The first time I heard New Zealand born singer/songwriter Carla Werner sing was on her debut album – Depature [2003] – and I was immediately seduced by the haunting, breathy vocals and the aching minor key melodies. It was a beautiful album, full of subtle tempo and mood changes that made the experience of listening to it a very introspective journey. Werner’s second album – Pure Things In Wild Places – has just come out and it’s another cathartic, emotionally liberating mish mash of acoustic soul and folk. I interviewed her about the process behind the album’s creation. The first album was the fruit of several years labour recorded with a handful of producers in a number of countries. What did you learn from that experience that you didn’t want to repeat this time around? ‘I was naturally interested in the recording process, so working with some of the world’s greatest producers allowed me to get one on one training so to speak, and I picked up some vital tips for my own production skills. Although the approach that some producers took to the songs felt a little disconnected to me from what the song actually needed, like putting too many ‘finishing touches’ to them when the recordings only required mild encouraging and a thoughtful approach. So I made a mental note that when I recorded my next album, I would be very careful not to strip any of the essence out of the song, but just let it breath and do its own thing. Working with [co-producer] Chris Townend at BJB Studios in Sydney, the master of guiding songs out into their own natural glory, was the first step I took in making Pure Things …’
You were with Sony but Pure Things has been released independently. How has this new situation manifested itself on the album and in the process of promoting it? ‘When the merger happened between BMG and Sony worldwide, it was indicative of where the music scene was heading. It was a physical manifestation of the power that independent artists had been garnering, largely thanks to the internet. Artists are able to record and release their music without necessarily going through a major. So when I was dropped from Sony there was trepidation, but also excitement for an independent path, and with the belief from friends I was able to make an album I’m very proud of for many reasons. The downside is not having an endless supply of funding for marketing of course, and being independent means that you compete with artists who are on majors and do have that cash supply. At all costs you must try to maintain a presence, whether that’s with media or playing live and I believe in word of mouth being the best publicity – and it’s ALL hard work!’ [see also Joan As Policewoman]
Also by ZOLTON
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Star Wars Uncut: a fully crowdsourced version of Episode IV
The project of creative technologist, Casey Pugh, this full length version of the George Lucas masterpiece was created from multiple 15 second segments recreated from the original movie and submitted by thousands of Star Wars fans, which were then spliced together by editor Aaron Valdez to form the final product. Genius, as both a commentary on contemporary pop culture trends (there are references to LEGO, stop motion, memes and the like) and on the power of tapping your audience for quality material.
Filmmaker creates LEGO stop motion to propose to girlfriend
Now, this is one for the ages: back in 2010, Atlanta film-maker Walter Thompson created a jaw-dropping LEGO stop motion to propose to Nealey Dozier, his girlfriend of four years. The video took 22 hours of shooting and some 2,600 pictures to splice together, a small sacrifice to pay for years of happiness together. Right? Right! Oh, and she said yes. Bonus.
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Working out of Portland, Robbie Augspurger got his first camera for his twelfth birthday, held at Showbiz Pizza Place, where there were animatronic animals wearing suits and playing in a band. He didn’t immortalize that rare vision on film that night, but ever since he can remember, he was interested in taking pictures. Read more
Chicken coops are not that difficult to build, but I suppose it’s heartening that even luxury markets are offering products that help people become more self-sustaining such as these Chicken Co-ops.
Back in the day, New Zealand pop absurdists, Split Enz were the finest damn Australasian band around. This track, I Walk Away, off their final album — Spellbound — is their ultimate moment: a hefty dose of pure melodic majestry, wrapped around the aching lyrics and quirky arrangements of genius frontman, Neil Finn.
In a world filled with conceptual environmental architect, Lost in Paris, designed by R&Sie Architects for a so-called ‘urban witch’, is the definition of innovation and resourcefulness. The 1400 square foot home is engulfed by 1200 ferns and 300 glass-blown pods. A potion of rainwater and plant nutrients are fed to the pods, which in turn feed the ferns, drop by drop, during the year. And because the home is entirely covered with the plants, it is protected from outside weather and the interior temperature is regulated without use of traditional methods.
Hot damn. Canvas Magazine makes the Brisbane design community look seriously sexy. Read more
Cloud Control have just unravelled a newly recorded track, Gold Canary, from their forthcoming 2010 album. It’s straight up pastoral Blue Mountains goodness. I actually heard it live earlier this year and it sounded quite rad.
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Cheap Monday are arguably one of the biggest revolutions in denim since Levi’s. They’re pretty much the uniform second skin for the music totin’, cons scuffin’ youth of today. Read more
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