When Sarah McLeod calls for a chat, you feel as if you’ve known her for years.
Her energy is palpable as she shares details of her career as a solo artist and the upcoming return to playing rock n roll frontwoman.
McLeod’s name may ring a bell. Arguably an iconic female in Aussie rock music, McLeod rose to fame in the mid-90s as the face and voice of one of Australia’s more famous rock bands, The Superjesus.
The group enjoyed ARIA success and are best known for their singles ‘Gravity’ and ‘Down Again’. The Superjesus quietly called it a day back in 2004 and since then McLeod has been pursuing her career as a solo musician.
“Hard work is paramount,” a chatty McLeod states as she speaks of her experiences over recent years, and wouldn’t she know it.
Following on from The Superjesus’ split, McLeod has spent over two years living and working in the United States and United Kingdom.
Surprisingly, in 2006 she found the most success when a dance remix of her song ‘He Doesn’t Love You’ became a smash hit on the club scene, topping the Eastern European Charts as well as scoring the number one spot on the ARIA club charts.
Upon her return home to Australia, the Adelaide-born rocker kept busy working on new material and released a scattering of demo tracks under her own name as well as an album under the pseudonym Screaming Bikini early last year.“I like the feeling of having an electric guitar slung over me, it’s like a gun holster.”
Over the past 12 months McLeod has been touring nationally “road testing” new material for a forthcoming record, which she describes as having a “club-ish sound” that is set to be released as a series of singles over the course of the coming year.
“I’ve been writing for years and experimenting with lots of different musical styles,” says the musician. Evidently, her career spanning from pop-rock beginnings to low-key acoustic shows to finding international club success, but there is a through line.
“I’m noticing now that ideas I learnt from one genre are fitting for all of the genres. I feel like it’s all coming together,” she says of her latest material.
“The plan for this is to go old school with releases – single after single,” she explains. “When I’m about seven singles deep we’ll look at the entire album as a release.”
Already set for a busy 2013, she plans to keep touring as a solo acoustic artist as well as preparing to return to her hometown stage with The Superjesus in February.
McLeod and her former bandmates will reunite for a one-off show in Adelaide, their first live performance in almost ten years. The reunion show boasts the classic ‘Jet Age lineup’ including McLeod, drummer Paul Berryman, bassist Stuart Rudd, and guitarist Tim Henwood – returning to the fold since his departure in 2002 to focus on The Androids (of ‘Do It With Madonna’ fame) and his production work.
A true reunion. So, how will the award winning rock outfit prepare for their comeback?
“We all have to go back and learn all the songs. I’ve been playing some of them in my acoustic set but I’ve changed them to work for acoustic guitar. So I’ve developed new habits I must now curb,” McLeod admits.
“I’ll throw more into my [solo] acoustic set as I learn them in order to practice a bit. Other than that we’ve got five days together in Adelaide before the show to get it right.”
Along with her future endeavors as a soloist she enthusiastically talks about the possibility of The Superjesus reforming for more than just one night, although nothing is set in stone just yet.
When asked if she prefers playing in a group or going it alone McLeod struggles to decide. “I love playing in a band ‘cause you feel tough with your gang of boys and it’s loud and fun and there’s a huge vibe,” the artist muses. “Playing alone with an acoustic guitar is a very different headspace.”“I’d say we will do a Superjesus tour eventually… We’d be mad not to.”
“It’s like apples and oranges,” the rock icon continues as she ponders which she enjoys more, “I do love playing alone though. I can do whatever random shit I like, as I feel it, midway through a song. That’s a freedom you never, and shouldn’t, indulge with in a band.”
From the way she describes her experiences as a performer, it’s obvious that she feels right at home in the spotlight – whether that be playing acoustically or electrically as frontwoman of a popular rock outfit.
“I like the feeling of having an electric guitar slung over me, it’s like a gun holster,” she laughs; “I don’t like standing up with an acoustic because I feel like Slim Dusty but I love sitting down and leaning in over it and getting all percussive.”
As the interview wraps up, McLeod excitedly lays out her touring schedule over the coming months. She will keep herself busy with dates in NSW during December and January before heading to Adelaide to play the anticipated Superjesus show on February 1st.
But can we expect to hear more from The Superjesus?
“We won’t know until after this [February] show but I’d say we will do a tour eventually,” McLeod tactfully reveals before adding, “We’d be mad not to.”
Sarah McLeod plays a solo show with Wes Carr tonight at NSW’s Florida Beach Bar, and The Superjesus perform one special show in Adelaide next March. Full dates and details below
Sarah McLeod Australian Shows 2012
Friday 21st December – Florida Beach Bar, Terrigal NSW (free gig) w/ Wes Carr
Thursday 27th December – Balmain Workers Club, Balmain, NSW
Saturday 19th January – Lizottes, Central Coast, NSW
Thursday 24th January – Lizottes, Dee Why, NSW
Friday 25th January – Florida Beach Bar, Terrigal, NSW
The Superjesus 2013 Reunion Show
The Governor Hindmarsh
Friday Feb 1, 2013
www.moshtix.com.au – 1300 438 849
www.venuetix.com.au – 08 82258888
Ticket: $40
