The creative mind behind an already iconic, colour-changing, Cornish rose gin – made in Penwith, stocked by the likes of Fortnum & Masons – Hannah Lamiroy of Tinkture is a master of the perfect blend. We asked her to turn her distiller’s hand to this issue’s All Work No Playlist – a delicious concoction of soul, blues and bangers.
Listen out for her gin-house tunes playing from the corners of 45 Queen Street, Penzance, an industrial warehouse Hannah’s been turning into a gin-loving, rose-tinted, gathering place.
It’s the start of your creative working day. What do you do first?
After the mayhem of getting my two kids up, dressed, fed and off to school I head straight into the office which is only about 5 minutes away from our house. I put on my little stove top espresso, fill Olive’s water bowl and do a little round of my plants – making sure they have enough water – and then I sit down to check my emails.
At what point in your day do you turn to music?
Music goes on very first thing, as soon as I get in the office – and it’s there all the time, all day. It’s neither a distraction nor a concentration aide. I’ve just always had music in my life … given the chance I would happily sleep to it.
Where does all your work for Tinkture happen?
While it does not look like anything special from the outside, I love my little office just outside of Perranporth. It feels like a real sanctuary, full of plants with views over the surrounding fields. It is high up, and feels like a tree house. With windows on both sides, and a glass skylight, it makes me feel more connected to the elements, especially when it rains or when the south westerly is howling. It’s become both a place of work as well as a home from home, it really has a lovely vibe to it now.
Is music an important part of your creative process and if so, why?
I just find I’m happier when I’m listening to music, it just makes me feel better, it’s a comfort, I guess, in a funny way… and I like the familiarity of certain songs, like a friend stopping by to say ‘hello’.
How do you listen? Headphones or out loud? Online or old school?
Always out loud, and generally online , mainly on Spotify playlists. I guess I’m still of that generation that thinks vinyl is interesting and ‘cool’, while tapes are still too close – and actually what we grew up with.
Is the music you listen to for work different from the music you listen to recreationally?
Nope … I’m pretty consistent in that way, I just like what I like and listen to it whatever the situation. I think because my musical taste is so wide ranging, from classical, to folk, to cajun to rock, blues, soul, world music, reggae, r&b and indie… pretty much all genres. If one song doesn’t quite hit the mark in that moment, the next one probably will!
What one song or album can you rely on to get your synapses firing?
Hmmm, it really does depend on my mood, I tend to build my playlists in moods… ‘mellow’, ‘dance like nobodies watching’, ‘driving’, ‘YESSS’, ‘rest up’ – that kind of thing.
Could you share with us your creative playlist? The songs you find yourself going back to when you need to really get in the zone?
I can do better than that. Here is my ‘Gin House Blues’ playlist … It’s a work in progress. We play it at 45 Queen Street… The future home of Tinkture.