You might remember me promising to post the video for Georgia Fair’s gorgeous new single “Marianne” once it was complete. Well I’m never one to go back on my word, so here it is. Just like the song, the clip is all very low key but gorgeously filmed, and it gives us an opportunity to see guest singer Lisa Mitchell’s new cropped do. Enjoy!
Tag: Lisa Mitchell
Georgia Fair Record Album Abroad
It’s been a little while coming, but the debut album from Georgia Fair shouldn’t be too far away.
The Sydney duo, famous for their catchy folk-pop tune “Picture Frames,” are currently recording the album in North Carolina with producer Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses fame.
But Ben Riley and Jordan Wilson be back soon enough, as they’re scheduled to join Lisa Mitchell on her Oh Hark! National Theatre tour next month. These should be fantastic shows with gorgeous intimate venues and fellow folksters Boy and Bear also on the bill.
Tickets for all shows are on sale on March 19 from the venues.
29 April 2010 – Warrnambool Entertainment Centre, Warrnambool
30 April 2010 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
4 May 2010 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
5 May 2010 – Surfers Paradise Beer Garden
6 May 2010 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Noosa
7 May 2010 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
12 May 2010 – Wollongong Uni
13 May 2010 – Penrith RSL
14 May 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
16 May 2010 – Astor Theatre, Perth
20 May 2010 – HQ, Adelaide
21 May 2010 – Sir Robert Helpman Theatre, Mt Gambier
26 May 2010 – Bluestone, Ballarat
28 May 2010 – The Forum, Melbourne
29 May 2010 – Launceston Country Club
30 May 2010 – Wrestpoint Showroom, Hobart
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
Oh! Hark! It’s a New Lisa Mitchell Video!
After my musings about whether Lisa Mitchell and other female singer-songwriters sang like little girls, many readers might have thought I was being a bit mean. I’m determined to make amends, so I wanted to share with you Lisa’s latest film clip.
“Oh! Hark!” was one of my favourite cuts from Wonder. It felt like it had stepped out of a vintage album with its jangling instrumentation and rollicking chorus. This music video doesn’t exactly fit the song’s retro vibe, but I’ve learned by now that Lisa is never predictable. Case in point; here we get to see Lisa bust a move! This is a lot kookier than any choreographed routine I’ve seen of late, which is exactly why I love it!
"Wonder" – Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Mitchell first came to my attention as a contestant on Australian Idol. She didn’t shine in the constructed reality TV environment of cover versions and live performances, but there was something so compelling about her. 
Lisa could have easily been swept up in the Idol machine. But instead she escaped the glare of the spotlight and worked quietly on honing her craft. The result is Wonder, her first full length album and a work of exceptional beauty.
The album shows how Lisa has blossomed and matured into an artist more accomplished than her years would suggest. She’s an artist of contradictions. There’s a whimsical playfulness about tunes like “Coin Laundry” and the smash hit, “Neopolitan Dreams.” Her childlike innocence is so compelling. But that doesn’t tell the complete story of Wonder. There are darker overtones to the sassy “So Jealous” and the haunting “Pirouette.” “Stevie” is spontaneous and fun, like witnessing a jam session between friends. The piano driven “Love Letter” is romantic without being twee.
Wonder never stalls or falters like so many albums. There are no filler tracks. Lisa has a knack for crafting songs that are personal and a little quirky, yet completely accessible. Put simply, this is one of the strongest debuts I’ve heard. If this is what Lisa Mitchell can create at 19, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia
Q & A With Lisa Mitchell
At the tender age of 19, Lisa Mitchell is taking on the world with her sweet folk voice and exceptional songwriting skills. On the eve of the release of her debut album Wonder I chatted to her about the new CD, her upcoming Australian tour, and what it’s like to live the life of a nomad. 
You’ve just come back from playing the Glastonbury festival. How was that?
Amazing. It was so cool. It was great. I would have loved to have stayed the whole weekend and have camped out – I had some friends there – but I had a gig the next day. So I literally just played. The gig went well, it was good. The thing is, over in the UK they know the “Neopolitan Dreams” song from the ad on TV. So it was good; they all sing along with that. So we did the gig, and then went and saw Fleet Foxes who were fucking amazing, and then I had to go back to London. And it was for a good gig, it was for a good cause. It was support for the James Morrison show in Canterbury, Kent. So it was a good gig, but I would have liked to have stayed and camped.
So how did the Glastonbury crowds respond to the other songs that maybe they weren’t so familiar with?
They responded well I think, from what I can remember. It was a good gig. A lot of people came in off the muddy thing we were on. Typical festival. The sun was out the whole time I was there, but we had our wellies on and it rained a little bit the day before we were there, so it was all nice and muddy. Which was good; you don’t want to go to Glastonbury and it be dry. So it was a real experience. I was absolutely stoked to play it.
Last time we spoke you mentioned how much you love to travel. So did you have any time in the UK to just kick back and enjoy your holiday?
I did. I had a fair bit of downtime. I spent lots of Sunday afternoons in the nice pubs and the parks. The weather was absolutely gorgeous when I was there. The sun was out every day, and back here it’s freezing! Music-wise it was going really good. I think it takes a lot of your energy up, being in a new place. You’re very aware of trying to make friends and just being in this new place. By the end of the time I was there, my last week, I was feeling nice and settled. I think the more I go over the more I’ll build up a little network.
It seems a shame that you just get settled and then you’ve got to come back home and start promoting the album over here!
Yeah. It’s the life of a troubadour, always on the road.
