Feeling a strong connection to the USA, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Krista Polvere decided to return to New York and San Fransisco, and absolutely fell in love with the countryside of Wyoming after visiting it for the first time ever! Join her as she reminisces about her favourite moments and favourite people to play music with. Get to know her a bit better below and check her out at this year’s Australian Music Week, where she is performing four shows…
Since 2007 I’ve been back and forth to the USA about 12 times. I have made two earlier records there and my third album, which is coming out early 2016, was also recorded in America when I lived in Virginia for 7 months playing all throughout the South. For some reason music keeps calling me back to the US so the connection to the country has inevitably infiltrated my musical style. Recently, I took a trip to meet with some music folks and got back to New York, San Fransisco and made it to Wyoming for the first time.
Here is a collection of photos documenting some of my most favourite times and favourite people to play music with in the States.
These were taken in a recording studio in NYC when I made my first album Here Be Dragons. Ryan Adams came and played guitar and piano on the record after co-writing a track with me off it called ‘Let’s Go’. He played a killer guitar lead in this song. Gets me every time.
This is Jane Scarpantoni – she played cello on my record Here Be Dragons. She also played with Lou Reed and is a badass muso and a lot of fun. We recorded this album over a cold, snowing Christmas in New York.
Ryan Adams again appeared on my second album Reservoir Drive. We had a goofy night where he laid down guitar and backing vocals through a telephone microphone to the single ‘Looking For Love’. I let him pick the song he wanted to put an instrument on and that’s what he chose. You can hear him and Marc Ford (producer and former member of The Black Crowes) having lead guitar wars in the solo.
Played a show at this private mini festival called Fire on the Mountain in Independence, Virginia. It was a wonderful secluded spot where a few hundred folks camp out for a weekend. Lots of BBQ (Virginian style) and live music. I’m cruising around in the mini car picking up the band to get to the stage. Folks in the south love their house concerts and private festivals.
On days off I’d get out and see the sites and get involved in traditional events and activities. Virginia has a large community of Mennonite people (they don’t like technology much and ride horse and buggy). I’m horse obsessed so a Mennonite family I made friends with took me horse riding through the green rolling Virginian hills which was just splendid. And if you’re in Virginia it’s imperative to attend a county fair to eat fairy floss, fried chicken and play fair games. On top of that are the cool truck rodeos. You can imagine the crowd there were “wild”.
Playing live on radio in this pic with Bryan Elijah Smith. It was a very extraordinary room full of musical equipment for an online station called Nathan’s Land.
Playing a show at the Red Wing Roots Festival in Virginia Mount Solon. The festivals in the country here are rad. Lots of cowboy boot-scooting folk.
Kicking it off at this awesome venue called the Southern Music Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia with Bryan Elijah Smith and the Wildhearts.
Backstage with a bunch of southern cowboys before we played a show in this boutique country town called Culpeper. The State Theatre is an amazing historical venue that we played at many times over the past few years. People here are so friendly and LOVE live music. I also made a music clip to my song ‘Bluebird’ in this theatre in Virginia.
Playing at Clementine in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Riding my bike across the infamous San Fransisco Golden Gate Bridge. On days off one must get out and see the sights. Make the most of every minute.
My heart got lost in Wyoming. It’s The Wild West and, man, is it stunning. Mountains that make you feel so insignificant in an appropriate way. One that verifies nature and its natural beauty is marvellous. I made a cool clip of the sights here which goes well with one of my songs, “Let’s Go”. I fell so in love with the terrain which comes out through the clip.
You can find out more about Krista Polvere on her Facebook page HERE. She’s one of our top picks for Australian Music Week – full list HERE.
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