“It’s an endless competition; you’re always competing for gigs, and competing to play in different bands or going for the same awards; and there are always people out there trying to judge you; it’s a fact of life and a fact of the music scene. People are going to be judging you and the best way to go is to be yourself. I can’t do more than that.”
‘Round Midnight’ because of three reasons: I love that song, its not classical music, and it is very complex – harmonically and melodically – so it was a challenge for all of them. The structure of that cycle was turned in four parts: morning, afternoon, evening, round midnight. The idea is that the theme could be discoloring, like the Rouen Cathedral by Monet, from the strong light of morning to the dreamlike atmosphere of midnight. Joel Hoffman, dean of CCM at University of Cincinnati, and respected composer, loved the idea and supported it.
“Our main wish behind the collaborative video series is to celebrate Australia’s current thriving writers and performers. We’ve chosen performers whose music truly moves us, shapes our own sound and brings something complementary yet alternative to the Market Lane sound platter.”
This strange sense of yearning and of trying to capture the essence of a memory and understanding that memory is fallible and you can never really re-experience something as it was, I was interested in that and interested in the way that music can communicate that gradual decay of memory. So the piece is kind of about patterns and the decay of patterns, it’s about memory and the beauty of decay.
What is it that you most admire about each other?
James Sherlock: Kristin’s ability to inhabit songs and really communicate not only with listeners but also with the musicians she plays with; everyone loves playing with her!
Kristin Berardi: I love that James loves this music so much, and he listens so much. Sometimes it really freaks me out, but it’s like he knows what I’m going to do before I do! It’s easy to make music with someone who’s a good friend. There’s a trust there but also we have fun. That’s important.
“The greatest challenge is doing something different with standards that still feels natural. I think we achieved it on this album. We were very open and just tried to play like ourselves with no judgment.”
“This is all me finding my own voice and sharing my music and my stories in the world. My leading single is a tribute to the old-school jazz and soul sounds I grew up and fell in love with, but with a little contemporary twist”
“As a cabaret singer interpreting, re-interpreting, presenting, re-presenting, and representing, torch songs, I work both to honour the legacy of the great women who have kept the flame before me, as well as to subvert the dominant and affirm the marginalised through song and storytelling.”
“If you want to actually follow the tradition of jazz, you have to respond to your story and the place that you live in. Jazz has always been questioning and curious and absorbing other influences. And this is one of the most exciting things about being an Australian musician, being surrounded by lots of different cultures”.
How would you describe the dynamics of Torrio!?
Niko Schauble: Every input is welcome. Every output is celebrated. There is no leader. The direction becomes clear through the performance.
