Jacob Anderson talks his music career, Gwendoline Christie talks chic giraffes

It’s the off-season, so various Game of Thrones actors are indulging in their side projects, at least when they’re not jetting off to Belfast or Croatia or Spain to film the sixth season of the show in what they fruitlessly hope will be privacy. To that end, Jacob Anderson recently sat down with Gay Times Magazine to discuss a part of his life I didn’t even know he had: his music career.

Maybe the reason I was in the dark was because, when he does music, Anderson performs under the stage name Raleigh Ritchie. In any case, he’ll be releasing a debut album shortly, and put out a soulful single called “Bloodsport” to whet fans’ appetites.

https://soundcloud.com/raleigh-ritchie/bloodsport-2016

Anderson joins Kristian Nairn (Hodor) in the ranks of Game of Thrones cast members who also do music. Joint tour?

When it comes to balancing music and acting, Anderson says that it’s not much of a problem, and gives us some insight into his Game of Thrones shooting schedule.

"I think it’s probably more difficult for my manager. Normally I just get an email or a phone call saying ‘make sure you’re here at this time’. It’s about six weeks shooting spread out over six months. To me it never really feels like a balancing act."

Also, because this is an interview with an from Game of Thrones, Gay Times had to get his opinion on Is-Jon-Snow-Dead-gate. Put Anderson in Probably Not. “I’m waiting for find out myself,” he said. “If I had to put money on it then I’d say no. I think anything is possible but I promise you that’s not a hint.”

For the full interview, including a much deeper dive into his music, head on over to Gay Times Magazine.

Elsewhere, Gwendoline Christie spoke to Speakeasy about her latest side project: voicing a giraffe who dreams of working in the fashion industry.

I know—that probably isn’t a collection of words you ever expected to see so close together, but it makes some sense. Christie has put her love of fashion on display before, so she jumped at the chance to record the audiobook version of Mitford at the Fashion Zoo, illustrator Donald Robertson‘s children’s book about that giraffe earlier. “It was very exciting for me to inhabit a range of different characters very different from my character on ‘Game of Thrones,’” Christie said, “and to do something that was funny, primarily for children, but it’s for kids of all ages.”

Mitford at the Fashion Zoo is due to be released in hardcover and as a bundled e-book-audiobook on August 11, for all those readers with fashion-crazed kids in the audience. If Christie has her way, she’ll return as Mitford for any future stories Robertson comes up with, and would love to play the giraffe “when the inevitable movie comes out.”

Next: Game of Thrones Season 5 available for purchase on August 31st