What’s your favourite work at this point in time?
Black Lips, Dead Trees. This will be the title track of our debut album being released very soon. In writing lyrics, I love to add a touch of the macabre and often supernatural, telling a story of someone who is haunted by a ghost, or planning murder. I love this song as it incorporates all that I adore about writing stories that pour from my soul when I write with the catchy licks and enticing anticipation of the musical styles of the rest of our band.
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote…
On the Road: Ha! I wish! My dream would be to tour Europe on a bus with our names sprawled across the side, KISS style! Ahh, one can but dream.
In the Studio: We have been lucky enough to record with Locki Lockwood at the eerie and intriguing Spooky Records Studio, Creepy Hallow! It is adorned with an awesome sight of taxidermied animals, frozen in time that stared back at us as we waltzed down the halls. A menagerie of cats, chooks, pigeons and a very friendly magpie family kept us company in the break times we had discussing our recordings.
What, or who, inspires you?
Such a hard question to answer. I could write a book on the artists who have influenced me. My taste in music spans across time and space. I dance around to the old school blues and jazz of North America in the 20s, 30s and 40s. The Andrews Sisters, Etta James, Besse Smith just to name a few. I kick my heals up and fling my skirt around for the flapper era swing tunes of the Big Bands such as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. My all time favourite song is “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman. I feel I was born in the wrong era, often pinning my hair up in pin curls, victory rolls or trying my hand at the odd finger wave, when I can figure out how to do it! My grandma loves it when I bring my guitar over and sing some of her old favourites to her.
David Bowie and the Beatles brought me to learn guitar in my youth. I know every song inside out. My teenage bedroom walls were covered in Beatles posters. I am also influenced by more modern musicians such as the delicious story telling styles of Tom Waits, and the cute folk vocals of She & Him as well as Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. Not to mention the crazy rock and roll styling of Japan’s the 5, 6, 7,8s. You’ve just gotta love the Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction soundtracks! Then I will wind down with some classical, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Chopin Nocturne op. 9 no. 2 when I am stuck in traffic or contemplating homicide.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Oh, to have the dark, yet soulful talent of Leonard Cohen and to be able to have created anything from his repertoire. Dance Me to the End of Love is one I have sung to myself again and again, wearing my fingers out on my guitar.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
A cake with many layers.
What’s next for you?
Our album is due to be released later this year along with film clips. Writing more tunes for a 2nd album and hopefully planning a tour if all goes to plan.
What’s your scene?
We slip in somewhere between folk and rock, with hints of punk and a touch of cabaret.
About 3CR
Since 1976 Melbourne community radio station 3CR has been a crucial component to the lifeblood for the city’s creative community. So when 3CR’s Music Co-ordinator Paul Elliott put a call out for some of the city’s greatest musicians and creatives to perform over two glorious nights of entertainment at his 3CR Fundraiser gigs taking place on
Thursday 27th April at The Bella Union and Sunday 30th April at Northcote Social Club (matinee gig), he wasn’t at a loss for hands in the air.
The first of the 3CR benefit gigs to be held on Thursday 27th April will showcase a diverse array of talent.
3CR DJs Kate n Suzie will be spinning tracks for a lazy Thursday followed by the official launch of the second edition of Ian McFarlane’s The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop (the most comprehensive guide to the bands and artists who moulded the shape of Australian popular music from 1956 to 2016) and including a Q&A with Ian and Michael Helms (Fatal Visions, Film Buffs’ Forecast, 3CR’s Planet X) Copies are available on the night with a sales percentage donated to 3CR. Next Fiona Scott-Norman gives a rare return performance of her acclaimed show, The Needle and The Damage Done, a joyous romp through a top ten of the worst records ever released in the history of the world. To round out your trifecta of music-appreciation, Clem Bastow, Casey Bennetto, Scott Edgar and Christos Tsiolkas take to the stage with an unleashed and upfront version of their free association radio show, Superfluity 3RRR. With ringmaster Jonathan Alley (3RRR’s Under The Sun) keeping everyone on track, this jam-packed night of goodness will be a riotous fun. Tickets are $30 pre-sale (or $35 on the door if not sold out) via Bella Union website.
Then on Sunday 30th April the 3CR benefit matinée show kicks off at 1.30 at Northcote Social Club with three of Melbourne’s hottest acts. : Ekranoplans, Winter Sun, and BJ Morriszonkle. Music critic Michael Helms describes Ekranoplans as “…this bunch of hard rocking psychedelic Soviet sympathisers demand your attention…” Winter Sun are an eclectic rock outfit specializing in sets of space, dynamics, melody, harmonies and a hypnotic roller coaster ride swinging from dirty ass blues to bitter-sweet ballads. BJ Morriszonkle is a weirdo composer and one man band, who combines cartoon music, depressed cowboy pop songs, junk that sounds like B-Grade sci-fi movie music from the 50’s and trash / clown metal. $10 pre-sale or ($more on the door if not sold out) via Eventbrite website.
3CR provides a voice for those denied access to the mass media, par- ticularly the working class, women, Indigenous people and the many community groups and community issues discriminated against in and by the mass media. Whilst 3CR has always a bastion of goodwill for these groups plus the creative industries via the airwaves of community radio, it’s always been a struggle financially for the station to pay their broadcasting bills. So come along to either or both of 3CR’s fundraisers on Thurs 27th April at Bella Union and Sun 30th April matinee gig at Northcote Social Club and be safe in the knowledge your hard earned cash is helping 3CR continue high quality radical broadcasting.
3CR Benefit Gigs
Thurs 27th April @ The Bella Union at the Trades Hall
Cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton
3CR DJs Kate & Suzie, Encyclopedia of Australian Rock & Pop launch
with Q&A, The Needle & The Damage Done, Superfluity DJs
plus MC Jonathan Alley (3RRR)
$30 pre-sale ($35 on door if available) via Bella Union website.
Doors open : 6.30pm
Sun 30th April @ Northcote Social Club
301 High Street Northcote
Ekranoplans, Winter Sun, and BJ Morriszonkle
Pre-sale tickets on sale now : $10 + BF
via www.eventbrite.com.au
Doors open : 1.30pm
For more information go to :
www.3cr.org.au
www.bellaunion.com.au/event/1162/