Melbourne based neo-gothic, rock singer Elodie Adams will release her debut EP, inSUBORDINATE on August 22. Elodie will be launching the EP at The Tote in Melbourne on Thursday August 28th. Having studied classical violin from the age of 4 and opera from the age of 7, Elodie has spent the last decade honing her unique sound, which she herself describes as “a hybrid between heavy rock and symphonic electronica” Two years in the making, inSUBORDINATE was produced by Lee Bradshaw at Baker Street Studios in Melbourne, and mixed by Benny Grotto (Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds) at Mad Oak in Boston, MA. inSUBORDINATE is dominated by synths, heavy guitars and rhythm sections comprised of drum machine beats and captivating strings, showcasing Elodie’s love of classical music. Elodie responds to a quick Q & A for Australian Musician, plus view her video for the single Born To Love You below
What was your first gig?
I grew up competing in vocal Eisteddfods but I would say my first “real” gig would have been the pop culture convention, Manifest, at The Showgrounds in 2010 in front of about 1600 people. Thrown in to the deep end!
What microphone do you use on stage generally?
We use the M88 live because it is more sensitive than a regular Shure SM58 (to keep up with my vocal dynamics). It also works better with the tone of my voice.
Is it the same for recording?
We (my producer Lee Bradshaw and myself) chose the sE2200A predominantly because it’s a great, general all purpose mic and shares some similarities with the Neumann U87, only with a little less hype in the upper mid range. It’s fairly even across the frequency spectrum and has a little extra boost in the low mids that really helps my tone when I’m singing in my upper/quasi operatic range; an area of my voice which is generally not exceptionally loud, and can tend to be lean ‘tonally’. The little boost in warmth in the 2200A is handy in getting my vocal on top of the arrangements, which are very dense most of the time.
What’s your latest recording and when will you be back in the studio?
My latest recording is my EP “inSUBORDINATE”, which is set for release on August 22. That project has taken a good two years to perfect and release. Even though I have loved living at the studio for so long, I think it’s safe to say that I won’t be back there for a little while!
What gigs have you been playing lately?
Since I wrote and co-produced my EP, I haven’t been focusing on gigs as such, just completing the EP really.
Most memorable gig?
One of my closest childhood friends asked me to perform “Born To Love You” (my latest single) for her and her partner on their wedding day. She had heard Born from the very first draft… many years ago…So it was a really beautiful moment.
Worst stage nightmare?
When I perform I usually wear a very long wig that is very heavy. One time my wig became caught up in my in-ears, and I couldn’t move my head in fear of my wig coming off.
Album that changed your life?
Frederic Chopin – Nocturnes
When I was growing up I remember feeling as though the way I thought about things was different to all the other children around me. As if… my brain had been programmed wrong. When I first heard Chopin’s collection of Nocturnes… I felt for the first time that it may be possible, that there existed someone could understand, not partially… but wholly and completely, exactly the way my head worked.
What gigs are coming up in the next few months?
The launch of my EP “inSUBORDINATE” at The Tote on August 28th. What I love about live performance, and working on live arrangements with my band … Brendan Thompson (guitarist/bassist/engineer) and Jason Richardson (drummer) … is that it is really a team effort and involves everyone coming together creatively to achieve an end result that is completely unexpected from my perspective.
Essentially, taking a process that is very introverted for me (song writing), and asking other people to put a little bit of themselves in to my creations … We are at that point now where we can sort of, read each other’s minds … because we get along so well. Sometimes I will say to Brendan “Make it more purple” and he will understand what I mean! I guess that’s what happens when you rehearse with such fantastic people as a unit for a little over 2 years.
After working on the recordings for such an extended period it feels as though the EP launch will be a celebration of everyone’s efforts from all angles of the project. That is something I am really looking forward to; sharing my happiness with everyone on the night.
A vocal tip for the kids?
Take lessons, and accept criticism. Most importantly, learn the techniques to be able to take care of your voice properly.
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