Interview with Arts Hub

What did you want to be when you grew up?
To be honest I didn’t dare dream it. I was petrified of disappointing myself. But secretly music bubbled away inside of me, and then I would let it out in the quiet moments and throw my voice around and wonder whether anyone would ever want to hear it.. then I realized it wasn’t about anyone else. I had to sing to be.

What did you become?
I spent many years creating fantastic distractions and tried my hand at a million things, all the while telling myself “who was I to dare to be a musician… musicians are so SPECIAL!!” Eventually I realized I was miserable and I couldn’t hide anymore! I am now a musician, a mama, and a juggler one of the many other hats I wear!

How would you describe your music to a complete stranger?
Ohhhhh.. I always struggle with this question. Soul, Swamp, Storyteller????

What’s your background – are there studies that prepare you for this?
My background is broad and varied.. from accounting to waitressing, Parenting to tour managing, working on communities, and lots and lots of travel.. only real life’s trials and tribulations could prepare me for this!

Tell us about a song or artist that has been influential in your career (and probably no one’s really heard much about)?
I am constantly influenced by so many different things… great writers like Arundhati Roy, great shakers like Elvis, great dreamers like Nelson Mandela, great partnerships like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, great voodoo men and women like Doctor John, Fela Kuti and Aretha Franklin… I am inspired by the risk takers, the path shapers and mostly I am inspired by my children! Their freedom, quick to scream, quick to laugh, quick to cry, quick to forgive, and quick to stay present and go with the great flow!

What’s the first thing career related you usually do each day?
Career related? All of my life/work/creative stuff is so jumbled into one big fur ball! The first thing I do is make school lunches and breakfasts!! Then when the barrage of demands starts to subside I put some music on and check my emails and planner for the day, and then attempt to move through my day without feeling overwhelmed!

Can you describe an “average” working day for you?
Working day… I suppose I don’t see my creativity as work.. it is life blood.. so when I am asked to describe a working day I think about emails and logistics and phone calls. My average working day is a fantastic combo of juggling balls, dropping them, picking them up, attempting to swallow fire and generally ending up too exhausted to sing a note by the end of it all!!

What’s the one thing – piece of equipment, toy, security-blanket – that you can’t work without?
My voice. My ears. I love to listen. I love to talk. I love to laugh out loud. I love to sing.

What gets you fired up?
Scotch and Dry. Tequila!!!
Is that what you meant?
I get fired up in a positive way by great friends great food and great music. I love a good hoe down hip shaking earth quaking boogie!

I get fired up in a negative way by hidden agendas and dishonesty. I can’t bear dishonesty. I innately want to trust everyone is telling the truth at all times and am mortified when faced with a lie.

Who in the industry most inspires you?
Sebastian Chase: MGM distribution: for his generousity, innovation, and encouragement. His endless enthusiasm for the “music business” is so deeply driven by his profound love for Australian music and his undying commitment to proliferate it far and wide.

John Butler: For being so brave and driven to stand up for his beliefs and inspire so many others to do the same.

Carlo Santone: Blue King Brown::; for seemingly having ENDLESS energy to channel into his own project with BKB and then to spread that abundance with as many emerging acts as he possibly can. Another extremely generous being.

What in the industry do you despair about?
When music or musicians are treated as disposable fashion commodities.

What is the best thing about your job?
I get to work with people who are doing what they love. I get to do what I love!

What’s the worst?
Feeling like I rarely strike the balance between being a Mama, a Professional and a Musician.

What song do you wish you had written?
I have a few..
Devils Haircut – Beck
Mellow Mood – Bob Marley
I thought you were God -Clare Bowditch
Nothing Brings Me Down – Emiliana Torrini
Caleb Meyer and Everything is Free Gillian Welch

Oh I could go on and on .. I will refrain!!!

What are the top three skills you need in this industry?
Generosity, Integrity, Humility

What advice would you give a young muso looking to break into the field?
Gig gig gig gig gig.. then find creative ways to gig some more. Practice your craft. Then practice it some more. Build a team around you that feel PASSIONATE about your music, and have the skill set to expand and support the journey. They get it. They get the vision and want to be a part of realising it. Articulate what is SUCCESS. Then take strategic and brave steps towards your vision.

When do you know you’ve made it?
When I sing my kids a song and they say.. “I love that song Mum…. Play it again.”