Interview by Michael Bird
Days before the release of her self-titled debut solo LP, Magic Dirt front woman Adalita Srsen took time to talk to Duckduzz about the process of making the transition from band member to solo artist.
Your debut was released March 4, how are you feeling about the release?
A little overwhelmed, to be honest. I’ve been doing solo shows for a few years now, but there’s still a lot of pressure to ‘get it right’ when you’re the only creative force behind an album. I was a lot more nervous when I first started performing solo, and I have gotten better with it, but there’s definitely still a lot to deal with.
Is that one of the main differences between playing with Magic Dirt and doing your own thing, having to shoulder more responsibility?
There is sort a sense of being the captain of the ship in terms of getting the whole thing together. I’m used to being one captain among many, I suppose, so it is different. I’m still finding my feet as a solo artist I think, there’s a lot of things that are different when you’re performing solo. Learning to control my voice has been a challenge, singing acoustic songs isn’t the same as most of what we’ve done in Magic Dirt. I have had people around me though; J.P. Shilo played on the album and was in the studio a lot, along with Amaya Laucirica and (former Magic Dirt bassist) Dean Turner. There was a nice little family of people around when I needed them.
Was collaboration the plan from the outset, or did other people’s involvement in the album happen organically?
It was very organic, that’s just sort of how I tend to work. I’ve known J.P. for a while, and we were hanging out anyway, but he hadn’t heard any of the songs before he came into the studio. I really love Amaya’s voice, so it was great to have her involved too. We’ve been rehearsing lots since the album was completed, getting ready for the tour.
Were there different influences of yours that came to the fore during the recording of this album, being a more stripped back affair than your work with Magic Dirt?
Yeah, definitely. I love Cat power, and Kate Bush, guitar sounds like the quieter Dirty Three songs, or even Nirvana. It was definitely a very different recording experience to what I’ve done before. A lot of the songs on the album came from old demos, Magic Dirt demos, but they obviously became something pretty different.
What’s next for you, any more solo work planned?
Yes, I’ve started writing for my next solo album, actually. Right now it’s a lot of rehearsing, and the media work that goes with releasing the album. It’ll be the big tour, then hopefully more writing and recording. I’m really enjoying playing solo and everyone’s been really supportive, so I’ll see where I can take it, I suppose.
What does that mean for Magic Dirt? A longer hiatus, a permanent hiatus?
A longer hiatus, I guess. I’m focusing on my solo work now, but a longer hiatus would be the answer.
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