Ella Hooper (05/09/2014)
Bank of Melbourne have announced the return of Melbourne Music Bank, a community-driven initiative that offers aspiring artists a chance to break into the music industry.
MMB is calling for local musicians and bands to submit a song for their chance to win a career-making prize, including two days of recording at Sing Sing Studios, a video clip by film maker WILK, live gigs, album artwork and 500 CDs, PR and marketing advice and even the chance to have their song used in a Bank of Melbourne advertising campaign.
Melbourne Music Bank's official Ambassador is none other than Violet Town superstar and success story Ella Hooper. ARIA award winner, Spicks & Specks favourite and former Killing Heidi frontwoman, Ella says the prize could change the life of a talented local band or musician.
First up, I got Ella to tell us what she knows of Sing Sing Studios. It's a recording space in Melbourne that Kimbra has created ace live sessions at, that one can watch on YouTube (and we would recommend it!).
“I've done some of my favourite recordings ever at Sing Sing – It's a brilliiant space – one of the very best studios in Victoria and arguably one of the best in Australia – but I could be a little biased!”
Ella recorded some of her first album as part of Killing Heidi at Sing Sing, as well as some of the songs on her solo album due to be released towards the end of October this year. I asked her to briefly tell us about her growth and trajectory from 14 year old belter of Killing Heidi's smash Weir to TV and radio presenter and solo recording artist.
“There has definitely been a lot of progression for myself as a songwriter and an artist – and my evolution over my lifetime has been neverending."
“Your last work is always your best work and 6 months later you're ready to change course again. I've gone in a new direction for my solo stuff recently. But I very much feel, as a songwriter, that the best is yet to come. I am a true artist in that way, never quite satisfied or ready to stop evolving and creating.”
While chatting with Ella I gushed a bit, admittedly, as 13-year-old me adored Reflector and Ella Hooper was a fantastically raucous and strong role model of mine, and I'm certain of many other music-loving teen fangirls. I asked Ella how that feels and to share with us what the rollercoaster ride to this point has felt and looked like to her.
“Well [young artists should] be aware that a career in music is not always easy – and it's certainly not glamourous. It's only glamourous for a couple of hours a month where you get to jump on stage and do your makeup."
“It is tough on your physical and mental health, for sure. Being part of an industry that changes so much year to year... having said that it's still one of the most rewarding careers."
“I feel blessed and really proud to be seen [as a role model] and that's definitely some of the positive feedback i've got over the years."
“When I was [making music as Killing Heidi], it was a special time in music – we were influenced by rock, punk, grunge – and I had strong, authentic female role models. I feel great that people remember me as that."
“We were definitely just so rough and ready – whereas one thing I've notice is there's so much polish everywhere now... in magazines and film clips”
I asked Ella for her advice to artists who may experience sudden success and attention at a meteoric rate, such as that of Gotye or another recent example, Vance Joy with Riptide.
“Well we've got a simple message and theme for [entrants] – it is to create 'An affirmative ode to Melbourne'. Write a positive song inspired by your connection to Melbourne."
“The best way to shine when you're going with a theme is to be unique – so create something different. Try to think of something that's maybe a bit off the beaten track and express it in an original or personal way."
“It's important to send [the word out] to regional Victorians as well because, even if they don't have a physical connection with Melbourne, they will certainly have dreams, ideas, thoughts and feelings about it.”
Although Ella herself grew up in the small Victorian town she was discovered in, Melbourne was “already definitely in [her] creative mind and imagination.”
Growing up in Violet Town, home to approximately 950 residents, it's worth noting that as an Ambassador for this competition, Ella Hooper is a particularly appropriate pick amongst the Victorian business.
She possesses vast experience, an impressive catalogue of work and authentic talent, and is simultaneously capable of displaying humility and easy charm. These are traits Australian ambassadors in the Arts are globally known and respected for.
The Melbourne Music Bank initiative is offering a big bunch of opportunities to a Victorian artist who is as yet unsigned and without the means to record, produce and publicise their work.
