Q&A Scene: Miriam Lieberman

Tell us about your new single?

Infinite We Are is a song about the power of imagination. And specifically the power of collective imagination – sharing our dreams and ideas as a way of surpassing our own limitations and finding solutions to things yet unsolved.

What’s your favourite work at this point in time?

My favourite work of another artist is A Case of You by Joni Mitchell. This to me is a timeless song that demonstrates prowess not only in vocal ability but song structure and conveying deep complex emotions within a song.

How would you describe your sound in food form and why?

My trio members sing harmony like a large dose of warm sticky date pudding shared teaspoon by teaspoon with dear friends. The vanilla icecream on the side are the string arrangements melting and melding with amber coloured caramel sauce .

Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.

In the final days of my Crowdfunding campaign for my penultimate album Full Circle, I anxiously left our gigs at a festival where we had just played so that I could get back on my computer to get the word out online as loudly as I could in those final hours. I drove all the way from Canberra (where the festival was) to the outskirts of Sydney stopping only because my tank was empty. When I went to pay, I panicked – my wallet was nowhere to be seen. I searched the entire car but nothing. Finally, I walked to the passenger side of the vehicle and looked up. My wallet had travelled on the roof resting on my roof racks all the way from Canberra to Sydney. True story !

What, or who, inspires you?

People who are self-made who have the belief, determination and grit to keep doing it anyway all the way, staying kind to others in the process.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

Blackbird by The Beatles. It’s such a poetic and whimsical song. It seems like a fable, it’s both bitter and sweet and always brings beauty to my ears.

What’s next for you?

Getting back on the road and touring the brand new album released on 28th May to Sydney, regional NSW, Far Nth QLD, and Melbourne

What’s your scene?

Open minded, eclectic, not easily boxable, creative, nature awed, authentic.

MIRIAM LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO INFINITE WE ARE

Praise for Infinite We Are:

“‘Infinite We Are’ is an enthralling, intoxicating piece of blissful wonder” – Rolling Stone

“Stylish, polished folk that hints at colonial times, yet also features feathery-soft strings that evoke hauntingly beautiful memories to mind, Miriam Lieberman’s latest single ‘Infinite We Are’ is a mesmerising ride that vibes Kate Bush, but also sounds completely modern” – SCENESTR

Unconventional singer-songwriter Miriam Lieberman has today announced her sophisticated new single Infinite We Are, a beautiful track about the power of imagination, out today, May 7. The stunning song is accompanied by a sweet, colourful animated clip by artist Aidan Judd. Infinite We Are is the first taste of Miriam’s upcoming album Just Transforming, created during the tumultuous year of 2020, set for releae on May 28. To celebrate the release, this captivating artist will take her trio on the road around New South Wales, kicking off at The Rhythm Hut in Gosford on May 7, then moving through Wauchope, Wingham, Blue Mountains, Marrickville, Newcastle, and back to Marrickville before wrapping with a show in Melbourne at Open Studio on July 23.

There is something otherworldly about Infinite We Are. The track feels evocative of classic songwriters and storytellers Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon, but there is a unique element to the tone and delivery of the music and lyrics that is almost indescribable. Magical harmonies, sweeping strings and a reverent, delicate arrangement characterise this song and it’s easy to get lost in its soft power. Speaking on the inspiration behind Infinite We Are, Miriam explains, “This song is about the power of imagination. It’s about sharing our dreams, stories and imaginings as a way to go beyond our own limitations, and the benefit of dreaming.” The clip for Infinite We Are encapsulates this perfectly – a dreary black and white world is peppered, and eventually overcome with colour as the song progresses. The animation is sweet, endearing and beautifully reflective of the power of this song, as Miriam describes, “I had an idea that I wanted the video to begin in black and white, with a feeling of separation and alienation that through the characters allowing themselves to dream would turn into a colourful, nature inclusive space were the characters reconnected with each other.”

Infinite We Are is just a taste of what to expect from Lieberman’s new album Just Transforming. These songs feel like lullabies as the antidote to the stresses of modern daily life; the title track encourages the listener to continue changing and growing, and songs like Little Bird offer thoughtful insight into the passing of time and cycle of life. These are grand themes, and they are presented beautifully through breathtaking strings arrangements – featuring Miriam herself on the kora, a 21-stringed African harp – intricate, developed vocal melodies and gentle, rolling percussion. Reflecting on the process of making Just Transforming, Miriam says, “In this crazy past year of uncertainty, I’ve come back to my songwriting after a hiatus of becoming a mum. The result is an album of new songs about our incredible and fragile planet, about becoming a mum, about imagination and about our need for each other. It’s my intention to empower and uplift people with this music.”

This is a collection of songs meant to be experienced live, with Miriam’s unique lineup of strings and kora, plus gorgeous three part harmonies from her trio. Luckily for audiences in New South Wales, there are plenty of opportunities to catch Miriam Lieberman

and her trio live throughout May and June this year.

Infinite We Are is out on May 7. Just Transforming is out May 28.

MIRIAM LIEBERMAN JUST TRANSFORMING NSW TOUR

FRI 7 MAY | THE RHYTHM HUT, GOSFORD NSW | ALL AGES SINGLE LAUNCH

Tickets available from https://therhythmhut.com.au/

SAT 8 MAY | WAUCHOPE ARTS, WAUCHOPE, NSW | ALL AGES SINGLE LAUNCH

Tickets available from https://wauchopearts.org.au/whats-on.php

SUN 9 MAY |WINGHAM PRESBYTARIAN CHURCH, WINGHAM NSW | ALL AGES SINGLE LAUNCH

Tickets available via phone or text Sandra 0409269939

SAT 15 MAY | HYDRO MAJESTIC BALLROOM, BLUE MOUNTAINS , NSW | ALL AGES SINGLE LAUNCH

Tickets available from https://events.humanitix.com/mlt

SUN 30 MAY | DJANGO CAMELOT, MARRICKVILLE, NSW | ALL AGES ALBUM LAUNCH