In 1993, legendary singer-songwriter Liz Phair released her debut album, 'Exile In Guyville', a record that 25 years later is still considered a masterpiece of indie music.
Reflecting on the album and listening back to its songs now, Liz says she can see a clear line of development in her approach to songwriting from her previous, self-recorded releases under her Girly Sound pseudonym. “I love them, I love the economy of words, I really did a good job of making those songs whatever shape they needed to be,” Liz says.
“I didn't always keep to the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge [format], and one of the things that I thought was interesting about the reissue ['Girly-Sound To Guyville' released 2018] is it shows you that before I made '...Guyville' I definitely ordered my songs more traditionally.
“So when I made '…Guyville' I was very conscious about trying to do something that aspired to a greater artistry. I think the spareness of Brad's [Wood] production and then Casey's [Rice – engineer] economical, but fully Detroit-esque rock guitar – we made a good bouquet between the three things we were doing.”
Named by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time, 'Exile In Guyville' is a real-life success story of the self-release and DIY production method, and lifted up Liz as an early pioneer of 'bedroom production'. “I think for a lot of young women I was a stepping stone,” Liz says.
“There were plenty before me and concurrently, and I was one of them and I think there were fewer back then than there are now. One of the things that I feel I want to take credit for, and no one's going to stop me, is bedroom-pop. I think I was a major figure in bedroom music. I'm a huge fan, I'm a proponent of the method, and I think it's time it had its day in the sun and that it should be given full and equal respect with the other ways of making music.”
This March, Liz will be in Australia performing as part of the massive WOMADelaide line-up along with a string of her own headline theatre shows. Ahead of her visit, Liz admits her nerves at coming to a country she naturally associates with great songwriting. “I'm excited and also intimidated, you know? I want to be really great,” she laughs.
“I think of Australia in the music business as being a place [of] great songwriting... there's a sophistication about Australian music, pop music especially, that I keep in mind and I'm excited to be around and that I'm also excited about being good enough for.
“I want to bring the ['Exile In Guyville'] reissue we did in the US last year over there to fresh eyes and fresh ears, and play some of those versions that are rarities, that will be intriguing and interesting.
“But again, when I think of going to Australia it's about connecting with the songwriting. I feel like I'm coming over there as as songwriter as much as a performer. It's like going to the Nashville of the Pacific.”
Liz Phair Australia Tour 2019
Fri 8 Mar - Oxford Art Factory (Sydney)Sat 9 Mar - WOMADelaide (Adelaide)
Sun 10 Mar - Golden Plains Festival (Victoria)
Mon 11 Mar - The Croxton Bandroom (Melbourne)
Tue 12 Mar - The Triffid (Brisbane)