Ella explain that to make a break in the music industry two things are essential first:
“It costs a lot of money, and the necessary connections [are also helpful]. That's why are calling it a prize – not a grant – even though it is kind of like a grant. It's a well considered and well planned package, with the express aim of helping you make, for starters, the product and secondly, helping you get it out there [to the public].”
As to the concept of the MMB, Ella was insightful and genuine in her enthusiasm for the endeavour and aim of the competition.
“It's such an original idea – I've never heard of any thing quite like it. I love Aussie music – and importantly, I think it's really going from strength-to-strength at the moment."
“We're definitely going through a bit of a purple patch – we have people like Kimbra and Gotye [killing it internationally], Lorde who is of course from New Zealand but we can totally claim her as our own, The Preatures have been given opportunities to record and play in [the US], and of course Sia!"
“Sia is the last person I would've called [mainstream], and yet she is one of the biggest songwriters in the world right now. She's from Adelaide.”
Ella is also delightfully down-to-earth and refreshingly not pretentious. To use rather more crass and vulgar terms, her head is safely on her shoulders and not lodged up her own proverbial behind.
I told Ella that I am a BIG fan of aforementioned Sia Furler, and love her earlier (more obscure) stuff as much as her newer creative babies... (ahem, Titanium. Aka. one of the BEST-PENNED POP SONGS EVER (incidentally a collaboration with none other than Pitbull). To this Ella responds:
“Then you are a true Music Lover – [in contrast to people who are] a Cool Lover or Trend Lover.”
Indeed, I vehemently agree – I am a stubborn and staunch Music Lover-Puritan, insofar as I like what sounds good to me. If you enjoy a song that falls under the pop-genre umbrella, so be it. If it's indie/alternative, that's also wonderful. The point is entirely that you enjoy it and in some way it speaks to you and makes you feel good, or better.
Yep, that's right y'all, Ella Hooper really is that great. Anything she gets behind is alright by us at The 59th Sound, especially something so wonderfully innovative and righteous for the independent music community as the Melbourne Music Bank.
Rebecca McCann
MMB is calling for local musicians and bands to submit a song for their chance to win a career-making prize, including two days of recording at Sing Sing Studios, a video clip by film maker WILK, live gigs, album artwork and 500 CDs, PR and marketing advice and even the chance to have their song used in a Bank of Melbourne advertising campaign.
Melbourne Music Bank's official Ambassador is none other than Violet Town superstar and success story Ella Hooper. ARIA award winner, Spicks & Specks favourite and former Killing Heidi frontwoman, Ella says the prize could change the life of a talented local band or musician.
First up, I got Ella to tell us what she knows of Sing Sing Studios. It's a recording space in Melbourne that Kimbra has created ace live sessions at, that one can watch on YouTube (and we would recommend it!).
“I've done some of my favourite recordings ever at Sing Sing – It's a brilliiant space – one of the very best studios in Victoria and arguably one of the best in Australia – but I could be a little biased!”
Ella recorded some of her first album as part of Killing Heidi at Sing Sing, as well as some of the songs on her solo album due to be released towards the end of October this year. I asked her to briefly tell us about her growth and trajectory from 14 year old belter of Killing Heidi's smash Weir to TV and radio presenter and solo recording artist.
“There has definitely been a lot of progression for myself as a songwriter and an artist – and my evolution over my lifetime has been neverending."
“Your last work is always your best work and 6 months later you're ready to change course again. I've gone in a new direction for my solo stuff recently. But I very much feel, as a songwriter, that the best is yet to come. I am a true artist in that way, never quite satisfied or ready to stop evolving and creating.”
While chatting with Ella I gushed a bit, admittedly, as 13-year-old me adored Reflector and Ella Hooper was a fantastically raucous and strong role model of mine, and I'm certain of many other music-loving teen fangirls. I asked Ella how that feels and to share with us what the rollercoaster ride to this point has felt and looked like to her.
