Over the course of her career, Vika Bull has carved a name for herself as Australia’s queen of soul, though it’s a title she shrugs off with an embarrassed laugh. The accolades and industry respect are wonderful hallmarks of a life in music, but it is the strange magic of bringing songs to life that remains Bull’s enduring passion.

As such, you would be hard-pressed to find someone more suited to taking the stage for At Last: The Etta James Story. The show sees James’ life of hardship and triumph unfold across immediately recognisable classics, and Bull’s voice is their perfect, soulful fit.

“She was incredibly tough, and a survivor,” Bull says. “And growing up in that industry so young, too! She was 15 when she had her first hit and started touring, and to have had such a long career and survive all of that – the drugs and the lifestyle that nearly killed her – is amazing. Obviously she had a strong constitution, but I think going on the road and living that kind of life turns you tough, which I think you need to be in this business. You can’t be a wuss, or you won’t survive. And of course, back then they had it a hundred times tougher than I ever did.”

Bull is a jovial, easy speaker, yet her words are tinged with a pronounced respect for James’ life and artistry, and she is quite conscious of the responsibility she has assumed in sharing these songs afresh.

“I’m very mindful of the fact that she’s gone, and so I think about that every night when I go on. You want to do it all properly, and I often find myself thinking, ‘Shit, what if she’s up there watching and really hates all of this?’ I think that all the time, so I work really hard to make sure the show is great every night.”

Bull first began performing James’ songs back in 2013, and from that first standing ovation it was clear the music still resonated with audiences deeply. The term ‘timeless’ has been bandied across so many songs and genres now that it has lost a great deal of significance, yet few could deny ‘At Last’ is one of the most recognisable and celebrated songs of the last century. Yet despite having performed James’ classics for years now – songs like ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ and ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me’ – Bull is not even close to tiring of them.

“I don’t get sick of them, I just don’t. I’ve been listening to her since I was 17. When I first started singing and got in a band, I would listen to her every single day, and I still do. I could quite happily sing her set for the rest of my life, to be quite honest. That might sound pretty stupid, but I’ve truly never tired of her.

“It’s the lyrics. She covered a lot of people’s songs as well, and I’ve always liked her interpretations. She did some cracking covers, like the Eagles’ ‘Take It To The Limit’. I think her version is better than theirs, just because of the way she sang it. That song really does sort of sum up her life, and if you listen close you hear that. But it’s really the strength of her lyrics and voice. Maybe some have dated a little bit, but I think some of her older stuff, the classics, are timeless. The way she sang came from an honest and very deep place. That’s what I like about her.”

Vika Bull appears in At Last: The Etta James Story at The Concourse, Chatswood on Saturday July 18, and Lizotte’s Newcastle on Wednesday July 15 and Thursday July 16.

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