Brous
Face The Music | 2011-11-08 02:49 | Written By: by Nick O'Byrne
Ahead of taking part in the annual Face The Music conference in Melbourne and the launch of her much hyped, already acclaimed debut EP, we spoke to Sophia Brous (just Brous for those in the know) about a bunch of things...
What do conferences like Face The Music mean to up and coming artists?
All things being well, getting a large group of people together to discuss what they're passionate about and committed to in music can only be a good thing for artists... it allows for a focusing of energies, so hopefully new connections can be made, music heard, and opportunities to benefit musicians and the Melbourne music community.
Your background in Jazz, your old 'day job' as artistic director of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and current role at the Adelaide Festival means that you've been exposed to a vast array of boundary pushing, world class music. How has this affected, informed, influenced the way you write and perform?
That's a hard one. We're all made up and composed of the things that we're exposed to, I think the Festivals, radio and general immersion I've had in music probably must express itself through my own music someway, though I'm loathe to dissect exactly how. The more you absorb, the more you can hopefully articulate yourself. I think my being a musician largely shaped how I approached my work at the Jazz Festival and now Adelaide, and I'm sure it must flow back in many ways as well.
Of all those gigs that Melbourne International Jazz Festival put on, what was your favourite?
Show-wise, there have been a lot, too many to name. Sun Ra Arkestra, Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Zakir Hussain (editorial note - click on that last link and have your mind blown), Charlemagne Palestine and Tony Conrad, Overground, Jason Moran, Tim Berne, Nels Cline.....I'm looking forward to seeing Genesis Breyer P-Orridge/Psychic TV, Jane Birkin, Hermeto Pascaole and the rest at the Adelaide Festival..
The EP has just come out. Tell us about the process of putting it together, recording it and now releasing it?
Because of my job at the time, the recording of the EP was done in two stages: initially in an intensive week-long session at Sing Sing studio where I recorded 9 songs around the clock with my band; and then a series of sessions whenever we could fit in the time - between meetings, after work, on the weekends - to put on the rest of the strings and choir parts. It was very consuming and satisfying trying to put together the picture for each song... I learnt a lot. It's been great to have it out for people to hear, the response has been lovely.
Something I admire about Brous is the aesthetic running through everything you do. From your album artwork, your website, your clips, your music, there's something classic and timeless about it...
I guess I'm quite interested in genre music and hyper nostalgia, waves of era idealisation, ethnocentrism and historio-centrism in music and how those themes relate to the way we absorb music...I probably express these interests in everything I do in Brous, in the songs themselves, the artwork and pictures etc. But ultimately I'm also trying to write about things I care about or am interested by. I try and create something like sonic scenarios that have a sense of space and context to each story.
EP Launch Gigs coming up. Are you looking forward to it? What should audiences expect
We're doing something different in each city for the launches. In Melbourne, I'm really glad to be launching the EP with many of the musicians I made it with....Shags Chamberlain, James Rushford, Joe Talia, with also with string section and vocal ensemble. In each city we've got great bands and guests playing with us, the Italian choir of grandmothers La Voce Della Luna will also be making a special appearance... they should be special shows.
What are your plans for an album? When? How? Why? What? Where would you like to take your music in the future.
I'm finishing off the last songs for the record and we'll be going into record it at the beginning of next year. I'm excited about it actually, it's what I'm focusing on most... it'll continue exploring all of the interests and threads that form Brous, but on a slightly different bent
You'll be speaking on the Live Performance panel at Face The Music this year, can you share with us some of the key things you feel are important to incorporate into a live show to help leave a lasting impression on an audience and keep them coming back? How important is live music to you.
I think every performer is always learning about that part of what we do. It's important to keep connected to the music you're playing, what you're singing about, to the overall 'headspace' of the audience and the feel of the night etc...this allows you to read how you might shift parts of the show to draw people in. Some people use large glitter cannons, I hear that works well.
What other sessions are you excited to see at Face The Music?
Still sorting through it, there's lots on...the talks on international promotion, DIY music business and some of the keynotes look interesting. I'll just find a perch and take it in for a day or two.
FACE THE MUSIC is on Friday November 18th & Saturday November 19th @ The Art Centre, Melbourne.
$40 ($30 concession) for one day or $60 ($50 concession) for two days.
Check out the full programme on the Face The Music website for all the details www.facethemusic.org.au or call (03 9380 1277).
BROUS EP LAUNCH TOUR
Saturday 12th November: Phoenix Public House, Melbourne.
Thursday 17th November: Alhambra presented by Wild Parlour, Brisbane.
Friday 18th November: FBi Social - Kings Cross Hotel, Sydney.