“Well [young artists should] be aware that a career in music is not always easy – and it's certainly not glamourous. It's only glamourous for a couple of hours a month where you get to jump on stage and do your makeup."
“It is tough on your physical and mental health, for sure. Being part of an industry that changes so much year to year... having said that it's still one of the most rewarding careers."
“I feel blessed and really proud to be seen [as a role model] and that's definitely some of the positive feedback i've got over the years."
“When I was [making music as Killing Heidi], it was a special time in music – we were influenced by rock, punk, grunge – and I had strong, authentic female role models. I feel great that people remember me as that."
“We were definitely just so rough and ready – whereas one thing I've notice is there's so much polish everywhere now... in magazines and film clips”
I asked Ella for her advice to artists who may experience sudden success and attention at a meteoric rate, such as that of Gotye or another recent example, Vance Joy with Riptide.
“Well we've got a simple message and theme for [entrants] – it is to create 'An affirmative ode to Melbourne'. Write a positive song inspired by your connection to Melbourne."
“The best way to shine when you're going with a theme is to be unique – so create something different. Try to think of something that's maybe a bit off the beaten track and express it in an original or personal way."
“It's important to send [the word out] to regional Victorians as well because, even if they don't have a physical connection with Melbourne, they will certainly have dreams, ideas, thoughts and feelings about it.”
Although Ella herself grew up in the small Victorian town she was discovered in, Melbourne was “already definitely in [her] creative mind and imagination.”
Growing up in Violet Town, home to approximately 950 residents, it's worth noting that as an Ambassador for this competition, Ella Hooper is a particularly appropriate pick amongst the Victorian business.
She possesses vast experience, an impressive catalogue of work and authentic talent, and is simultaneously capable of displaying humility and easy charm. These are traits Australian ambassadors in the Arts are globally known and respected for.
The Melbourne Music Bank initiative is offering a big bunch of opportunities to a Victorian artist who is as yet unsigned and without the means to record, produce and publicise their work.
Ella explain that to make a break in the music industry two things are essential first:
“It costs a lot of money, and the necessary connections [are also helpful]. That's why are calling it a prize – not a grant – even though it is kind of like a grant. It's a well considered and well planned package, with the express aim of helping you make, for starters, the product and secondly, helping you get it out there [to the public].”
As to the concept of the MMB, Ella was insightful and genuine in her enthusiasm for the endeavour and aim of the competition.
“It's such an original idea – I've never heard of any thing quite like it. I love Aussie music – and importantly, I think it's really going from strength-to-strength at the moment."
“We're definitely going through a bit of a purple patch – we have people like Kimbra and Gotye [killing it internationally], Lorde who is of course from New Zealand but we can totally claim her as our own, The Preatures have been given opportunities to record and play in [the US], and of course Sia!"
“Sia is the last person I would've called [mainstream], and yet she is one of the biggest songwriters in the world right now. She's from Adelaide.”
Ella is also delightfully down-to-earth and refreshingly not pretentious. To use rather more crass and vulgar terms, her head is safely on her shoulders and not lodged up her own proverbial behind.
I told Ella that I am a BIG fan of aforementioned Sia Furler, and love her earlier (more obscure) stuff as much as her newer creative babies... (ahem, Titanium. Aka. one of the BEST-PENNED POP SONGS EVER (incidentally a collaboration with none other than Pitbull). To this Ella responds:
“Then you are a true Music Lover – [in contrast to people who are] a Cool Lover or Trend Lover.”
Indeed, I vehemently agree – I am a stubborn and staunch Music Lover-Puritan, insofar as I like what sounds good to me. If you enjoy a song that falls under the pop-genre umbrella, so be it. If it's indie/alternative, that's also wonderful. The point is entirely that you enjoy it and in some way it speaks to you and makes you feel good, or better.
Yep, that's right y'all, Ella Hooper really is that great. Anything she gets behind is alright by us at The 59th Sound, especially something so wonderfully innovative and righteous for the independent music community as the Melbourne Music Bank.
Rebecca McCann