Out in the open is where I want to be. There’s wisdom in the wind.
Hailing from the Wirral, The Sundowners brand of quietly audacious and mysteriously melancholic music drifts along like Lana Del Ray in your local Lidl. Here we talk to their singer Niamh Rowe.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on getting better on the guitar and my own music.
What has been your biggest life challenge and what did you do to overcome it?
Gaining confidence in my ability to sing. My bandmate Fiona made me feel like I was good enough and gave me the confidence I lacked.
What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?
Spending the day outside with the people I love.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
My loved ones.
Complete this sentence: “Ace mental health for me means…”
Not being self-deprecating.
What do you eat to stay healthy?
I cook everything from scratch with fresh ingredients and avoid processed foods.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new ability to aid your health what would it be?
The ability to be rational when emotions are high.
Do you have a daily routine of exercise or do you make it up as you go along?
No. My job and life are pretty active and I like to go outside and look around. Being cooped up with a rigorous exercise routine does not work for me.
Here at The Mind Map, we remember playing football and ‘tag’, running around the playground every day and loving it – can you share a similar memory?
I grew up in Overchurch on The Wirral with a big field and woods behind our back gate. I spent most of my time climbing trees and building dens. Being outside is one of the most important things for me.
Who was your best friend at school? What was the funniest thing they did?
My best friend was and still is Rachel although we went to different schools. We locked my little sister in a cupboard for hours, was funny at the time, seems very cruel now.
Pumps or trainers for PE?
Trainers.
Name your top five best vegetables.
Spinach, pak choi, green beans, sprouts, and asparagus.
Name your top five best fruits.
Bananas, grapes, pineapple, mango, passion fruit.
What three songs lift your spirits?
Tom Petty – Even The Losers
Travelling Willbury’s – Heading For The Light
Peter Tosh – Legalise It.
What is your favourite self-help book or motivational quote?
I found Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums gave me a real sense of inner peace when I read that.
What advice do you offer to friends when they are feeling overwhelmed?
That’s a hard one because every situation is massively different, so the best thing to do is give them a nonjudgmental ear and just be there for them.
@TheSundownersUK