Katie Noonan's new album 'Skin' is an intimate portrait
of an exceptional Australian artist. It's a unique introduction to the
sensual, uplifting and inspiring tones of this renowned singer. 'Skin'
is a rare discovery that will reach your senses and awaken your mind.
"It's all happening," says Katie Noonan, breaking
into a 100-watt smile. To say she is living life to the full right now
is to understate things - Noonan is on fire. She has just finished work
on her glorious debut solo album and in two weeks' time, on the eve
of her 30th birthday, she'll unleash these powerful new songs at sold
gigs at Sydney's Vanguard. And she's in love. Noonan married her saxophonist
husband Zac Hurren in 2004 and six months ago their second son was born.
We know and love Noonan as singer with the hugely successful
Brisbane-born outfit George, a band she formed with her brother Tyrone
back in 1996. Their 2002 recording, 'Polyserena', won the Best New Artist
Album at the 2002 ARIA Awards and sold over double platinum. Noonan's
mesmerising stage presence and classically trained voice won her cult
status in Australia. Now George is on an extended break, allowing both
the Noonan siblings to record solo records. Noonan calls it "moving
sideways".
"I've always been keen on getting out of my comfort
zone and trying new musical environments," she says. "I've
done lots of different things while still trying to maintain my sense
of self as a performer." There was george, and Elixir. She made
a record of jazz and opera classics with her mother Soprano Maggie Noonan
and symphony orchestra on 'Two of a Kind', and also won her second Aria
award for her 2005 album 'Before Time Could Change Us' with Paul Grabowsky.
"But Skin," she smiles, "is definitely the most complete
picture of me so far."
Recorded in Sydney and LA, the record has an old school,
organic feel that's in part thanks to the vintage equipment it was laid
down on. "We chose Linear studios here in Sydney because Chris
Vallejo, who runs it, is a vintage gear nut! He's got all these beautiful
old mics, tape machines and compressors. We tracked most of the album
straight to 2 inch 16 track tape - totally analogue. I guess it's like
vinyl as opposed to CDs, and you can really hear that coming through
on the songs."
Then there are the records Noonan's been mainlining. She
grew up on opera and married a jazz fiend; then all of a suddenly Motown
called. "I decided I needed to educate myself in that era of music.
I knew I loved the sound but I didn't have the albums. So I went in
search of the classic records of the soul era: Donny Hathaway, Marvin
Gaye, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin."
She started working with producer Andrew Klippel, and
the pair of them spent hours listening to old classic recordings. The
result? 'Skin' is infused with a new groove. "I wanted to find
a new sound for this album. It was a conscious decision to make a departure,
to sink my teeth into something new and play around different vocal
styles. I had a style in George that really suited the band, but now
it's time for something a little different."
That aesthetic has affected everything, from the players to the structure
of the record. "It's in two halves, again going back to that vinyl
thing: the first half being more groove orientated, and the second,
more orchestral." Through both sides runs the theme of new life
and new beginnings, in no small part a reaction to the artist's coming
of age into marriage and parenthood. "It's a real fresh start."
Which brings us to the album title... "This record
is about shedding skin, and ushering in new chapters. It's intimate,
but above all it's a joyful record."
It is fitting that Noonan introduced flesh players to
her line-up as well as a new co-producer in Klippel. There's Felix Bloxsom
on drums and Sam Dixon (of D.I.G) on bass. Players from the Sydney Symphony
provided the orchestra, and Noonan's man Zac delivered on sax. In LA
they added Christopher Bruce's guitars, and Charles Jones (who's played
with Prince and Stevie Wonder) on keys. New York singer Bruno, who is
signed to Motown, and LA troubadour Reeve Carney join Noonan on backing
vocals.
"I even find myself dancing a little, which is something
totally new for me!" laughs Noonan. "I've been on a really
amazing journey since George, and now I'm running on all cylinders.
It's been a long time from conception to birth - I had over 50 songs
to choose from. This is the record I've been waiting to make."
'Skin' is out now.
