1.The First Record I Bought:
Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. I was in high school and the family did the big move to Australia from Seychelles. It was a CD format. I loved the alternative and post-grunge sounds she played with. There is quite a bit of angst on that album. I thought Alanis was raw, brave and honest.
2. The Last Record I Bought:
‘Lamour’ by Lindigo, a downloaded single. These cats are from Reunion Island. When I heard this song at a mate’s birthday party I was immediately obsessed! I love the sound, fusion, groove and melody. The band are experimenting with afrobeat fused with the Reunion Island “Maloya” groove, which reminded me of my own afro-Kreol sound. I downloaded the track as soon as I got home.
3.The First Thing I Recorded:
I can’t remember the exact song but I remember my first-ever rough demos from over ten years ago. I collaborated with Jamie Searle who I still work with. I still have those demos and believe demos capture the best magic as everything was organic and free flowing then. Some of the demos I listen to I cringe at my vocals. My voice was not as developed and trained then.
4. The Last Thing I Recorded:
The songs were recorded almost three years ago with tracks from our last album Welele. About 20 tracks were recorded at that time. Now we’re doing last trackings and final vocal takes. We play the new songs live and they are well received. It’s great to play them live now: it allows us to feel the songs grow and develop from a live perspective, even if we have not yet released them.
5. The Record That Changed My Life:
Bob Marley’s Legend was the album I started learning bass lines from at the age of 17. I didn’t have a bass guitar then but a cheap acoustic six-string guitar. That went on for about a year, and then my mum bought me a bass guitar and amp combo. It was a Samick. That album formed my understanding of groove, rhythm, bass, melody and harmony. I would also sing all the backing vocals: I knew all the harmonies. Bob had a gift for melody and songwriting. The album certainly contributed the shaping of who I am as a musician and songwriter today.
Global Rhythms Music FestivalhappensSunday September 25 at Bicentennial Park, Glebe.
