1.The First Song I Wrote
I wrote my first song when I was 12 and it’s called ‘You Can Cry’. I can still play it and remember it word for word. This is the first time anyone’s asked about it, and honestly the question is hard because the song is about how much it hurt when my mum and dad were fighting. I know that sounds really sad, but it’s true and probably explains a lot about the darkness that comes out in my songwriting.
2.The Last Song I Released
My new song ‘Mary-Anne’ is definitely my best work. ‘Mary-Anne’ is about turning the feeling of struggle into revelling and rising to the fight. My very talented friend Joshua Barber produced the song (Josh plays with Gotye and Archie Roach and produces for Gretta Ray) and Jonathan Dreyfus, who is an award-winning composer, arranged strings. My friend Tim Kling (Sarah Blasko, Chase City) and I made a film clip which features a road trip to Lake Pedder and embraces the wildness of the Tasmanian landscape.
3.Songwriting Secrets
My songwriting process lands somewhere between the Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen styles (RIP Leonard) – honesty and inspiration combined with intentional technique. My songs normally start with pure emotion, rhythm, guitar riffs and vocal melodies all at the same time and then the right words materialise and find their way into the song.
4.The Song That Makes Me Proud
I’m so excited about my new song ‘Mary-Anne’. When I first played it to Josh we both knew it had something special because of the way the rhythm, melodies and story were all working together.
5.The Song That Changed My Life
The song that changed my life was Radiohead’s ‘Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box’. I reckon it’s like what Jesus or Muhammad would say to all their followers if they were here today. In fact, Radiohead in general have changed my life. They are the best soundtrack for a revolution.
Emma Anglesy plays the Gasoline Pony,with James Kenyon, on Wednesday December 7.
