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Linda Garnett

Featured Artist of the Day: Pauline Andres

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Indie Music Women’s Featured Artist of the Day is…

Pauline Andres (@darkestdarlin)

Born in France a coal miner’s daughter, Pauline Andres made a name for herself with a sweet and smoky voice that “perfectly conveys the thoughts and observations of an old soul walking home at closing time.” She grew up in a family of mainly Hungarian and Slovenian descent by the German border in a town where the local dialect was more common than the official language. Caught between the fun of it all and the harsh personal and social truths that lead to such an environment, Andres started taking notes.

Andres’ nonchalant style serves an inclination for ordinary suffering and everyday disappointments combined with subtle literary references. Her lyrics are inspired by 3 am drunks as much as they are by Lovecraft novels. She survived life-threatening diseases, accidents of life, or even tornadoes.

The songstress settled in Nashville, TN after several years spent mainly in London then Berlin, where she recorded the accidental EP Fuck You French Girl and 2 LPs: All Them Ghosts and The Heart Breaks.  She is currently working on a new album while producing several bands in town and just announced her first Electro-Pop EP “Tornado Season”, out in April 2021.

Pauline shared what it means to her to be an indie music woman artist: “It means being hands-on, fearless and whole-heartedly dedicated to this life. It’s kind of like being in the mob. You can’t get out (but you also make way less money).” 

Grammy-winning pop star Kimbra launches comprehensive new vocal course with online music school Soundfly

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Kimbra / Photo courtesy of SoundFly
Grammy-winning pop star Kimbra launches comprehensive new vocal course with online music school Soundfly

On March 9th, pioneering pop artist Kimbra is releasing her first-ever online course in partnership with innovative music education platform Soundfly. The wide-spanning course offers a never-before-seen look inside Kimbra’s creative process, including in-depth breakdowns of many of her biggest hits, and equips students with the skills they need to create evocative performances, lush arrangements, and compelling productions.

Soundfly is a subscription-based online music education platform, offering creative courses, community, and mentorship to professional and amateur musicians built around a research-backed, active learning model. New Zealand-born and New York-based Kimbra is best known for tracks including “Top of the World,” “Settle Down,” and “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which earned the artist two Grammys.

In Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, and Production, Kimbra explores her dynamic vocal and production approach in over 40 videos, walking students through her singing technique, songwriting process, arrangements, and even opening up the Pro Tools sessions of songs including “Top of the World,” “Goldmine,” “Like They Do on the TV,” and many more, to give students an unprecedented view of how the tracks came together.

“The first time I heard Kimbra’s music, she was using nothing but a loop pedal and her voice to create this incredible, complex arrangement,” said Soundfly founder and CEO Ian Temple. “She is without a doubt one of the most creative voices in pop music today. We’re excited to help bring her techniques to light, so that our students can transform their own use of the voice and approach to music making.”

“I made this course for any artist out there who wants to expand what’s possible to do as a singer and producer,” said Kimbra. “I hope to give students the tools to deepen their songwriting, understand how to use production to accentuate the voice, and ultimately create music that is unique, honest, and inspired.”

Kimbra continued, “We go deep on plugins and how to shape and carve out space for the voice. We touch on the body a lot in this course — I think it’s something that’s often overlooked when we get into technical stuff, we can forget that your instrument has so much to do with your muscles and posture. So I’m excited for people that might be a little in their head with their music to actually get into their bodies as singers. And I can’t wait for people to start learning and to see what they take away from the course and how it changes their process. Because that’s really what it all comes down to — learning is essential to keeping your process fresh, so that it doesn’t feel labored and make you lose motivation.”

Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, and Production is available starting March 9th as part of Soundfly’s course subscription, where students can access dozens of courses on a range of musical topics from production to songwriting, music business to mixing, and so much more.

 

 

 

 

About Soundfly 

Founded in 2014 by Ian Temple, Soundfly has pioneered the most effective online learning model for musicians at a variety of levels by developing high-quality, interactive content with a focus on the science of how people learn. Soundfly offers a range of options to meet students’ needs, including a subscription to their full library of music courses on topics from songwriting to hip-hop production, as well as a custom mentorship program, pairing students one-to-one with an expert to meet their unique learning goals.

 

Media Contact
Zoë Young Head of Marketing, Soundfly
zoe@soundfly.com
917-331-1119

Featured Artist of the Day: Katye Kellye

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Katye Kellye / Photo courtesy of Katye

 

Indie Music Women’s Featured Artist of the Day is…

Katye Kellye (@katyekellyeandtheinterruption)

Katye Kellye (Kat-cha Kel-lee) is very, very tired of Autocorrect trying to change her name. Her band, The Interruption, is was until recently composed of amazing studio professionals who have worked with bands you’ve actually heard of. Ms. Kellye has assembled a band with musicians who need to be heard from – including Richard Stern on guitar and harmonica, and Paul Friend on Guitar.

