“I wish for good things. It’s so warm in here,” sings Adalita on ‘All Day Venus’ – the reverberating teaser track from her soon to be released somophore solo album.
The song is different to the emotive minimalism of her first release, harking a return to the kind of fuzzed-out rock of her former band – Magic Dirt – one of the most successful indie acts to emerge out of the Geelong “Getroit” music scene of the 90s.
“Well, it was pretty rough and tough,” says Adalita about Geelong – a working class town an hour south of Melbourne. “We had the Alcoa aluminium smelter, a big motor industry [Ford] and the Shell oil refinery. A lot of kids felt isolated and there wasn’t much to do.”
To stave off the boredom, she embraced the music scene. “I had a lot of friends in bands and we all hung out at The Barwon Club, which was an old biker pub. Every weekend we’d get wasted and watch gigs there. It was the hangout for people that didn’t fit.”
This supportive community gave Adalita the freedom to experiment musically. “It was a great scene to grow up in and be a part of because you were allowed to be yourself and make any kind of music or art you wanted to and you were accepted and had some sort of audience for it. We made our own scene and our own fun.”
“The [new] songs are bigger; there’s a lot more going on even though I’ve still kept that minimal aesthetic.”The desire to take risks led to the formation of Magic Dirt – the kind of band that could write the perfect pop song but loved to tear it all apart with a sonic wall of sound. They played energetic shows where kids had the time of their lives swinging from rafters and crowd surfing.
The frontwoman had a special bond with bassist Dean Turner, who she fondly describes as “a rebel and a visionary with smarts”, and he strongly encouraged her to try her hand at solo material. Sadly, Turner passed away from a rare form of cancer in 2009 at the age of 37.
“He just always believed in me. Unfailingly. He was dedicated to Magic Dirt and to my songwriting and growth as an artist. If I ever had doubts, he’d be there to egg me on and get me excited about playing. He was my rock and the person that could articulate my creative processes.”
“In quiet moments, I imagine what Dean would say and what he’d think about a certain part of a song. He’s always there, guiding me, and will continue to.”
Aside from her critical success with Turner and the rest of the Magic Dirt members, the 42-year-old’s first self-titled record won the coveted AIR Award in 2011 for Best Independent Album, a fact which no doubt encouraged her to continue along path of a solo artist.
Of her new album Adalita says: “It’s louder, and there’s much more distortion, the songs are bigger; there’s a lot more going on even though I’ve still kept that minimal aesthetic.”
Lindsay Gravina, who has worked extensively with Adalita and Magic Dirt over the years, produced the recording at Birdland Studios in Melbourne.
“I knew Lindsay would be the person for the job. He knows my evolution as a songwriter and how to bring out my best. Working solo is way more intense and I feel like I can really trust him with my music; something I don’t readily do. It’s certainly hard to get past my guard. But Lindsay can do it.”
The songstress is excited to road test her new songs and is playing some intimate gigs along the east coast to give fans a sneak peek, before embarking on a full tour with a support band when the as-yet-untitled album comes out.
“I’m so flat stick finishing the record that there’s not much time to prepare for a tour. I just have to plug everything in, try to remember the chords, and hope for the best!”
It is this understated, genuine approach that gives Adalita an edgy but vulnerable quality that makes her music transcendent. “There wasn’t room to be anything else but yourself when I was growing up so you couldn’t fake it,” she states matter-of-factly.
“I also don’t think you should take any shit for being yourself,” she continues.
“There is a lot of unreleased [Magic Dirt] material… It’s going to be pretty special when it comes out.”Owing to her roots, Adalita is very supportive of upcoming young Australian bands – paying forward the encouragement she received when starting out. “I’d like to have Phoebe the lead singer from Snakadaktal over for dinner. I’d cook her a Mexican feast, ask about her lyrics and get her to play a cover for me.”
The love as she has for emerging musicians, seems to be mutual as she’s much respected by fans and industry folk alike, yet is very modest when it comes to her musical achievements.
Besides her musical accomplishments, Adalita is also a keen photographer, and some of her photos featured in the artwork for her first solo album.
“I enjoy the instant gratification of a moment caught in time, a moment that is not so conscious or obvious,” she reflects”
The artist feels similarly passionate about films. “I’m one of those people that loves going to the picture theatre on their own in the middle of the day and just settling back and watching a beautiful film on the giant screen.”
“Films feed the songwriting process by adding to that inner reservoir of wonder at the world and the desire to communicate one’s feelings and experiences.”
Finally, and unabashedly, Adalita answers the question on everyone’s mind: will there be more Magic Dirt material? “Yes. Definitely. There are plans for that; there is a lot of unreleased material – but everyone is so busy and these things take time. It’s going to be pretty special when it comes out.”
Listen to ‘All Day Venus’ from Adalita’s forthcoming sophomore album below.
Adalita 2013 East Coast Tour Dates & Tickets
Friday 2nd August – The Tote, Melbourne
Saturday 3rd August – GoodGod, Sydney
Thursday 8th August – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
Tickets for the tour are on sale now via adalita.oztix.com.au.
