Tag: Melody Pool

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q&A with Melody Pool

Today acclaimed Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley-based singer-songwriter Melody Pool releases her gorgeous third album Our Eternal Garden. Coming nine years after her last, this stunning psychedelic-folk album sees Melody channelling her grief, trust, and curiosity into songs that build on her sound and take it in new directions. I caught up with Melody to chat about this beautiful new album, how she feels making music after an extended hiatus, and her exciting touring news.

You’re releasing your new album Our Eternal Garden today. What can you tell me about it?

I guess mainly that I’m extremely proud of it. I wrote a lot of the songs when there were heaps of life changes happening for me, my dad getting sick etc. It was an exercise in surrendering to grief really and trying to redirect my approach to pain and existential dread by working with it rather than pushing up against it.

This is actually your first album release since Deep Dark Savage Heart in 2016. You were really honest about needing to step back from your music career and prioritise your mental health not long after you released that album. How does it feel to be making music again after that time away?

That break was exactly what I needed to be able to get back into music. I was really lost beforehand and so disconnected to why I was doing it. Those years helped me realign with the ‘why’, and I fell back in love with creating, and problem solving and challenging myself musically which is what I’d lost. So, rather than it just feeling good, it actually just feels right now. 

The press release says this album is “a bold expansion of her sonic and lyrical world.” How would you say that your music evolved between this album and Deep Dark Savage Heart?

I’d say it’s wildly different haha. I don’t know, I hear DDSH now and I just hear a lost little girl who let others listen and decide things for her, who didn’t value her own opinion or taste. I feel like the sound has really been formed into something that reflects me now, and lyrically/musically it’s just far more realised. But that’s just my opinion lol.  

You recorded Our Eternal Garden entirely to tape, which is such an old-school way of doing things. What influenced that decision?

There is a record by Linda Perhacs called Paralellograms that I adore, and I’d said to Chris [Dale] (my producer, who’s also my partner), that I was obsessed with that vocal sound and the density and warmth of it and he was like “Maybe we should just go to Golden Retriever and record to tape,” so we did. There wasn’t some huge determined decision really, it kind of just worked out that way and became something we just said “Yeah, let’s try that” to. 

As a music buff, I was really impressed to read that the album’s photos were shot by Henry Diltz, who has photographed music legends like The Doors and Joni Mitchell. How did you get him on board?

Through a publicist I was working with at the time. It was such a beautiful experience getting to share some time with Henry, and he gifted me a beautiful print of Joni he had signed at the end of it. He is a really beautiful man with a very special spirit. I feel so lucky to have gotten to chance to spend some time with him and hear his stories.  

You’ve actually been compared to Joni and Leonard Cohen. What is it like to hear those sorts of comparisons?

In some ways you just shrug it off because they’re the greats, you know? It feels like, yeah right. I wish. Haha. In others, it kind of makes sense. They’re huge influences for me, I’ve spent years absorbing and pondering on their songs and whatever you expose yourself to, you tend to lean toward when you start creating for yourself. 

You’ll be playing some international shows to support the release of Our Eternal Garden. Where can fans expect to see you?

I’m kind of bouncing all over the UK, and then heading to Germany. So I’ll be in Ayr, Scotland, London and surrounds, Bristol, Staffordshire, Yorkshire. I have always wanted to spend a lot more time in the UK as I have heaps of family there so I’m very excited for that. And then we’re doing some shows in Germany around Frankfurt, Bremen, some smaller towns like Eisenach and Lübeck and Dedesdorf, a few that I visited last year and LOVED. So excited to head back there too. 

I assume Australia will always be part of those plans. Do you know yet when you’ll play locally?

Yes! Through October and November we’re doing a little city run which will include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and then my hometown show in Newcastle, and we have a little gig regionally in Grenfell as well. 

What can music lovers expect from your upcoming shows?

A lot of heart, emotion as allllways with me. Also I’m from regional NSW so a fair bit of gasbagging too haha 

Have you got a message for your fans out there?

Love ya’s. Come see a show. Always love to hug a fan x

Our Eternal Garden is out now on all your favourite streaming services. You can also purchase a vinyl copy through Melody’s Bandcamp page. She’s also just announced her world tour dates, so make sure you see her anywhere you can.

