Acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter, Katie Noonan is once again touring the 'Songs That Made Me' series, with her musical sisters: Angie Hart, Melody Pool and Sam Buckingham.
Following a successful tour in 2013, Katie has collaborated with some of the country's top female artists to record a full length album 'Songs That Made Me' including: Renee Geyer, Deborah Conway and Mia Dyson alongside Katie herself; 100 percent of the profits will be donated to The Cancer Council. Each artist contributed a song that was especially significant to them.
On the theme of 'Songs That Made Me' the tracks chosen are landmark songs that have influenced the artists' musical journeys and sound-tracked their lives. Included are songs made famous by Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins and Paul Simon and many more.
We found time to chat with the newest addition to the team, Sam Buckingham.
The ‘Songs That Made Me’ tour is currently underway. How has the experience been so far?
Exhilarating, tiring, humbling, satisfying. It's been a roller coaster. Oh no, actually, a lot more gentle than that. A rocking chair. It's actually become the favourite tour I've ever been a part of, which is pretty special.
What do you like about performing with Katie, Angie and Melody, and what does each of them bring to the performance?
We all have very distinct sounds and personalities on stage. I think the mix makes for a really unique show, and keeps things from becoming stale. We're constantly bouncing off each other and growing closer as the tour progresses, so each night something new comes out which is really fun to watch unfold.
How did it come about that you became involved with the 2014 tour?
Katie sent me an email earlier this year asking if I'd like to record a track for the ‘Songs That Made Me’ album and come on the road. I was in Costa Rica at the time, in my alternate life as a yogi/ farmer, so it was really special for me to come back home for a project I believed so strongly in. I'm on a path of learning how to live and make music making the most positive impact I can, and this tour really fits in with that ethos for me.
On the ‘Songs That Made Me’ album you chose to cover Phil Collins' 'Another Day In Paradise'; why it is significant to you?
Phil Collins was the first live concert I ever experienced, so his music has really stuck with me over the years. My dad raised me and my sister on a diet of Phil, Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, so I picked this song as his music was such an early influence for me. I also love the message, and wanted to be able to bring the song to life in a new way to highlight that.
You could only choose one song for the album, but who are some of your other musical idols and which other songs would you have liked to cover if you had the chance?
Anything by Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder... Any Motown song actually. I considered recording a Dolly Parton song, and we ended up adding one to the tour setlist, so I'm glad that obsession got a look-in.
What are some of your favourite tracks on the CD?
‘Street Spirit’ by Maples, which is a Radiohead song, Anna Coddington and Katie Noonan do a brilliant and incredibly sexy version of ‘Sign Your Name’, and Sahara Beck recorded a gorgeous rendition of ‘Mr Sandman’. We also have Mia Dyson, Ainslie Wills and Renee Geyer on the album and a whole handful of other incredible female Aussie artists. It's hard to pick a favourite actually.
Can you please talk a little about the experience of recording the CD?
I was living in Honduras at the time of recording, on a tiny little island on the Carribean, so I travelled for two days to get to New York to record my track. A friend of mine came in and played banjo and it was quite a natural process for us to get the song to where we wanted it. I was adamant I didn't want the synth riff on the song, you know, at the beginning. ‘Dum da dum dum da dad a dum...’ I wanted it to be a little eerie and quite a different feel to the original, which I think we achieved.
What does it mean for you personally to be supporting the Cancer Council?
To be supporting the Cancer Council feels so important, and it's incredible to see a real and almost immediate impact when we sell the albums on the tour. With 100 percent of the profits going to the Cancer Council it gives me great hope that the little bit we're contributing could actually help make a really big difference in so many peoples lives.
What plans do you have for the future? Will you be collaborating more with these artists?
I try not to plan too far ahead these days, but yes, I'd really love to do that. As an artist, collaboration is one of my greatest joys, so I'll take any opportunity to work again with these beautiful musicians... These beautiful women.
Songs That Made Me Tour Dates
Fri 21 Nov - The Byron Theatre (Byron Bay)Sat 22 Nov - The Old Museum (Brisbane)
Sun 23 Nov - Soundlounge (Gold Coast)
