Joanne - Aug 2000

Writer - Annemarie Failla

Joanne first stepped into the music spotlight with her smash hit debut single "JACKIE". With her high-energy, fresh and unique sound, this Australian artist is the complete package of talent and enthusiasm. Having just completed tours with Destiny's Child and the boys from ilanda, Joanne is preparing for the upcoming release of her debut album "DO NOT DISTURB" which is set to showcase her amazing and diverse style and sound.

GIRL.com.au caught up with this talented, young lady and got the inside story on her childhood dreams, her future plans and the low-down on life as a pop sensation!

GIRL'S 60 SECOND QUIZ

Star sign: Scorpio
Fave Food: Japanese
Fave Film: E.T.
Fave Band: ilanda
Describe yourself in 3 words: Loud, energetic and a garbage-guts!
Best Feature: Bubbly personality
Worst Feature: Making people around me go through dramas on the phone with me!!
Person you would most like to meet: Michael Jackson
Hobbies/Interests: Watching movies, listening to music
A talent you wish you had: To be able to play the piano
The best advice given to you: To stay humble and never think you're better than anyone else is.
If you were told you had a minute to live, what would you do? Run around and panic shouting "we only have a minute to live!"

Girl: What prompted you to follow a career in the music industry?

Joanne: I'd been performing from a really young age and I think it was just something that my heart really wanted to do - as a person, it's in me to perform. So I think that basically I had no choice, I was meant to be doing what I'm doing.

Girl: Prior to your singing, you were a dancer for many years. Do you still consider yourself a serious dancer?

Joanne: I like to think of myself as a performer who likes to do everything - I like to sing, dance and act. I definitely see myself as a singer who can dance rather than a dancer who can sing.

Girl: "JACKIE" was Australia's highest-selling single in 1999 and you've also experienced great success with the singles "PACK YOUR BAGS" and "ARE YOU READY". Has this success surprised you at all?

Joanne: Yes, "Jackie" being a debut single - the success from that was a big surprise as I didn't really imagine that "Jackie" would be the song to boost my singing career. And I guess that it's only now, two and a half years later, that I've started to realise just how big of a success that song really was. It has taken a long time for the reality of the success to really sink in. Success is something I have imagined from a really young age, I used to think to myself "I can do it, I can do it" but when it does happen you still freak out and think "Wow I did do it!"

Girl: Who have been your major musical influences?

Joanne: The main influences have been Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and basically anyone who vocally stands apart from the rest and also has it together visually.

Girl: Is writing lyrics important to you?

Joanne: At this stage in my career it is very important for the fact that I am young and have been working on my debut album. It was quite important to me to get some of my original work on the album. There are about four or five songs that I have written which will be included on my first album. It was very important to me to write about things that I can relate to - some of it is quirky, funny, depressing and even romantic. Hopefully as I grow older, my writing will improve even more.

Girl: When writing lyrics, what do you draw upon for inspiration?

Joanne: Sometimes I will listen to other artist's music, and find inspiration to write my own songs. Other times, some songs are based on truth, others are based on fiction and what people say can also inspire me to write a song.

Girl: Which do you prefer - recording or performing?

Joanne: Recording is a good way to write a song and hear how it sounds. Performing live is better however, because you put everything you have into the performance, there is no restriction, you have an audience in front of you and you vibe off them and they vibe off you.

Girl: Has the response to your new single with ilanda "BREAKIN' THERE'S NO STOPPIN' US" been positive so far?

Joanne: It's been very positive. I think we've been really blessed and very lucky that we've had the opportunity to work together on a professional level. People really love seeing us perform together and it's also been a fun experience for all of us.

Girl: Have you always wanted to record a song with the boys from ilanda?

Joanne: Yeah I have. To have the opportunity to record with them has been a really good experience.

Girl: You seem to have a very close relationship with the boys. Do you consider them to be your mentors?

Joanne: They have taught me a lot of everything I know and they keep me in line. We also have a lot of fun together!


Girl: Can you dish us the goss on who is the practical joker of ilanda?

Joanne: That would definitely have to be Lennie!

Girl: Now you and ilanda recently performed as support acts on Destiny's Child's Australian tour. How did you land this gig?

Joanne: They asked us to be the support act along with two other acts. It was really exciting for me to support a group like Destiny's Child as they're one of my favourite groups.

Girl: How many songs did you perform?

Joanne: I performed four songs.

Girl: What is a typical day for you Joanne?

Joanne: Everyday is completely different but usually it involves a lot of work. I get up, come into work, do a few rehearsals, perhaps an interview, sometimes I will be recording in the studio or completing a sound check and then do a gig at night.

Girl: At present, you have only really concentrated on producing high-energy music. Do you have any plans for the future, to release any big ballads?

Joanne: Hopefully this will be the case with the second album as the first album is more up-tempo. I really would love to have the opportunity to record a ballad and I think that is what my next step will be.

Girl: When will your debut album "DO NOT DISTURB" be released?

Joanne: It will be released towards the end of August.

Girl: How did you decide on the album title?

Joanne: When I was brainstorming for album titles, it was one I came up with. I was thinking of the recording process and kept remembering that when I was in the studio I kept getting interrupted every five minutes for one reason or another. I recall remarking one day that I was going to put a "do not disturb" sign on the door! So that is where the album title stemmed from.

Girl: What are your immediate plans for the future?

Joanne: Definitely to get the album out. I'll also be doing a lot of promo for "Breakin' There's No Stoppin' Us" with ilanda. I'm just really excited about getting the album out and hopefully I will get to travel overseas within the next year or so. And I guess, my other plans are just to keep performing and then begin work on my second album.

Girl: What is the most amazing aspect about performing?

Joanne: The most amazing thing for me is to see people out in the audience enjoying themselves and singing along to my music. And to have people come up to me and say that they really enjoy my music, is the best feeling ever.

Girl: Who comes up with the concepts for your music videos?

Joanne: It's a joint decision, we basically listen to the song and take from it the feeling we're trying to get across to the audience. The production team will come up with the initial concept and then I'll add to it to get the whole vibe of the song across and deliver it the best way I can, in front of the camera. I find that the concepts you initially come up with will be changed on the day. You end up producing a different film clip to the one you started off doing.

Girl: Do you have the freedom to be very creative and come up with ideas?

Joanne: I think I have enough control. I have the right people taking care of things so I wouldn't want to have any more at this stage. Obviously producers, directors and choreographers are there for a reason so I let them guide me and if I have any ideas I put them forward.

Visit the official website http://www.joannebz.com for further information.

- Annemarie Failla