9 August 2025 – Fresh Ayr Folk Fest @ Ayr Town Hall, Ayr
12 August 2025 – Paper Dress Vintage, London
13 August 2025 – To the Moon, Bristol
14 August 2025 – The Wren, Stone
17 August 2025 – Platform Tavern, Southampton (Tickets on door)
19 August 2025 – Breaking Sound @ The Star of Shoreditch, Shoreditch
20 August 2025 – The Sun Inn, Beverley (supporting Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes)
21 August 2025 – The Bluebird, York (supporting Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes)
23 August 2025 – Cafe Lebermann, Eisenach (contact venue for tickets)
24 August 2025 – Schalander, Hochstadt
31 August 2025 – Litfass, Bremen (FREE)
1 September 2025 – Tonfink, Lubeck
2 September 2025 – Weserperle, Dedestorf (FREE)
4 October 2025 – Dashville Skyline Festivalle, Wonnarua Country/Dashville
18 October 2025 – The Cordial Factory, Wiradjuri Country/Grenfell
20 October 2025 – The Vanguard, Eora/Sydney
24 October 2025 – Trinity Sessions, Tarntanya/Adelaide
26 October 2025 – Brunswick Ballroom, Naarm/Melbourne
5 November 2025 – Songwriters Cafe, Walyalup/Fremantle
6 November 2025 – Mojo’s Walyalup/Fremantle (supporting Jeff Lang)
8 November 2025 – Bridgetown Blues Festival, Geegelup/Bridgetown
12 November 2025 – Lyrics Underground, Boorloo/Perth
14 November 2025 – Hamilton Station, Mulbinba/Newcastle

Photo credit: Henry Diltz

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melody Pool on Tour to Promote “Changing” Single

If the working week has ground you down, you’ve got to press play on Melody Pool’s gorgeous new single “Changing.” Listening to this uplifting folk track and its beautiful lyrics about evolution and growth, I instantly felt lighter.

Melody said the song “is really mostly about accepting that the only constant in life is change. ‘Changing’, to me, is about finding a way to make the heavy stuff worth it, allowing it to change you. And allowing the darkest parts of yourself their time in the light so you can hear their needs and shift them into a healthier space in your life.”

Melody embraced old-school techniques, recording “Changing” live as a band, to tape, with no isolation.

“The process seems to make everyone a little more on edge, which ups everyone’s game,” she enthused. “It’s a special thing to rely on each other throughout a take when you are all in the same room, but it helps you lean into everyone’s energy and I believe that’s where the magic happens.”

Fans living abroad can expect a little more of that magic when Melody kicks off a string of shows in Germany and England today. But don’t worry Aussie fans. She’ll be back with some local shows in Setepmber and October as she works towards the release of her third studio album.

23 August 2024 – Klein Klang Festival, Eisenach
24 August 2024 – Folk Im Viertel Festival, Osnabrück
30 August 2024 – Wohnzimmer Live I’m Piepenstock, Dortmund
1 September 2024 – Litfass, Bremen
3 September 2024 – Tonfink, Lübeck
4 September 2024 – MALT, London
6 September 2024 – Zur Scharfen Ecke, Sande
7 September 2024 – Filou Die Kneipe, Steinhude
25 September 2024 – Lyrics Underground, Boorloo/Perth
27 September 2024 – The York Festival, Ballardong Nyoongar Country/York
9 October 2024 – Jazzlab, Naarm/Melbourne
11 October 2024 – Trinity Sessions, Tarntanya/Adelaide
13 October 2024 – Smiths Alternative, Ngambri/Canberra
25-27 October 2024 – Nimbin Roots Festival, Whiyabul Country/Nimbin

Photo credit: Madeleine Becker

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Katie Noonan @ Avoca Beach Cinema, Darkinjung Country/Avoca Beach – 4 March 2023

If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been busy. Really busy. After so many slow years, it seems like just about everyone is touring. And like any music addict, I’m powerless to say no. So even though I already had tickets to a matinee performance of “Come From Away” on Saturday, I found myself driving back to Darkinjung Country/Central Coast to catch Katie Noonan’s tribute to Joni Mitchell’s seminal album Blue.

I’d heard how good Melody Pool was from a friend who sees her perform regularly, but I’m not sure his praise really prepared me for her set. What a phenomenal vocalist she is. What a warm and engaging performer. She admitted that her songs tend to be a little dark, as they are often her way of processing her emotions during depressive episodes, but her beautiful voice lifts you up, ensuring the dark lyrics don’t get too heavy. To hold the audience in the palm of her hand with so many new songs is a real gift. I’d see her again in a heartbeat.