She has been a singer and songwriter for a relatively short time (in geologic terms) or a very large number of dog years. Ms. Kellye writes incisive, pointed, bad-assed songs of experience that are probably not about you. (Although if you think they are, maybe you need to think about why that might be.) Katye was the lead singer of Toxic Shox, her first offering in about 35 years was the 2019 EP, Vanity Project. Her sound blends her downtown punk roots with hints of classic arena rock, “Wall of Sound” girl groups, and opera.

Even though 2020’s challenges prevented them from touring in support of their first album (Late Bloomer), the album debut garnered several award nominations including the Josie Music Awards (finalist) , The ISSA Awards (finalist) and several World Music Awards (finalist). The time during lockdown was well-spent. KK&I completed their second album, “Sophomore Slump”, released 26 February 2021.   (Bio courtesy of Katye)

Katye shared what it means to her personally to be an indie music woman artist:

“It’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we are free of any artistic constraints that will be placed on us buy a label trying to get us to sound more “commercial”. On the other hand, there is no safety net, so all of the risks are my own, and no one can really teach you how to do this whole thing smoothly. I may go down with the ship, but at least it’s my ship to go down with.”

ARCVDIA Leaves Behind Her Acoustic Roots and Dives into Electronic Pop with New Single Out of My Mind

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ARCVDIA / Photo courtesy of Moonstone Artists

Brisbane, Australia-based ARCVDIA is the musical project of Madeleine Thompson, a self-taught producer, and a musician known for her folk vibes and many achievements. She won various talent competitions since the age of 15 and has been involved in many projects including RAW and ‘Indie 100’.

Madeline has left behind her acoustic roots and is now diving into the world of electronic pop as ARCVDIA. She takes her inspiration from Billie Eilish, King Princess, LORDE, and BANKS, captivating listeners with unforgettable stories through her sultry vocals, haunting melodies, and dreamy synths.

Her latest single Out of My Mind, written and produced by ARCVDIA, starts a new era for the singer-songwriter. Mixed by Gold Coast’s production dream team Soft Nylon for mixing and Paul Blakey for mastering, the delicate pop-ballad takes listeners on an emotional journey of a broken relationship. 

I recently interviewed ARCVDIA about her new single, her new sound, production processes, the biggest challenge of her music career so far, her advice for aspiring self-taught producers, and more.

Congratulations on your new single Out of My Mind.
What would you hope listeners will take away from it?

I hope that this song can give people who have also experienced a similar situation some comfort, or even just make their day a little better. This song helped me heal and I hope it can do the same for others.

What is the meaning behind the name ARCVDIA and the story behind your new musical project?

I have always loved the name ‘Arcadia’ – it actually means ‘idyllic vision of unspoiled wilderness’ – a utopia, and I always thought that was pretty magical. When I chose the name ARCVDIA, I wanted it to mean something, but I also wanted it to be a name that I really liked – hence naming myself after Arcadia. 

Why did you decide to delve into the world of electronic pop with your new single and leave behind the acoustic/folk sound you are known for?

I started experimenting with production and realised that I absolutely loved it. I feel like this was always my sound – I just had to find it. Having said that, I will always love playing the acoustic guitar and writing songs with it.

How specifically did the sounds of Billie Ellish and Banks inspire your new pop sound?

Both of these women are such incredible artists – they have created this awesome, edgy, bass heavy music that just oozes confidence, however they have also released these raw, real songs that just hit you deep – so that’s what I wanted to do with this song. Be raw, real, and honest with my feelings.

Explain your production process.

Every song is different, but usually I will start a song off with a basic chord progression and experiment with melody. Once I have a good foundation I start adding in elements and just keep building on the project until I feel as though it is complete.

I also love getting feedback from any musicians I can – also collaboration is a massive part of my process too.


What is your favorite microphone to record with, in the studio, and why?

I only have the one – a Rode NT1. This is a great mic though – it picks up a clean sound and is easy to manipulate – great for recording in loud apartment buildings!

You’re a self-taught bedroom producer. How did you teach yourself to produce?

I took a course at uni which taught Pro Tools and Ableton, and I fell in love. I found a new love for writing music, and I feel like as soon as I started producing my own stuff I felt as though I had finally found my song. I just kept going after the course, getting advice, doing online tutorials, and a lot of trial and error.

What advice do you have for women who want to become producers?

Honestly just believe in yourself, and if you love it then work hard at it and don’t let anyone intimidate you into feeling like you aren’t good enough.

Get advice from everyone you can and collaborate with other like-minded artists – I have learnt the most from just sitting in rooms and watching how people work.