Continue reading “Q & A With Lisa Mitchell”
Q & A with Lisa Mitchell
From Albury to Australian Idol to the world stage, Lisa Mitchell has forged a career with her sweet folk voice and quirky melodies. This month Lisa will release her debut album The Attic Space and embark on her first national tour as a headlining artist. Today I caught up with this bright young star to chat about her passion for travelling and teacups.
You got your start on Australian Idol. How do you feel about that experience looking back?
I got a lot of exposure out of it, so from that point of view it’s been great for me, to do my own kind of music. So it was a positive experience for me.
After Idol you returned to Albury and stayed out of the limelight for a while. Why did you decide to take that time away from the spotlight?
I guess it wasn’t really a conscious decision. I was just working on my own songs. I was living over in London for a while, recording some songs over there, just travelling about a bit. And as it happens I’ve got some songs together now, so I’m just in the last steps of putting them together into an album.
You’re releasing your debut album The Attic Space later this month. How would you describe it?
Someone asked me if it was typical of me, and I said I think it’s typical of me in that I like to experiment. It’s I suppose slightly experimental, and it’s quite dark in some parts. I did some recording in London with a guy called Anthony Whiting and that part of things was quite dark. Just lately I’ve been back in the studio with Dann Hume (Evermore) who I did the EPs with and we’ve been recording some new songs, and they’ve turned out well because every time we start recording it we don’t know what to expect. I suppose it’s a similar sound to my EPs, but also I think I experimented a little more.
You mentioned some of the awesome people you’ve worked with on this album. What’s it been like collaborating with such talented guys?
Well I’ve collaborated with a fair few people over the last few years, which has been a really great experience, but they’re not necessarily collaborations I’m using on the album. It’s a brilliant exercise for songwriting I think. Just meeting them, and seeing what their life’s like, I think you learn a lot more from them as people than maybe you do writing songs together.
Lisa Mitchell Announces Headline Tour
It’s been a long time coming, but Lisa Mitchell is finally hitting the road on her first headline tour!
She’ll criss-cross the country in April, giving fans a sneak peek of her debut album which will hit stores on July 3. The set will include Lisa’s latest track, “Coin Laundry.”
Having spent the last few months putting the finishing touches on the record, Lisa’s itching to get in front of an audience again.
“I’ll be joined on the road by my delightful band mates Robert Vasy on drums and Jan Bangma on bass, and I’m very excited to have Andy Bull and Vanessa Jade joining onstage for our latest expedition around the country!”she said.
See Lisa at a venue near you in this April and May. Here are all the dates!
16 April 2009 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
17 April 2009 – Northcote Social Club
18 April 2009 – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat
19 April 2009 – Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong
22 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
23 April 2009 – The Sound Lounge, Currumbin
24 April 2009 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
25 April 2009 – The Globe Theatre, Brisbane
26 April 2009 – Woombye Pub, Sunshine Coast
28 April 2009 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
29 April 2009 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
30 April – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
1 May 2009 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
3 May 2009 – ANU Union Bar, Canberra
6 May 2009 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle
7 May 2009 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
8 May 2009 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
Image source: Sunrise.seven @ Flickr
Lisa Mitchell on the Road
Lisa Mitchell may have found fame through reality TV program Australian Idol, but the talented teen has remained fiercely independent. She turned down several major recording deals, choosing instead to further her own sound and develop her songwriting.
She will show off her latest material at shows all around the country later this month.
“I feel like it’s a bit darker than some of the other stuff I’ve done,” she told The Sunday Telegraph. “It’s hard to put into words because it [her debut album] isn’t finished, but it’s a continuation along the same lines as my EP.”
While you’re waiting for the album, make sure you check out this amazing talent at one of the following shows!
16 January 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
17 January 2009 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
20 January 2009 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
23 January 2009 – Jive, Adelaide
24 January 2009 – Fly By Night, Fremantle
Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr
New Song Obsession: "Neopolitan Dreams" by Lisa Mitchell
I fell in love with this song when I saw it in those three commercials where the people roll around in big clear balls. I was pretty surprised when I found out it was by our very own Lisa Mitchell. This is such a simple little song, and I think because of that it sneaks up on you. You just see if you’re not humming it after hearing it a few times. I also adore the fairytale imagery in the film clip. Well done Lisa Mitchell!
Lisa Mitchell’s Back in the Spotlight
It’s no secret that I’m a bit of an Australian Idol fan. One of my favourite performers was Lisa Mitchell. She was too shy and too uncomfortable with the Idol format to ever progress very far in the comp, but what she did was enough to stick in the minds of music lovers like myself.
Far away from the glare of the Idol stage Lisa Mitchell has been quietly working away at her music. And it looks like it’s finally paying off. She scored a record deal with Scorpio Music and she’s currently in London recording her debut album. She’ll work with British producer Ant White, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and M.I.A., on the release. She’s also written some songs with Clare Bowditch and Kevin “Bob Evans” Mitchell, but she’s unsure whether they’ll make the final cut.
“Some people just write you off after being on Australian Idol, but working with credible artists kind of makes people less doubtful,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I am kind of sick of trying to work out what the album is going to be like because you never know until you get in the studio.”
Her EP, Welcome to the Afternoon, will hit shelves on Saturday to tide fans over. The four-track disc was produced by Evermore’s Dan Hume.
“The first track [‘See You When You Get Here’] is a lot darker than maybe my other songs,” she said. “All the tracks are really different – it is really varied.”
Image source: Toby Forage @ Flickr