1.The First Song I Wrote
The first proper song I wrote was a song called ‘Homebrew’ – it was a song reflecting on an uneasy feeling I was having around the time Pauline Hanson was elected into Federal Parliament. I have always been a pretty leftish, one-love-style hippie, and this was one of the first times I realised there were a lot of people who didn’t think similarly to me. It was interesting to observe how fear could make people say truly awful and ignorant things. I was about 18 and trying to find my feet in the world as a young, feminist woman.
2.The Last Song I Released
I have been busy working away on my new album and am very excited about the direction it is going in. It has been empowering to return to that organic band sound I started with George and then later with The Captains but in a new way, with a more cinematic and some electronic influence. My new EP Peace Is My Drug [includes] a song I wrote with Michael Leunig, one of my very favourite Australian poets and artists. The lyrics reflect a little on humanity’s constant and long search for internal peace.
3.Songwriting Secrets
Every song is different! For me it is about setting definite time aside for songwriting as, too often the ‘to do’ lists of life get in the way and seem more pressing. Usually the melody comes first for me. I am also scribbling lyric and chordal ideas all the time, and then I just try to make them all work together somehow. The muse will visit when you least expect, so I think it’s important to keep yourself open to it at all times.
4.The Song That Makes Me Proud
I guess the song ‘Special Ones’ is a significant song for me as I have had a lot of women come up to me and tell me it has empowered them to get away from an abusive relationship. So that is so totally amazing to be a small part of that woman’s journey into her power and I feel deeply honoured. Other people have used ‘Breathe In Now’ at weddings and quite a few people have given birth to the Elixir album!
5.The Song That Changed My Life
The first album I ever bought was Crowded House’s debut self-titled record and it absolutely changed my life. I was eight years old and I had never heard anything like it. It blew my mind and opened me up to the wonderful possibilities of a great pop song and a killer band. From the opening lyric “She came all the way from America / She had a blind date with destiny / And the sound of Te Awamutu…” I was just transfixed.
Katie Noonan hasPeace Is My Drug out now independently, and appears withSahara Beck atNewtown Social Club onThursday March 19. You can also see her at Lizotte’s Dee Why on Wednesday March 18, The Brass Monkey on Saturday March 21 and Lizotte’s Newcastle on Sunday March 22
