Interview with Adalita

Adalita is excited to present an exclusive set of solo shows coming up this June/July including the Yarraville Club on Saturday, June 16.

Deep into completing her highly anticipated third solo album, Adalita will temporarily step away from the studio to road test some new material she has been working on. Supporting her on these shows will be the sublime Amaya Laucirica who has just released her brand new sparkler, 'Rituals'. 18+ event only.

Modern Australian rock icon Adalita is best known as front woman for Australian indie rock band Magic Dirt, who have cemented their status as one of Australia's best loved and highly respected bands. Since 1989, Adalita, principal songwriter and one of the founding members of Magic Dirt, has been writing and producing records, touring the world and is an integral part of the Australian music scene, garnering a passionate and loyal following and countless accolades.

In 2011 Adalita released her debut self-titled solo album to rave reviews and completed a national tour to packed houses across Australia, including a performance for His Holiness, The Dalai Lama in June 2011 and also a national tour supporting Blondie and The Pretenders. She won Best Independent Release at the 2011 AIR Awards for her eponymous release and was shortlisted for the 2012 AMP music prize. In 2013, Adalita's second solo album 'All Day Venus' blitzed the music scene, landing her the Age/Music Victoria award for Best Female just a month after its release and an invitation to deliver the keynote speech at the 2014 AIR Awards. Among her many achievements Adalita has worked on various collaborative projects with other artists, has been invited to speak at numerous creative writing lectures and motivational talks and also adds acting, film scoring and photography to her repertoire. Adalita is also a vegan and advocate for animal rights appearing in campaigns for PETA, Humane Research Australia and Animal Liberation Victoria. She is also passionate about wilderness conservation.

Tickets are on sale now through www.yarravillelive.com

Question: Can you tell us a little bit about what you've been working on, in the studio?

Adalita: I've been doing a lot of tracking, trying different versions of the same song to get it sounding how I want and feeling right. There's a little bit of instrumentation so I've also been experimenting with what works and what doesn't. I've been doing a lot of work around tempo and tempo mapping. I'm really sensitive to how fast or slow a song should be overall and within itself too and a lot of the new songs on this album have a lot of tempo shifts which have been tricky to get so I allocate a lot of time to get that right. We've done a little bit of mixing but mostly I'm still in the recording phase at the moment.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Adalita: I really like playing Trust Is Rust as it's one I'm really proud of writing. I also like playing the heavier, distorted songs. I love the sound of a chunky, distorted Gibson, it's the best. So something like Invite Me is a good one.


Question: What should we expect from the upcoming shows at Yarraville Live?

Adalita: I'm going to be playing a fair bit of new stuff that will be on this third album, including a couple of tracks that I'll be playing for the first time. It'll be a good test to see what sticks and what doesn't. I'm going to also play a mixture of stuff off both of my last records too.


Question: How has your music changed since the Magic Dirt days?

Adalita: Well I guess the solo stuff is way more stripped back. My songwriting and playing is way more exposed so dynamically it's different. I've always written a lot of songs and most of those were used in Magic Dirt but there was always those that were left to the side and seem to work in the solo format. It's funny because I pretty much just use the same set up, same pedals, and same guitar as I did in Magic Dirt. But I do use a smaller amp and don't have my distortion on for much of my solo sets. But I think the way it's stayed the same is that at its core my music is dark and guitar based.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend the show, who would it be?

Adalita: Kurt Cobain.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Adalita: I love both. Both are so different and so rewarding. Recording is the secret you keep. Playing live is the opposite of that.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Adalita: I have to be swept away by an idea. Most of time that idea comes in the form of an opening line and a small melodic phrase. Usually just me on a guitar strumming away and something just pops out. Maybe something I've had on my mind or I've been affected by something and it crystallises into a one liner that the whole song eventually hangs off. But on the whole I'm motivated by beauty, beautiful things, evocative things, terrible things I see around me or experience. And I can't help but write. I'm always forever and a day jotting stuff down. Things I think, things I hear, phrases swirl around my head all the time, everyday talk suddenly becomes the line to a song.

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Adalita: I like Two People, Tia Gostelow and Love Fade by Tamaryn.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Adalita: I don't think I ever really wanted to 'get' into the music industry. Music was just what I loved and what I did. It's in my blood. And my band mates and other bands and the fans inspire you to keep doing it.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Adalita: Neko Case or Jack White.


ADALITA + Amaya Laucirica (18+)
Saturday, June 16
The Yarraville Club: 135 Stephen St Yarraville. 18+ Event
Ph: 03 9689 6033
Ticket prices: $66.50+bf (Dinner & show); $27/$32 +bf (Show only – reserved seats); $22=bf (GA); $25 on the door (if available)
Buy tickets: www.yarravillelive.com Doors open: 6.45pm (D&S); 8pm (Show only)

Interview by Brooke Hunter
Photo: Stephen Boxshall of Rag and Bone Photography