CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION FOR MARRIED TO THE SOUND?

Some of the songs from ‘Married to the Sound’ have been in the pipes for a long time. I was touring heavily with my lady folk band All Our Exes Live in Texas between 2012 and 2018. All four of us were fully invested in that project. I was still writing songs for myself, but I wasn’t able to perform or record them, so they just sat on the shelf. ‘Big Dipper’ and ‘Loose Lips’ were written during those years. ‘Permanent Limbo’ and ‘People Come and People Go’ were written during the sudden hiatus and relationship break up that followed the period of intense touring with All Our Exes Live in Texas. I was pretty sad and burnt out - that doesn’t necessarily come across in the songs but that’s the place I was writing from. Then I met my beautiful partner Joel and wrote ‘Oregon’ - which is a love song. After that came songs about being tired because I had small children (‘Not Tired at All’ and ‘Your Eyes Are Wild’) and then the pandemic hit and with it came the protest songs: Shitty Shit and Cephalopods. Bulletproof was written about my beautiful but stubborn dad who had a medical emergency.

So this album was a long time coming.

WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES AND HOW DO THEY AFFECT YOUR SONGWRITING? I

I have always wanted to release a foux-yacht rock record. ‘What A Fool Believes’ by the Doobie Bros is probably one of my favourite songs ever. It’s all about the production and the interweaving piano and guitar lines. When I was writing the album during the pandemic I was finding it really hard to listen to sad music. I needed to be lifted up, plus I had a newborn baby - so I found myself listening to a lot of Vulfpeck and Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Emily King. I think that’s what influenced my songwriting at that time.

WHAT’S THE CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE FOR YOU?

During the pandemic I signed up to iheartsongwriting club which is an online platform for songwriters to deliver 10 songs over 10 weeks within a small group of songwriters and give feedback. I definitely recommend the platform, but it was hard for me to keep up with the output - plus I had a newborn baby. After a few weeks I would get into the rhythm of writing, then I’d be itching to get into the studio and start a new song - so the course ended up being amazing.

When I’m not on a roll like that then it usually requires some kind of emotional upheaval to get me into the songwriting space.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Maternity leave :) God that would be good, wouldn’t it!?! I would love more support for artists in general. The onus is on the artist to provide the music, the videos and all the never-ending content for social media - but the public does not expect to pay for it. That is the result of streaming platforms like Spotify devaluing our work. Forcing us to give it away for free.

I am lucky that I have had such wonderful support from my artist friends and bandmates like Missy Higgins, Josh Pyke and John Butler. Without them I’m not sure I would be able to put my own music out into the world. If you’re not sure what to do about it, buy tickets to a show. Not a Taylor Swift show - an independent artist who isn’t making crazy bank.

WHAT DO YOU THINK LIFE WOULD BE LIKE FOR YOU IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE MUSIC AS AN OUTLET?

I truly don’t know. Sometimes I feel like being ‘Married to the Sound’ is a curse. I write to soothe myself but then why do I need to put it out in the world? What do I need back? Why not just allow it to be ephemeral? These are questions I ask myself. I’m still not sure what the answer is TBH.

Without music I would not have the rich community of friends and loved ones that I have. That said I might have developed better boundaries around career, relationships, family life etc. Hahaha. Oh dear…

Music is a lifelong quest. You gotta slay some dragons to kiss the prince/cess/cess-pool?

I’ll get back to you on this one.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE A CAREER FOR THEMSELVES IN THE INDUSTRY?

Do a marketing degree. Oh hahahaha! My music degree was one of the most rewarding, spiritually fulfilling things I ever did. I use it in musical situations all the time. However, if you want to make money and have a career in the music industry playing your own original music, I would suggest you do a marketing degree or get a job in the music industry and start hanging out and going to gigs. Start a band with your mates, learn your craft and enjoy the creative process because that is the sweetest piece of the pie :)

WHO’S THE MOST INTERESTING PERSON YOU’VE WORKED WITH/MET?

What??? The MOST INTERESTING??? Ummm… everyone I work with is fucking cool. If I didn’t think so at the start of the tour I sure as hell do by the end.

Missy Higgins is endlessly fascinating because she’s weird and introverted despite being the most honest, open person I’ve ever seen on stage. John Butler is hilarious, hyperactive and super intelligent. I love him to death. I met Whitney Houston once! I can’t tell that story anymore because it’s too bizarre. I told it to Sufjan Stevens once and he asked me to leave the room. Brian Campeau (ex-Canadian singer-songwriter who lives in Melbourne) is probably the weirdest/most interesting person I’ve ever worked with. I learned so much about playing music and also what not to do on gigs from him.

ANY UPCOMING SHOWS?

Yes.

Elana Stone - Married to the Sound album release tour:
Friday 1st November - Wollongong (The Servo) SUPPORT - ABBE MAY =
Tickets

Sat 2nd November - Sydney (Mary's Underground) ABBE MAY SUPPORT

Doors 6:30pm

Tickets

Sunday 3rd November - Dangar Island Bowling Club

(James Daley support)

Club Opens: 12.00pm

Tickets

Friday 8th November - Beechworth (The Old Stone Hall)

XANI KOLAC SOLO SUPPORT