Anticipating her performance at this month’s AU session taking place next week, the AU review caught up with Imogen Clark, fresh of a celebrated run at the Adelaide Fringe. We talk about writing, musical influences, favourite Australian artists and her new handmade acoustic CDs. Further information about the performance below.
How old were you when you started writing your own music?
I was about 12 when I first picked up a guitar, and maybe 13 or 14 when I first started writing my own songs. I was brought up around music as my Dad has played in bands and been a singer/songwriter since he was very young, and he wasn’t precious with his instruments so he’d let me play around on them (which I’m so grateful for). I always thought it was normal to have a Dad that wrote songs and to play in a band with my cousins and go along to my Dad’s gigs, so it was only natural that I’d start writing and playing my own gigs at some point!
What was the first instrument you learnt?
I actually started on the piano when I was maybe 11, and I did enjoy it but as soon as I picked up my Dad’s acoustic guitar, I realised my heart was definitely in that more than the keys. I loved the sound of the instrument and felt like it suited my personality a bit better. Plus, all my favourite artists were guitarists!
Tell us a little bit about your style – how did you end up falling onto this particular style?
It’s a bit odd that I fell into the alt country/Americana/folk genre, as my Dad was always more in the rock/punk/pop scene. That being said, my parents brought me up listening to so many different kinds of music; everything from Led Zeppelin (who remain my favourite band), to Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Elton John, Queen and Martin Sexton. I still listen to all those artists and try to draw influences from a wide pool, but as I grew up a bit, my attention centred on artists like Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams, and I felt like I’d found the path I truly wanted to go down when I listened to their records. When I played some shows in Nashville for the Americana Festival last year, I also felt like I had found a real home for my genre.
Who are your influences?
My biggest influence hands down is Joni Mitchell. I always strive to be the sort of writer she is; a writer with something meaningful to say who stays 100% true to herself and writes in the most honest and soulful way possible. The fact that her music still is, and always will be, relevant to an all-encompassing crowd makes her a big role model for me. I also draw a lot of inspiration from Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Paul Simon, Paul Kelly, Neil Finn and Leonard Cohen (and of course, my Dad!)
What is your latest song/album to promote? Tell us all about it:
I’ve recently brought out a limited edition, handmade CD of new acoustic songs. Every CD is completely uniquely packaged and numbered, and the songs were all recorded live in the studio, one take through. It’s the rawest version of me and my songs! Because the specialness of these CDs comes in their handmade packaging, they aren’t available online but only live at my gigs. Only one of the songs How You Spend It, is available for streaming and free download on www.SoundCloud.com/Imogen-Clark. This is a bit of a sample of the rest of the CD!
What is your favourite record right now and why?
My favourite record of all time is Blue by Joni Mitchell. I love it because it’s a completely raw and honest look into someone’s thoughts and experiences, and also because Joni manages to take emotions that many people have explored in song before and say them in a completely unique way. Blue would be closely followed by Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams (real happy records!!)
Who is your favourite Australian artist right now and why?
I’d say my two favourite Aussie artists are Paul Kelly and Neil Finn, both separately and together! In different ways, they both capture something about being human in their songs which is so truthful and moving. Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy is in my top 3 favourite songs of all time, and Crowded House’s Weather With You has been my Mum’s favourite song since I can remember.
What can we expect from your live show?
I like to think that I am a very honest performer who shares a lot of myself with my audience (some would say slightly too much honesty at times…) With just me and my guitar, it’s a very raw show and a lot of what I do on stage is based around stories behind the songs and my experiences as a musician, but also trying to relate to the audience and make them feel included as much as possible. I like to talk to the crowd as if they’re just one of my mates and I’m sitting on their couch with a cup of tea.
What are your plans for the year ahead?
This year has already been really busy with shows at Tamworth Country Music Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival, and there’s a lot up ahead too! I’ll hopefully be working on recording some new material this year, as well as playing plenty of shows. On March 26th, I’ll be playing at Songwriters in the Round at Petersham Bowling Club (alongside Bill Chambers and Michael Sparrow). I’ll also be performing an original song called While Women Wait (which I co-wrote about women waiting for their loved ones to return from war) at Camp Gallipoli in Sydney’s Centennial Park on ANZAC weekend. I will also be getting back out on the road again, but more details of that to come!
To keep up with where I’m playing, you can check out www.Imogen-Clark.com.
———-
the AU Sessions #001:
Tues, Feb 24: Taryn La Fauci and Imogen Clark
@ The Hive Bar, Erskineville
6-9pm. Free Entry
More info available here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1457093887883734/?ref=ts&fref=ts
