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Kate Miller-Heidke interview

Kate Miller-Heidke is an Australian singer-songwriter and has recently collaborated with Andy Burrows on her latest single, Share Your Air, which is taken from her new album, O! Vertigo. The album was funded entirely by the direct-to-fan platform PledgeMusic, with Kate smashing the records for quickest and most successful crowdfunding campaign by an Australian artist.  Kate achieved her goal in only 3 days, and the campaign went on to reach over 215% of its original target.

We speak to the young artist about the new album, touring in Europe and the future.

Hello, O Vertigo was released 6th April in the UK. Can you tell me about the records journey?

I think a lot of my work is a reaction against the last thing I did.  My last record was more introspective, more cinematic, more moody and broody.  O Vertigo! was a release from that – giddy simple songs.

The record was funded through Pledge Music in only 3 days. What made you opt for this route?

I opted for it because I thought it would work well for an artist like me, someone with dedicated long-term fans who may be persuaded to buy something before they’d heard it.  Also, because I wanted my independence.

You are trained classically but now are doing pop. Are there other genres you would like to explore?

My husband loves Iron Maiden and he’s always talking about an opera metal project. I reckon that’ll happen someday.

Share Your Air is a collaboration with our very own Andy Burrows. Can you tell me how this came about?

Andy saw me perform a few years ago in New York.  I was a fan of his voice and music, and he was kind enough to agree to sing on the song without having actually met me! I love the art of collaboration, how the voice of another artist can change and enhance the essence of a song.

What is the song about?

It’s a broken-hearted break-up song.  That old chestnut.

Could you tell us how your thought process works when you are writing music?

Well, the best parts are when I am detached from my own thought process, when it feels like I’m a conduit for something else.  You look back and go, ‘I don’t remember writing that –  I don’t remember what it felt like to write that.’

You are touring in Europe later this month. Are there any cities you are looking forward to visit and play in? If so why?

I recently spent a few weeks in Amsterdam working on a new project for the Holland Festival.  I’m looking forward to getting back there, as I love the city and I know it now.

What can we expect from your shows? Are you more intimate when performing or a fan of big props when touring?

These shows will be stripped back duo mode.  We can play with dynamics a lot that way.  Sometimes I bring along sets and props, but we can’t fit them in our luggage at the moment.

What other plans lie ahead this summer?

I’ll be back in Oz working on a new record for my electronic music side project, Fatty Gets a Stylist.

O Vertigo was released on 6th April 2015. 

 

Sarah Bargiela
Sarah Bargiela
Sarah aka Bargi is the Assistant Editor and Music Editor for Entertainment Focus (EF).

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