Kylie Auldist Still Life Interview

Kylie Auldist Still Life Interview

Compared to the likes of Sharon Jones and touted as gutsier than Diana Ross, Kylie Auldist is most commonly known for her involvement with kings of funk, The Bamboos. It was a tour of the UK with the outfit in 2007 which saw this Melbourne-based, half-Samoan songstress snapped up as a solo artist in her own right by iconic and respected Brighton-based record label, Tru Thoughts.

Her continued involvement with The Bamboos saw Kylie sharing vocal time with the likes of Aloe Blacc, Megan Washington, Tim Rogers and Daniel Merriweather on the outfit's most successful release to date, -Medicine Man'.

Her 2008 debut solo album, -Just Say' saw a heady mix of Kylie's distinctive, soulful vocals and the flawless, funk-fuelled production of The Bamboos' main-man and label mate, Lance Ferguson. Her sophomore album, -Made Of Stone' (2009) saw Kylie once again enlisting the production skills of Lance Ferguson and the backing of The Bamboos to create a sizzling collection of original, grown-up pop with warm, retro-inspired funk and mod-soul flavours complementing the razor sharp musicianship, crystal clear production and Kylie's incisive lyrical voice.

Kylie's third release promises to be the album that will see her arrival as a truly global artist. Titled -Still Life', the album was co-written with the only man for the job – Lance Ferguson. The album explores themes such as love and loss with an intelligence and depth that only real life experience can master. The first single from the album, titled Counting On You is proof of Kylie's ability to create uplifting, inspiring, genre-spanning music and once again proves her as a force to be reckoned with.
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk

Interview with Kylie Auldist

Question: How would you describe Still Life?

Kylie Auldist: Still Life was written in the last two months; we had grand plans to write and write and write and we hadn't so we had to do it within two months. I love Still Life, I managed to get a disco track on the album as I wanted to do a whole disco album and Lance Ferguson said 'I don't think so!" (laughing). We wrote a lot of the album, together, in our lounge room and then at the end he sent me music and I wrote what I felt like writing and I am very happy with Still Life.


Question: Why did you choose to work with Lance Ferguson?

Kylie Auldist: We were signed up together; I had been signed for three albums but they wanted Lance Ferguson to be producing the albums and writing with me. When I first started I didn't know what I was doing and I probably wouldn't have done it if Lance Ferguson didn't have the big stick, beating me (laughing).


Question: Why is Counting On You important, to you?

Kylie Auldist: Counting On You has a real 70's and 80's feel and it's like a little snapshot back to the music that I grew up with and love. Counting On You is the story of putting up with someone for ever and ever even if they're bad to you!

Question: When writing what is your main inspiration?

Kylie Auldist: Lance Ferguson and I write together. On my first album a lot of the songs where about my life, my husband and my family; for my second album my Aunty had recently died and I wrote a song for her. A lot of my inspiration comes from my family and my songs are very family orientated. Changes is important to me because it is basically a statement of how happy I am in my life and I don't need any changes! I remember that somebody once said to me that my first album was written as if I was never going to write another album again so I had to tell every single story about myself. Now I am trying to write a little bit less about myself and make it a little bit more obscure.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Kylie Auldist: I'm listening to Six Sixty from New Zealand, I love the drum and base and I am a major reggae fan at the moment as my husband listens to a lot of reggae. I also listen to The Black Keys and disco music.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Kylie Auldist: I will be launching Still Life in Melbourne on the 23rd of November and in Sydney on the 17th of November, 2012. I have a lot of gigs coming up over the summer with The Bamboos for The Falls Festival and Homebake. I'd love to do a European summer tour with my own band… but who knows!


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Kylie Auldist: Every now and then you do think 'I'm too old, I've had enough" and my husband wants to go and live on the beach but every time I sing on stage I feel great and I love it! I was performing with The Bamboos on the weekend and it was so much fun and I don't think I could give that up; you can sing soul music forever so hopefully I'll be able to keep going.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?
Kylie Auldist: Definitely! I'd much rather be singing live as it gives you that buzz and makes you feel a part of the music and you feel as if you're giving a gift to the audience. I find it quiet difficult to get the vibe across when singing in the studio.


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

Kylie Auldist: My grandmother because she said it was gift and basically the fact that I didn't like any other job (laughs). When somebody gave me money to sing I thought -I was going to sing anyways'! I have a great husband who has a proper job and he lets me sing even though I don't make a lot of money doing it, his very supportive because he knows it makes me happy.


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

Kylie Auldist: The biggest challenge would be leaving my babies behind when I go overseas, I can't stand it and I cry at the airport whilst the rest of the band is so excited.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Kylie Auldist: At the moment I have been writing tracks with other people from overseas in America and England. My typical day is cleaning up and getting my kids to school whilst trying to organise the band and write new material. Every day is a new day and I'm basically a Mum.


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

Kylie Auldist: Wow! My hero of the world is George Michael (laughs). I'd like to work with John Legend, John Mayer or anyone because I have so many heroes and I couldn't begin to name them!

Interview by Brooke Hunter