I caught up with Australian singer songwriter Angie McMahon who has announced the release of ‘Piano Salt’ on October 2nd on AWAL. ‘Piano Salt’ is a riveting, stripped-down companion piece to last year’s debut album ‘Salt’. The new collection finds McMahon re-imagining five fan favorites from her debut album ‘Salt’, a record The FADER called “a perfect showcase of her gifts as a songwriter and vocalist,” as well as stunning piano covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “The River” and Lana Del Rey’s “Born To Die.”
You are set to release ‘Piano Salt’ on October 2nd. It’s an absorbing collection of tracks. What sparked your decision to release this stripped down album?
“That is very kind thank you! It feels like a simple and gentle follow up to Salt, which took a lot of learning and ruminating to come into existence. This one was easier, it was a phone conversation with my dear manager Charlotte, after I’d sent her some demos of me playing the songs on piano for fun, and I just said why don’t we record this as an EP while we’re isolating, and she was like, yeah! So that was that. It was a fun project to work on while the world slowed down.”
2019 was an amazing breakout year for you. It saw you win the Grulke Prize at SXSW for Best Developing International Act (previously won by Courtney Barnett, CHVRCHES and Jade Bird), release your debut album ‘Salt’ and open Hozier’s massive US tour that must have been quite the rollercoaster experience. I bet 2020’s Covid craziness was a bit of a shock. How have you coped with the lack of shows and I’m sure, restriction on the plans you had for this year?
“There were so many experiences in that year, so much moving and yeah it actually was a rollercoaster! I am hugely grateful for last year, and in many ways grateful for this year too, because I am slow to reflect on things and process them, so the shut down gave me time I didn’t think I’d have. There hasn’t really been any other option but to adapt to the restrictions, and put everyone’s health first, so I’ve just taken it as a chance to work on all my shit and hope that things are able to safely pick up again at some point. “
Your song writing is extremely mature and mesmerising. You are in your 20’s and have the maturity and poetic flair to capture true depth in your songwriting, expressing emotion; whether it’s the pain of heartbreak in “Missing Me” or the empowerment of womanhood in “And I Am a Woman,” how do you craft your songwriting and develop it into the touching and poetic style it is today?
“This is too generous, I think it’s just learnt from obsessing over other songwriters and the way they allow us to access our feelings. Thank you for saying those lovely things! The thing is that for any song which is well-written, there are a bunch written alongside it which are total poop. I’m trying to stay dedicated to writing a lot as often as possible and pushing through the blocks, and that’s the only way I know how to craft and develop the skill. “
What ignites the inspiration for your songs?
“It is so therapeutic to write, so it’s the swarm of feelings and thoughts that I have no other way to sort through. In whatever form, I think the fuel is usually, or always, love.”
How did your love for music and songwriting begin ?
“I don’t really remember a time when it wasn’t there…I think it crystallised as a pre-teen, staring out the car window with whatever music was playing as we drove along, imagining what it was to be loud, free, articulate, expressive, the things I could hear in songs by Van Morrison, Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, so many others.”
Do you strive to be a great lyricist and capture real feelings and emotions within your tracks that connect with your listeners?
“Um simply, yes, that is what I love as a music fan and that is what I want to be as a writer too! I don’t think I would have made any sense of the world or existing in it without great lyrics coming into my life. It is through beautiful and honest lyrics that I found meaning I think, so I just strive to contribute to that deep pool of meaning for anyone who is listening.”
The songs on ‘Salt’ come to life through your refined guitar performances and arrangement yet ‘Piano Salt’ strips this back and takes your songs to another new level. We get a glimpse of this with the piano version of ‘Slow Mover’, you have recently released, do you find that you can show a different side to both you and your songs through this piano version as if giving a fresh perspective or deeper meaning to the songs?
“Well it’s hard to know if anyone will find deeper meaning with a new arrangement, that would be sweet though! It is presenting a slightly different side of me, which I guess feels kind of ego-based, like hey look I can do this piano thing too! But that’s okay, it’s been a quiet year and I wanted something to do that just felt simple and joyful, and making this EP felt like that. I feel like it highlights how the Salt record and performances are so amplified and energised by the beautiful friends who usually join me in the band, so it’s nice to have that reminder and contrast, and it also pulls me back to the way I started making music without anybody else, just sitting at the piano and simply singing because it felt pure and free. “
This new version of ‘Slow Mover’ comes in conjunction with the news that you have received a Levi’s Music Prize, aimed to help promising artists stay afloat through the pandemic. That must feel pretty amazing?
“It’s incredible, yeah, anytime an organisation steps up to support artists, that is one of the bigger sources of hope. I’m very grateful for that.”
You have a striking vocal ability with rich depth and sweet coos. Were you always a confident singer or did it take you time to be comfortable with your voice and find what worked for you?
“It took lots of time and a family home where I was allowed to yell and warble whenever I felt like it and I rarely got shut down for it, which in retrospect is lovely. I have always been free to practice singing, and I always loved singing. I have tried to sing like a little gentle folk elf, and I have tried to belt like Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce, and I have tried jazz, and classical, and I’m bad at all those things, especially technique-wise. But over the years I just found what felt good somewhere in the middle, or maybe I just discovered rock music actually, where you can get away with whatever you want as long as you’re confident. “
You are out there in the world creating music that I’m sure means a lot to you. Was it daunting putting your tunes out there initially. The anxiety and worry if people will like it can be overwhelming or did you take the approach of “right I’m happy with my music and if other people aren’t that’s up to them” ?
“Ohh good question, it is definitely daunting, but before releasing Salt I’d played all the songs live so many times, so I had a gauge of what people responded well to. I think this is more something that I’m struggling with now, writing new things, where it’s harder to know what people will like and if it has to be compared to the first record.”
What advice would you give to someone who is an aspiring songwriter or musician?
“The advice that I find helpful is to read a lot, to write a lot, to surround yourself with a good community and people with good energy as much as you can, and to work hard on whatever it is that your heart is pulling you towards. I have so much to learn still, but I think as a general rule, the world needs people who believe in the magic of art and music, and it is worth working hard on those things. No matter what your definition of success is and how that changes, to keep finding the joy in it.”
What’s next for you?
“I’m trying to write my second album. It’s going slow!“
Angie McMahon is an artist to keep an eye on. Her music exudes such passion and depth it is difficult not to be spell-bound and mesmerised by her talent. ‘Piano Salt’ is set for release on October 2nd until then check out Angie McMahon‘s Piano Performance of ‘Slow Mover’ below
Author ; Danu
