A fierce and authentic collection of songs from the dazzling mind of Melbourne roots rock icon Dallas Frasca, the new solo album Force of Nature is truly a genuine sonic force to be reckoned with, journeying between towering highs and glossy reprieves with unbridled power and passion.
The album showcases Dallas’ versatility as a vocalist and songwriter and highlights her passionate performance skills. Australian Musician witnessed the ‘force of nature’ first hand recently when she slayed the audience with her huge sound and stage presence supporting guitar great Orianthi.
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips caught up with Dallas Frasca in her home studio for a chat as our Musician of the Month for February. We discussed the making of the Force of Nature album, her February tour dates, her Melbourne Guitar Show appearance and being on the Red Hot Summer Bill alongside ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Photos by Jason Rosewarne
MORE ABOUT DALLAS FRASCA AND FORCE OF NATURE
Force of Nature includes recent single ‘Electric Days’ erupting with fuzz, guitar-fuelled hooks and explosive 60s Motown-driven percussion, following on from Stand on My Shoulders (#1 AMRAP Charts) and River Queen (#2 AMRAP Charts). An album four years in the making was inspired greatly by time spent in nature as well as finding her own true self along the way, the result is a spellbinding journey deep into the soul of one of Australia’s genuine songwriting greats.
“Recording Force of Nature was an intense and deeply personal process. I recorded it across eight different studios across Australia and L.A, including the piano for The Wind Blows in my loungeroom aka ‘Lady Luck Studios’, and you can hear the birds chirping outside throughout the recording. Real and raw. It’s the third record I’ve made with my dear friend and collaborator, L.A Based, Andy Baldwin. Andy’s playful and adventurous spirit brought a touch of genius to the plate every day. He pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. When I heard the mix for the opening track on the record, I cried. I couldn’t believe what we had accomplished together.”
Opening with driving stomp and swagger via Pray, Force of Nature journeys between the simmering might of Let It Rain, coated in raw vocals, modern gospel hues and a magnetic vocal delivery, through to uplifting and bold waves of acoustic guitars and glimmering harmonies (You Are Glorious (Unborn Unicorn) and River Queen), poignant ballads draped in warmth ( The Wind Blows and May The Bridges We’ve Burned Light The Way ), stomping gems laden with country charm and blues (I’ll Be Here When You Wake ), and modern rock (Electric Days), with all tracks, powerfully helmed and woven together throughout by Dallas Frasca herself.
“Force of Nature is a musical homecoming of sorts and in retrospect was a time of healing and growth for me,” Dallas reveals. “My producer Andy and my vision was to treat each song like its own universe to make a multi-dimensional piece of art. It’s massive, gutsy and raw. I think the element I’m most proud of, is it doesn’t sound like anyone else but me.”
Garnering praise with a career spanning close to two decades, Dallas Frasca has been named everything from “ the most powerful female voice in Australian rock” (RockPit) through to “one of the best frontwomen in the business” (Upside Down News) and scored the seal of approval from Guns N’ Roses ’ very own Slash along the way. Renowned for her electrifying onstage presence and guitar-slinging prowess, the new era for Dallas Frasca has arrived.
“This new body of work is by far the proudest achievement of my life thus far, I’m so excited to share it with everyone. There is so much to come, and I look forward to revealing a showcase of my growth as an artist and songwriter.”
Fans can catch Dallas Frasca on the road this year, playing with Josh Barber, performing at the Melbourne Guitar Show and supporting ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers on the Red Hot Summer Tour.
Info https://www.dallasfrasca.com/#tour
