Folk/ roots singer-songwriter Zoe Ryan brings her own special sparkle to the WA music scene, complete with just a pinch of stardust.
Zoe recounts tales of our human story through her work as effortlessly as she weaves her presence through her unfolding journey, marrying symbolism and poetry with unconventional arrangements and other-worldly vocals.
This year Zoe has released a live EP from shows in Melbourne and Sydney, and performed at a string of festivals including Sustainable Living Festival, Alive Plant-based Festival, Cobargo Folk Festival and Tyalgum's O'heart Festival.
We catch up with Zoe prior to her WAMFest Live showcase in Perth to discuss recent developments.
How has your 2018 been so far?
Amazing. I've been incredibly lucky to have covered ground across three states of the east coast and a number of festivals. I'm incredibly grateful for everything I've seen and all the communities I have been able to be a part of so far this year.
What have you been working on recently?
I've been refining a lot of the live set I've been putting out on the road over the last couple of years, to a point where it's nearly ready to get in a studio.
I've been travelling and performing the material solo as much as possible in order to get to a point where I'm really happy with it.
When did you first start writing original music?
As a toddler. Original music has always been filling my head for as long as I can remember. The life-long journey has been trying to recreate what's coming through and learning the tools to do this.
How are you feeling about your WAMFest show?
Really excited. I love WAMFest and this is the first time I'm playing in a public open-air venue as part of the festival. It's also the first show back in WA since before last winter and there has been a lot of ground covered as well as personal and musical growth over the last year.
What will you be presenting there?
A solo set of the works I have been travelling with including new material and material from the last few years which has been re-worked; the sound that is going to make up the next record I put out.
If you could win any of the WAMAwards, which one would mean the most and why?
I don't place a lot of focus on awards myself; there was a time when I thought about this more and there may be again, but right at the moment my focus is on crafting the best songs I can, and the relationship between myself and the audience when sharing them.
Perhaps if there was a category for Best Songwriter. This is where I feel I identify most as an artist. But right now, my focus is trying to be the best I can possibly be against the standard of myself and what I've created in the past.
I think to be recognised by the wider community is a nice point to get to after that, but for me it can't be my focus. The music I'm writing right now has to be where my focus is.
What role has WAM played in your development as a professional musician?
Growing up in the South-West, WAM was known to and recognised by our contemporary music programme during school years, and it has always been something to aspire to.
I think between WAMi/ WAMFest and my home-town festival (Blues At Bridgetown), I was really lucky to have some local opportunities that set a clear vision for where I wanted to be in the future one day.
Do you have any releases coming up?
Yes, although when this release will be I can't say.
I'm currently working on a solo studio EP, which is going to be a long time coming after the path I've taken and the sound I have been developing over the last five years, having spent time in various music scenes including and outside of WA, and I have only come out with a live EP during this time.
After an early crowdfunded record with a Melbourne-based band, and a couple of experimental studio projects, this is the first time I'm working towards a solo record and a release that I honestly feel is going to be something I'm truly happy with from an artistic standpoint.
Apart from WAMFest, where else can people catch one of your live performances?
People can catch my set live at the Blues at Bridgetown, on the WAM Stage, on Saturday 10 November.
Tell us more about your Stardust community.
Stardust is a project I have been working on while spending time on the east coast.
I've spent a fair bit of time at many different kinds of creative and colourful festivals. I also spend a bit of time busking, and I was inspired by an encounter I had while busking one day with a stream-of-consciousness poet (who I recently ran into in Nimbin again and was able to speak about the Stardust community).
Stardust is a vision I have for a place where magic exists; a reclamation of space, where anyone can show up and is welcome, an open lounge room of sorts where poetry, music and magic might be shared over a cup of tea.
As a step towards a world where Stardust spaces exist in our unused or under-utilised built spaces, I have started this project as a Space-Installation at various festivals.
Currently, it is characterised by an open-jam stage, lounging-space and a place to make a cup of tea. It is always made up of the people who move through it. It has been fun bringing this space into existence and watching it evolve.
