.
So I noticed it then in quite a big way.
So you have to be really fit.
And then you put movement and dancing on top of that.
Do you see any parallels between childhood and getting older?
And I think it did take me back to my childhood feelings and imagination.
Its such a joy to readOrlamaloud.
I love language and I love dialects from all countries and from all counties.
I think its absolutely fascinating how words have evolved and changed over so many years.
Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote?I do.
I think it was about my friend Cindy.
I had obviously fallen out with her.
Id also write poems about our animals, our cats, and our sheep.
It was when I first learned to write.
We used to have these little books at our first school when I was 5 or 6.
And I loved this book.
I carried it around with me while playing in the garden or in the woods.
Wherever I was I was making little drawings and writing little poems.
Ive still got it because my dear mum saved everything myself and my brother ever did.
And I actually find that quite lovely.
I mean, you see it in the poetry drafts.
Its a lot of work and a lot of time.
I also think it can be useful to younger artists to see that process.
So for instance, the back of the album dress is like the first draft.
I think there is something beautiful about showing this sort of skeletal process behind it all.
I worked for years with a wonderful theater director called Ian Rickson.
FromLet England Shakeonwards, hes directed my live shows.
I dont feel like I have to embody a different person.
So it doesnt mean Im not Polly doing that.
Now that youve been through that, do you feel more purposeful going into this one?I do.
I think I had to go through that questioning.
And I think the answer is yes.
