1.Growing Up
A childhood memory would be singing hymns with my mother. I would always take the harmony. The Sound Of Music was my favourite movie, I still watch it! My mother used to be a dancer, radio presenter, actress and netball player all while she was a full-time teacher with a child. My father used to play guitar and had the funkiest afro, which later turned into the deadliest dreadlocks on the island!
2.Inspirations
Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Betty Davis, Kaya, Phyllis Dillon, Susan Tedeschi, Nina Simone, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Police, Parliament-Funkadelic – to name a few. I’m drawn to artists with soul and a unique/distinctive style, strong songwriting, melody, powerful conscious messages and vision, who are not afraid to break barriers, challenge and change the musical landscape and industry. Artists who create a positive movement.
3.Your Band
We are currently a three-piece touring act – myself on bass and lead vocals, my sister Joelle Barbé on drumkit and my long-time musical collaborator Jamie Searle on electric guitar. My sister and I started playing in the Seychelles community band in Perth, then in a reggae band called Raggabeats where we met Jamie. I collaborated, co-arranged and co-wrote with Jamie on both of my albums. We connect because of our love, passion and knowledge of the Indian Ocean island music and to continue to push that genre on the global stage.
4.The Music You Make
A fusion of Indian Ocean island rhythms mixed with Afrobeat, pop, rock and a tinge of reggae. We call it Afro-Kreol. Both albums were recorded in Perth. People can expect some serious coconut-shaking at our live shows!
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
Perth is producing some really great acts still and I think the Australian music scene is definitely growing. It needs to grow, and us artists living here are in a very unique and wonderful landscape to write, experiment and grow. Australia is still a small market and one obstacle bands face is the touring costs to travel interstate and internationally. Although there are challenges, one cannot underestimate the talent and awesome acts coming out of Oz at the moment. An amazing band I’ve seen recently is Ezza – a three-piece international touring act who play rocking desert blues.
Hear Grace Barbé at Brighton Up Bar on Saturday April 16.
