Anousha Victoire Precious Things To Me Interview

Folk/World Influenced Melodies

Newcastle's Anousha Victoire stitches together folk/world influenced melodies with bell-over-water clarity of vocal tone. Flaunting a range of sounds including her delicate fingerpicking folk guitar, thought-provoking lyrics with glimpses of country and latin influences, her songs draw from an Indian and French background that give her songs a unique blend that have kept Victoire in the public eye for over 2 decades.

Fans may remember Victoire's first releases back in early 2000's, winning awards and gaining recognition with her song on the plight of the last asylum seeker on Nauru with "Last Man Standing". After ten years away from releasing music, she is back to share a new full-length album with the world, with the first single "Precious Things To Me.

"Written in the aftermath of prolonged illness where even simple every day moments with loved ones seem so precious, against a backdrop of rising uncertainty about our collective future. A bicycle journey after summer rain, a beach wander, a homecoming. A question for today pondered over an honest and dripping rhythm section featuring large warm rain drops from the flugelhorn. Perfectly distilled into the quintessential Australian road trip song." - Anousha Victoire on "Precious Things To Me".

Engineered and co-produced by Robbie Long at Funky Lizard Studios in Newcastle, the album includes new arrangements of key fan favourites and a host of new songs inspired by chance meetings and her travels doing humanitarian work, and the realities of domestic life back in Australia amidst dreams of more adventure.

The new album signifies a return to the love of pure songwriting after forays into musical theatre and cabaret style shows, as well as a break from the music industry entirely. The time away from music has provided a fresh vitality and energy in the songs and their delivery, thanks to beautifully arranged contributions from top notch session musicians as well as talented classically trained violinist Skye Harrison, a more recent inclusion in Victoire's live line up.

Interview with Anousha Victoire

Question: How would you describe your music?

Anousha Victoire: Acoustic contemporary folk sounds, with influences from American, Australian and French folk singer-songwriters.


Question: Can you tell us about Precious Things To Me?

Anousha Victoire: Precious Things to Me is a song about noticing how precious the little things are that we take for granted, and how it is really up to us to preserve our physical environment to be able to keep enjoying those simple moments.


Question: What was the main inspiration behind Precious Things To Me?

Anousha Victoire: I was out for a bike ride with my two children after being really unwell for a long period of time and not able to go out and enjoy being outdoors at all. I was feeling so grateful for this little everyday luxury and yet so aware that as our climate changes we may all have to avoid being outdoors to stay healthy in future. The song just blossomed from that idea, connecting the domestic little moments to the bigger picture of our shared future and environment.

Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Anousha Victoire: Both have their charms and challenges I would say- I am always surprised and humbled by the positive responses from audiences when they connect with a particular song at a live show, and I enjoy that connection with a live audience. But there are the usual frustrations of sound not being perfect in a live venue, and so many variables out of my control- whereas in the studio I can really create the song as I hear it in my head, with extra layers and absolute control over the entire sound. (Am I sounding a bit like a control freak at this point?)


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Anousha Victoire: I have a song called 'La Sorcière' that always seems to work well live- I love how that song just pulls people in no matter where I'm playing it. You can always hear a pin drop when I play it. I feel like that song comes through me from some higher sphere, I am just the vessel pouring it into the world.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Anousha Victoire: I am really happy whenever someone enjoys my show, but especially if it's a musician, which is a lot of the time funnily enough! I think I might get a bit nervous if some of the musicians I look up to were in the audience, so I'd prefer to just find out afterwards they were there and liked the set!


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Anousha Victoire: I'd like to say pure inspiration but I'd be lying… honestly mostly it is the imminent deadline of my songwriting group and having something I am supposed to have finished for that group! Usually I get good ideas when I am driving a long way or have some quiet time at home late in the evening, a melody or snatch of lyrics just floats into my head and I sit down with the guitar and develop it…then leave it around half written for a few days until the next songwriting group coming up forces me to get my act into gear and finish it.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?
Anousha Victoire: I've been really enjoying listening to some of the contemporary classic American folk and roots singers lately- John Hiatt, Brandi Carlile, Deb Talan, Kris Delmhorst, Susan Werner, Sarah Jarosz, to name a few.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Anousha Victoire: I had a friend called Chris Pureka who is a successful singer-songwriter in the US now, who was just starting out when we met in Brisbane many years ago. I guess meeting someone who was actually doing it and who made it seem like something that wasn't out of reach, was inspiring. But then also I met a lot of songwriters and musicians over the coming years and through a supportive community of people who heard me play at parties or social gatherings and invited me to perform at gigs- it just happened gradually over time.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Anousha Victoire: Olafur Arnalds, or maybe Damien Rice.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Anousha Victoire: Probably myself! Forcing myself to be disciplined and focused and not give up, forcing myself to finish a project- I am naturally not focused or disciplined in how I approach music, and learning to stick with a piece or new song to get it to the next level, not settling for adequate, not giving up just because today I have a moment of self-doubt… all this has been a challenge.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Anousha Victoire: Busy! At the moment, a lot of organising and rehearsing as well as trying to write a song before the next songwriting group and go through final edits on my upcoming film clip release.

Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Anousha Victoire: Being creative in the studio and really bringing the arrangements to life with instrumentation by live musicians, and all the learning that comes with that process.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Anousha Victoire: www.facebook.com/anoushavictoiremusic
@anoushavictoire
https://anoushavictoiremusic.com/
Spotify 


Interview by Brooke Hunter