|
Click
here to go back to the Howzat! archive
LOVE WALKS IN
Her dad hung out with Bon Scott. Her mum, known as Mouse,
is a textile artist who's worked on movies such as Moulin
Rouge, Mission Impossible and Muriel's Wedding. And Loene
Carmen was on the big screen when we first got to know her,
playing Freya in the coming-of-age classic The Year My Voice
Break. But Loene has carved a career as a musician. Her
fourth album, It Walks Like Love, was released late last
year (through Inertia), and it's too great to fall between
the cracks. Loene's sound has been called sultry, smokin',
suggestive, seductive, sensual and smouldering. She's also
been described as "like a female Australian Bill Callahan
… she sits in a magical, rarefied space, somewhere between
Tom Waits and Dolly Parton". Asked how she would describe
her sound, Loene smiles and says: "Wordy. Funnier than you
might first think." It Walks Like Love features contributions
from Loene's dad, Peter Head - who played in Adelaide prog
blues band Headband, who supported the Stones and Elton
John - and Loene's daughter, Holiday Sidewinder from Bridezilla.
"It was lovely having them on the album," Loene says. "I
plan to do more of it, I'm in awe of both of their talents."
Loene loves her music. Asked to list her three favourite
Australian songwriters, she provides 14: Tex Perkins ("I
love his humour, braggadocio, dirt, beauty, brutality, vulnerability,
elegant turn of phrase, a suggestive raised eyebrow and
no fear of telling it like it is"), Ian Rilen and Cathy
Green ("songs that are simple, tough and tender and conjure
up the road and darkened rooms"), Rowland S Howard, Paul
Kelly, Don Walker, Gareth Liddiard, Jed Kurzel, Joel Silbersher,
Kim Salmon, Louis Tillett, Spencer P Jones, Conrad Standish,
Ron Peno … the list goes on." Howzat! caught up with Loene
as she gets set to return to Melbourne. She's playing on
Sunday, February 21 at the Toff.
Being the "daughter of a wild rock 'n' roller" was a music
career inevitable?
"Not at all, especially the fact that I certainly never
harboured any illusions about music being a path to wealth
and fame! However, my father did nurture an incredible love
of music in me and I can't really imagine being anything
else."
A favourite description of your music?
"Soft chaos."
A comparison that's surprised you?
"Occasionally, my songs are described as 'heartbroken' or
'bitter', which I find odd, as all of my songs are celebrations
of love in some strange form or another. I'm not very interested
in exploring heartbreak or bitterness."
"'I'm tougher than leather and softer than suede'" ... is
that a line about yourself?
"Guilty, your honour."
Do you prefer music to movies?
"Yes."
Are there similarities between making music and acting?
"Both require a certain leap of faith and blind belief in
what you're doing in order for it to connect with other
people. And they're both just about getting a story or a
feeling across when it comes down to it. The thing I love
most about making music is that I'm responsible for the
whole package - I can make any choice I want for the best
way to get my point across, whereas when I'm acting I'm
responsible for trying my hardest to fulfill someone else's
vision, which I also really enjoy, but it's a pretty different
scenario; all care, no responsibility. But I've racked up
a lot more recorded music time than screen time; acting
is pretty rare for me these days."
A JJJ-OKE
So, this year's number one song in the Triple J Hottest
100 comes from UK band Mumford & Sons. Howzat! has only
one question: Triple J are all over this song, yet they
don't play Wagons?!
NOT JUST A TOKENVIEW
It's great to hear a young band filled with ambition. Sydney's
Tokenview have delivered a grand debut with Patience At
Sea (through Inertia). In particular, the single, What Can
I Do, is a gem. Epic, cinematic rock.
CHART WATCH
The title-track of Vanessa Amorosi's new album arrives at
29. Meanwhile, Sia and Neighbours star Sam Clark score their
first Top 40 hits. And The Temper Trap return to the Top
20 with a song that The Sydney Morning Herald's Bernard
Zuel calls "Kids In The Kitchen-like".
Black Box STAN WALKER (number 10)
Art Of Love GUY SEBASTIAN (11)
Sweet Disposition THE TEMPER TRAP (19)
One Way Road JOHN BUTLER TRIO (21)
According To You ORIANTHI (26)
Hazardous VANESSA AMOROSI (29, debut)
You've Changed SIA (31)
This Is Who I Am VANESSA AMOROSI (34)
Like It Like That GUY SEBASTIAN (36)
Caught In The Crowd KATE MILLER-HEIDKE (38)
Broken SAM CLARK (39)
Let Me Be Me JESSICA MAUBOY (40)
Following their Tamworth success, The McClymonts' second
album lands at number two.
Wrapped Up Good THE McCLYMONTS (number two, debut)
Conditions THE TEMPER TRAP (16)
Introducing STAN WALKER (19)
Walking On A Dream EMPIRE OF THE SUN (20)
Golden Rule POWDERFINGER (21)
As Day Follows Night SARAH BLASKO (23)
Bran Nue Dae SOUNDTRACK (29, debut)
Like It Like That GUY SEBASTIAN (32)
Summer THE SUNNY COWGIRLS (33, debut)
Hazardous VANESSA AMOROSI (38)
Curiouser KATE MILLER-HEIDKE (39)
Been Waiting JESSICA MAUBOY (40)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Oh Apollo! LOENE CARMEN
Will You Shine? PERRY KEYES
What Can I Do TOKENVIEW
The Gambler WAGONS
Tickety Boo STEPHEN CUMMINGS
Click
here to go back to the Howzat! archive
|
