Sydney-based electro-pop artist Jess Spahr, fresh off a European and UK tour, is back home peddling her newest single – 'Bring Me Down To My Knees'.
The song first began life as a ballad. But once she was in the studio with producer Luke Carra (vocalist/ guitarist for Caravana Sun), they decided to tread a rockier path.
"I actually wrote this song as a ballad," Jess says, "but when I got into the studio my producer Luke Carra and I said 'this will sound sick as a rocker'. So working together with Ian Pritchett (sound engineer), we created this banger of a song.
"I was always unsure of how I felt about the song, since it was so different from anything I have written or performed before, but on stage this song goes off."
Here's a recent Q&A Jess completed while she was on the road in Europe.
What's been happening Jess?
Currently I am in Europe and embarking on my first European tour. I have played in Berlin and Munich so far and the crowds are so responsive to the music; made heaps of new friends in the industry over here, which is absolutely fantastic.
It was special playing in Germany as well, since I am a German. I felt really proud to present my work to them all. London is next at the Islington and I know it will be another epic show.
When did the songwriting bug first bite you?
The bug of songwriting started when my ex-husband started being annoying hahahaha! But in all seriousness, the emotions of getting a divorce and starting my life over again, really triggered the deep feelings I had suppressed for a long time. From there the music and lyrics flowed, to create what I have today.
You're playing Australian Music Week in Sydney next month. What can we expect from your live shows?
You can always expect surprises at my shows. I love involving the audience in the music I have created, whether it being stamping feet, clicking fingers or even bashing knives and forks on the table. My shows demonstrate my personality and the life I have experienced so far, which is absolutely fabulous.
The new single 'Bring Me Down To My Knees' sounds like a dance-floor filler. Was this your intention?
Haha, it is a dance-floor filler and it has done its job so far. The song was originally written as a ballad, but as time went on, I thought it needed an upbeat feel. It all happened in the studio with lots of collaborations on Luke Carra and Ian Pritchett's part, but it all came together as a banger.
Originally it was meant to be a ballad, but since the experience of the song was based on a night out drinking German beer and waking up on a driveway with McDonalds in one hand, it became a rocker, 'cause we all know how alcohol brings us down to our knees hahaha.
If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
There are many. I always say London Grammar – I LOVE THEM! But if I were to go down my classical roots, Vivaldi or Mendelssohn.
You're a classically trained on the violin; tell us something about that?
I saw the violin being played at the age of five when I was in year one; true love was met. From there, I did all my exams and even had violin as my major instrument in uni; my favourite is baroque era.
