Interview with Danielle Spencer – Hopeful, Excited and Ready

Interview by Stuart Blythe
Australian singer/songwriter Danielle Spencer, currently on her “The Alone & Together” tour with Steve Balbi, is set to release her 6 track acoustic EP on November 18th (2011).

Danielle Spencer chats with Life Music Media.

You’ve been in the studio recently to record acoustic remakes of tracks from your first album ‘White Monkey’. How did this come about?
When I got back out on the road and starting playing some shows last year there were a lot of requests for tracks from my debut album ‘White Monkey’ and so we started playing them live and then people starting asking where they could buy them. The album was released in 2001 through EMI and is now deleted and largely unavailable, so I decided to record a 6 track acoustic EP which is available for sale at all the shows and online from November 18.

You’re currently on a co-headline tour with Steve Balbi.
What can fans expect at the shows?
The Alone & Together shows will be both Steve and I playing separate sets of our original work and also performing a set together.

It’s been a busy year : performances with Chris Issak, joined Sir Bob Geldof at the Rock & Rebuild charity, shows in Canada and Australia, along with recording an album. What have been the stand out memories for you?
All the things you just mentioned as well as releasing my album ‘Calling All Magicians’ in the UK and spending time over there promoting it and playing some live shows, which was an opportunity I didn’t get when I released my debut album.

What’s planned for 2012 and beyond?
Writing recording and releasing album number 3.

Anything you would like to say to your fan base?
I’d like to thank them for staying with me and supporting me from my debut album ‘White Monkey’ through to my current album ‘Calling all Magicians’ and I’d like to assure them that album number 3 won’t be nearly as long a wait . . .

—- Quick Questions —-
:: What track changed your life ::
It wasn’t so much a single track as it was an album by Janis Ian called ‘Between the Lines’ that my parents introduced to me to. I learnt every word on the album and sang it from start to finish everyday and that was when I first thought I’d like to be a singer/songwriter.

:: Name a band or artist we should checkout ::
Ane Brun – a Norwegian singer/songwriter.

:: Favourite Quote ::
They all sound a bit corny when you put it in writing, but I’ve always liked “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

:: When on tour, you can’t live without ::
Vocalzone lozenges from the UK

:: Worst thing to happen to music is ::
The strict formatting of radio that doesn’t allow a lot of artists to be heard.

:: Best thing about the current music industry ::
The ability for artists to create and release their music without having to depend on a major label.

:: Biggest influence ::
Musically I’ve been influenced by a number of different artists, so no one in particular but some that have inspired me are; David Bowie, Janis Ian, The Beatles, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush & Joni Mitchell to name a few.

:: Childhood hero ::
Enid Blyton

:: Favourite current band ::
Florence & The Machine

:: Favourite book ::
I have a lot of favourite books, I’ve just finished a great one called ‘The Invisible Bridge’ by Julie Orringer.

:: The best boredom buster is ::
Reading and eating!

:: Best piece of advice you’ve received ::
In terms of music – To write from an authentic place and to not feel pressured to fit in with what others want. Do what means something to you.

:: Three words to describe the last year? Three for how you feel about the year ahead ::
Year Just passed: Busy, Challenging, Gratifying
New year: Hopeful, Excited and Ready