One quarter of ARIA Award-winning group All Our Exes Live In Texas, vocalist/ guitarist Katie Wighton has released a new solo single 'Take You Home'.
A catchy melody, rhythmic riffs and driving beat propel the song forward with a feel-good intensity. 'Take You Home' was co-written with one of Katie's besties, Elizabeth M Drummond (Little May)."Lizzie was playing and singing and I thought she sang something like, 'I saw your brother naked on the stairs'," Wighton says recalling their 'Take You Home' songwriting session with a chuckle.
"What's funny is that something similar – not the exact same experience, obviously – had happened to us both, where we'd been like, 'Wow, I just saw your brother naked and I don't even care, because I'm so not in love with you anymore'."
Currently in a fallow period with All Our Exes, Katie is focused on her solo material with a larger body of work potentially afoot. "It's nice to have total creative control," she enthuses.
"To have the freedom to do whatever I want – throw stuff at the wall and see what happens – has been so liberating.
"It's been really fun to yell a bit, wail away on the electric guitar and play music that people can dance to as well. I feel really, really lucky that I get to put something out that I'm super-proud of. And it's entirely of my own making."
Tell us about 'Take You Home' both sonically and lyrically?
I think Elvis Costello said 'writing about music is like dancing about architecture', but I'll do my darnedest. It's pretty fun and not particularly serious.
It's about being bored in a relationship to the point that you don't even care any more. But you stay because you can't be alone, which is pretty grim haha. That's coupled with a fun, driving beat. I always wanted to write a summer-on-the-highway song and I really hope I've done it!?
Co-writing 'Take You Home' with Elizabeth M Drummond (Little May); being one of your best mates did the song come together more easily than others? And did it feel more like hanging out with a friend than actual creative work?
It did come a lot easier actually. It didn't all happen on the one day – we started it and then I finished it on a tiny island called Russell Island in Queensland.
I mean we were being totally ridiculous (which is generally how we are with each other), so it was really fun. But also Lizzie is one of the most incredible musicians I've ever known so even her 'fun and silly' is creative gold. She was great to write with because she's so inspiring.
The song's video clip looks like it was a lot of fun to bring together with the '50s housewife motif/ murdering the hubby/ drinking bicarb cola (from BTS); did you have a clear idea of the creative direction you wanted to explore?
Haha, yeah it was SO fun! I don't remember how or where I came up with the idea. I like film clips that have a narrative arc and so that's what I wanted to do with this. My very good friend Mark made a massive impact on it too – he is always so committed.
It was filmed by Rick Clifford; what did he bring to the project, executing the final product?
Rick is amazing. He's so receptive to my ideas and really lovely to work with. He came up with the flips to the 'fantasy deaths' and all the colouring etc.
He captured things so perfectly – he always comes up with really original shot ideas which I love. He's quick and clever, and calm which is really helpful on a big shoot day. The wonderful Gina Somfleth had a huge role too in styling the whole clip. She's also a total delight so having her around is always fantastic.
How do you approach your solo work compared to what you contribute to All Our Exes? Are there certain songs you write that you stockpile for one or the other?
I get this question a lot. Exes is such a collaborative, team experience. We literally have four brains working on the one project, so it's incredibly different.
This one is mostly all me, which is both liberating and terrifying haha. I don't tend to stockpile songs, but genre wise my solo stuff is pretty different so that usually helps me make the decision.
With your focus on your solo work, have you found it liberating in a sense to be able to 100 per cent lock into what you want to create, try different things, test ideas out, noodle away on a guitar?
It is liberating, yeah. I work really quickly and get bored fast, which is a blessing and a curse. That was fun in the sense that I got to just throw stuff at the wall and see what I liked.
In Exes we are usually very considered musically, so in a way it's been fun to be a little more wild. That said, I probably have more regrets with my solo stuff but hey, as Ronan Keating said, 'life is a roller coaster just gotta ride it'.
You've also recently been to Nashville partaking in some co-writing sessions; anything you can share from those trips; is there a bigger solo work creaking to life?
Oh Nashville was THE best. I absolutely loved writing there. I wrote a Christmas song actually! It's coming out this year, which will be fun. There might be a bigger solo work yes. . . But it wasn't written in Nashville hehe. Some of my new favourites were though and I'm excited to get back into the studio and work on them.
You played your first show with your own band (first in two years) earlier this year; did that give you the bug to tour your own material more often (any live shows in the works)?
Hmmm interesting! I don't know to be honest. I LOVE playing live. I really do. But touring is really, really tough. Especially at the moment.
There's such a huge pressure on artists to sell tickets, so it kind of takes away from the point of touring (which is the music!). I really hope this change in [federal] government leads to more of a focus on building our live music scene back up again.
Venues and artists need so much support at the moment just to get ONE show off the ground. It's insane. I definitely have some shows lined up early next year, but for now I'm just focussing on enjoying making and releasing music. It's a lot less heartbreaking in a way.
How was the quick little trip you took to Ireland last month?
It was the absolute best. I'm madly in love with Ireland. I fell hard for the people and the music and the countryside in 2016, so it was so lovely to go back. It's a magical place. Truly.
They LOVE music. And at my shows there were people who had been to the very first Exes gig which happened to be at the same venues exactly six years before! I mean honestly. Can it get any more wholesome and special than that?
Is there any news to share from the All Our Exes stable?
Not at the moment, no :)
Earlier this year, you got to support Midnight Oil (with All Our Exes) on their final tour; how was that experience and will the memories live with you for a long time?
Midnight Oil are (obviously) an iconic Australian band for so many reasons. We have been lucky enough to play with them a few times now and they never cease to amaze me. Their songwriting is incredible.
Their live show is spectacular. And they are all just such lovely, genuine people. They're so supportive of music and musicians and we are just so grateful for those opportunities. I can't say enough good stuff about them.
Thanks for your time; anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for chatting to me! xx