Explain your involvement in the RAW and ‘Indie 100’ projects and what the experiences were like.

I did a lot of acoustic projects when I was writing acoustic/folk music which I think were a lot of fun, and I learnt a lot. They were really good for making me feel like I was good enough to be heard – I think that events like these are one of the reasons I decided to keep going and also what taught me how important it is to surround yourself with other musicians who you collaborate with and learn from.

Besides COVID-19, what has been the biggest challenge in your music career and how did you overcome it?

Honestly finding the confidence to finally release my music – that was a huge thing for me that I’d wanted to do for such a long time so when I finally believed in myself to release the first single as ARCVDIA that was a huge accomplishment for me.

In what ways do you think the indie music industry can better support women artists and musicians?

I think we can get more events and opportunities for us to play live, support other musicians, and ways to meet each other.

Networking and meeting other musicians is so invaluable and probably one of the best things you can do for your own personal growth.


What projects do you have planned for this year?

I have a couple more singles that I am working on which I am so excited about!! These are songs that are very close to my heart, and I cannot wait to share them with the world. I have also been experimenting with my sound and production so am overall just so excited to get them out!

 

You can connect with ARCVDIA on her Spotify Artist Page | Instagram | Facebook  

 

Featured Artist of the Day: Jess McAllister

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Jess McAllister / Press photo

Indie Music Women’s Artist of the Day is…

Jess McAllister (@jessmcallisteroffical)

The music of Exeter based Jess McAllister spans from free-spirited, nostalgic folk, through to rhythmic, gutsy blues, rock and pop. Switching effortlessly on stage between electric guitar, banjo and piano, she blends her honey dipped vocals and her craft of songwriting with live performances filled with spontaneity, passion, and pure heart.

Her upcoming single ‘The Bushiest Of Beards’  will be released along with a video on 28th February 2021. The song is a fun revenge story, stemming from when a man with a beard bullied her for a prolonged period of her life, stripping her of all self-esteem. It is a song for anyone who has been made to feel unworthy, and although the anti-bullying nature of the track is deadly serious, the song uplifts with humour and joy.

THE VIDEO is a self shot creation, filmed and edited by Jess at home; it is visually vibrant, filled with pastel shades and colourful performances. This is not the first time Jess has created a video with a strong feminist theme behind it, she released ‘I Am A Woman’ on International Women’s Day, a surreal video shot in super slow-motion where the balloon of insecurity and self-doubt is popped, only to reveal an explosion of colour and laughter.

Courage Fear, Jess’s debut album, was released during the height of the first lockdown. The album was produced by Michael Mormecha (who also drummed on the record), and features double bass from Lukas Drinkwater, and strings from Laura McFadden and Rachel Boyd. Much of the album swells with tremolo-laced electric guitar, occasionally more pounding distorted rock vibes; yet it is also peppered with folkier, more acoustic tracks, and banjo numbers which bridge a gap between deep melancholy and resounding joy. Somehow this variation of styles ebbs and flows throughout the record, the different sounds juxtaposing in complete harmony.

Since March Jess has been keeping busy, balancing homeschooling with socially distanced interviews and performances, most recently with a string quartet for an online worldwide charity concert as a part of Music Feeds.

Previous to Covid restrictions, Jess has toured all over the UK, Ireland, and Germany, and has performed in major festivals such as Glastonbury, Meadows in the Mountains (Bulgaria), Boomtown, and Beautiful Days. She has also taken part in sessions such as ‘Under the Apple Tree’, which is filmed in Bob Harris’s back garden. (apparently, he was lovely).

Jess’s band consists of:

During the recent Covid crisis, often stuck at home reeling over cancelled shows, lost opportunities and buried in home-schooling, I have found a beautiful new authenticity in my creations. My silver lining perhaps?

The important thing as an artist, aside from writing music you love to perform, is to always be yourself. I have learned that I stand for certain things, and I want to reflect these in my artistry for as long as I continue to create. I always want to make art which makes people feel EMPOWERED, or to simply engage in their untapped melancholy or joy… but I also don’t ever want to try to be anything which feels forced.

I am a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a very devoted, trusted friend. I am a lot of fun, a lot of the time. I hate injustice. I’ve never been a part of the cool gang. I make really good coffee, I sing ALL THE TIME,  and I hate touching cheese. I refuse to shave my armpits ever again, or to do anything unless I have a damned good reason to. I will never again try to be better for someone who doesn’t deserve it.

Jess shared what it means to her personally to be an indie music woman artist:

“Taking the rough with the smooth! I love writing and playing music, it’s my heart and soul, but I’ve recently learned how to take control over and manage my own PR, which feels so empowering! Sometimes being independent feels lonely, but then I get on stage with my band, and that all melts away!”

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