Every time I see Katie Noonan I see something new. It’s so exciting to watch her journey as an artist. When I saw her front George I was in my early 20s. A few years back I saw her making jazz-folk with Elixir. And on the weekend, she was celebrating one of the true legends of the music world, Joni Mitchell. It was something new again, but perhaps my favourite.

Firstly, there’s that music. Joni has a special place in my heart, and many of my favourites come from Blue. This album is like an old friend, and taking a journey through it with Katie and this attentive audience was a real joy. The audience is another tick. Katie said we could sing along, but I don’t think any of us wanted to break the spell Katie and her guitarist Jeremy Sawkins cast. You could hear a pin drop. Combine that with the intimate venue, a beautiful cinema with plush seating and such “good juju,” as Katie put it. But it all wouldn’t have mattered if not for Katie. I can’t imagine any other artists doing this music justice. Her voice is timeless and so special, able to swoop up high to Joni’s falsetto notes and wind around the intricate melodies with ease. She also understands these songs. She’s not just singing pretty words, she’s interpreting them. She chats easily with the crowd, sharing stories of Joni’s experiences at the time of writing and her own relationship with this music. If every person didn’t leave those theatre having learned something, I’d be surprised.

I appreciated that Katie played the album from start to finish. I’ve always believed artists have intent when they put an album together. It’s just as it should be. I also felt so treated that she didn’t quite stop there. “Big Yellow Taxi” gave us all the push we needed to sing, but not before Katie “auditioned” us and confirmed we were up to the task. After the singalong, it was so nice to take one last moment to appreciate Katie’s voice as she closed the show with “The Circle Game.”

As I stepped out of the theatre, I was so glad that I pushed myself to come, despite the fatigue that was starting to set in after so many shows. It was a truly special evening of music. If you’re a Katie fan or a Joni fan, make sure you don’t miss this tour. Here are all the remaining dates:

14 April 2023 – Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Dharug Country/Springwood
15 April 2023 – The Street Theatre, Ngunnawal Country/Canberra
16 April 2023 – Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, Burbong/Goulburn
10 May 2023 – Burrinja, Naarm/Melbourne
11 May 2023 – The Pig & Whistle, Bunurong Country/Main Ridge
12 May 2023 – The Thornbury Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
13 May 2023 – Palais-Hepburn, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Hepburn Springs
14 May 2023 – Governor Hindmarsh, Tartanya/Adelaide
18 May 2023 – Glasshouse Port Macquarie, Birpai Country/Port Macquarie
20 May 2023 – Brunswick Picture House, Bundjalung Country/Brunswick Heads
26 May 2023 – Freo.Social, Boorloo/Perth
27 May 2023 – Lyric’s Underground, Boorloo/Perth
1 June 2023 – Bendooley Estate Winery, Gundungurra Country/Berrima
2 June 2023 – Brighton Lakes Recreation & Golf Club, Eora/Sydney
3 June 2023 – Glen Street Theatre, Eora/Sydney
4 June 2023 – Qirkz in the Hunter, Wonnarua Country/Abermain
9 June 2023 – The Events Centre, Gubbi Gubbi Jinibara Country/Caloundra
10 June 2023 – The J, Gubbi Gubbi Country/Noosa
11 June 2023 – Redland Performing Arts Centre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
15 June 2023 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Meeanjin/Brisbane
17 June 2023 – Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy Country/Cairns

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Wilk

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Katie Noonan & Friends Celebrate “Songs That Made Me” Release

With her Songs That Made Me album now in stores, Katie Noonan and some of her musical sisters are set to take the CD on the road.

Following the successful 2013 tour, Katie and other amazing local female talents have laid down tracks which pay homage to the songs that shaped their lives. Not only is the album full of fabulous music, 100 percent of the profits from sales will benefit the Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon campaign.

“I am so thrilled to be able to join with these remarkable women, utilising the Songs That Made Me concept, to raise funds and awareness for Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon campaign,” Katie said in a press statement. “It’s not every day that you get to work with such incredibly gifted artists and contribute something meaningful at the same time.”

Featured artists Angie Hart, Melody Pool, and Sam Buckingham will join Katie for these very special shows.

30 October 2014 – Artbar, Perth
7 November 2014 – The Gov, Adelaide
8 November 2014 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
13 November 2014 – Joan Sutherland PAC, Penrith
14 & 15 November 2014 – The Basement, Sydney
16 November 2014 – Lizotte’s, New Lambton
21 November 2014 – The Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
22 November 2014 – Old Museum Concert Hall, Brisbane
23 November 2014 – Soundlounge, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute