and you thought you knew.. Rachel Gaudry
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"I moved to Sydney in 1995. Around that time I became more interested in writing my own songs and since then have focused more on that area. I think my background in classical music and jazz has definitely influenced my writing."
"I'm a big fan of Joni Mitchell. I have all her albums except for perhaps a couple. Her music, besides being incredible both lyrically and musically, seems to reverberate very strongly with something within me."
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There is a certain undeniably endearing quality to the music of Rachel Gaudry. This Australian artist immediately grabs the attention of the listener with tastefully written songs performed with the utmost skill and professionalism. With a formal education in music, she utilizes every ounce of her abilities to craft amazing, passionate songs, with words and arrangements that work so well together, you just know this is a musician that lays her very soul into each piece of work she produces. Rachel's songs all seem carefully and meticulously composed, with clever, thought-provoking lyrics, and I feel our planet is a better place for having artists like Rachel Gaudry around. And, what better place than IOM to ask the inevitable questions...
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The Interview - August 2004 |
| Welcome to IOM Rachel... can we begin with you telling us a bit about your background? |
I began learning classical piano when I was six. I went to schools that had really active music courses and became involved in choirs, musical theatre productions and anything else I could do. Later I studied jazz for three years at the Canberra School of Music. I moved to Sydney in 1995. Around that time I became more interested in writing my own songs and since then have focused more on that area. I think my background in classical music and jazz has definitely influenced my writing.
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| What would you say have been your main musical influences? |
I'm a big fan of Joni Mitchell. I have all her albums except for perhaps a couple. Her music, besides being incredible both lyrically and musically, seems to reverberate very strongly with something within me. There's a mood about it that I relate to very intimately. When I was seventeen I lived in France for a year and only had two cassettes with me which I listened to over and over, a double cassette of two Van Morrison albums and a Morrissey album. I think those albums got right into my musical soul. I love music that has both great music and lyrics, not just one or the other.
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| What could you tell us about “high points” in your musical career? |
Highs have been touring the US where the audiences are very receptive and appreciative. The Australian audiences are much more reserved in their expression of their appreciation so it's nice to go somewhere and have people really openly express how much they like your music. |
| How about low points and how you managed to get over them? |
Lows have been the times when I've been playing countless solo piano/vocal gigs night after night wondering ‘what on earth am I doing?'… The times when no-one seems to notice I'm putting my heart and soul out there and they don't seem to care!
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| If you could turn the clocks back, is there anything you would have done differently? |
Quite a few years ago I had someone interested in managing me and, being the suspicious young girl I was, I think I scared him off before he'd even had a chance to think more seriously about helping me!
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| Who did you work with on your most recent projects? |
Recent collaborators have been songwriter/producer Sam Hawksley who produced my most recent CD ‘Bright Window’, drummer/producer Chad Wackerman who produced my debut album ‘Leaving Traces’. I‘m also writing songs for my third album, and I also sing backing vocals in Jeff Duff’s band. The albums are available from www.rachelgaudry.com or www.cdbaby.com.
I'm also wanting to get into writing film scores so have been taking some courses in that, reading up about it and generally expanding my skills. I'm doing some sessions for Michael Prendergast's album (a songwriter/producer in New York). We're collaborating over the internet so that is something new and interesting. I'm also performing in a tribute to Billie Holiday show with a small jazz combo.
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| If you could pick a favourite track from your recent work what would it be? |
Shiver from ‘Bright Window'. It was recorded live and captures a certain ‘realness' which rings true. |
| What musical instruments/equipment do you normally use? |
I play piano, Rhodes, Technics and Casio keyboards and I have a home studio setup with a Mac computer and use Logic and Protools. My audio interface is an Mbox.
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| Do you have a favourite instrument either as a player or appreciator? |
I love the voice, piano and guitar.
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| Can you remember your first stage and/or studio experience? |
My first gig was at a little jazz club in Canberra called Dorettes when I was about 18. I remember I was very nervous and so was all the band. We were all at jazz school together.
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| What five albums would you want to find if you were stranded on a desert island with enough food, water, a copy of IOM, a fantastic audio system, and any one musical instrument of your choice? |
Joni Mitchell ‘Don Juan's Reckless Daughter', Jimmy Webb ‘Ten Easy Pieces', Sarah McLachlan double CD ‘Mirrorball' and ‘Surfacing', Jeff Duff ‘Alone and Paranoid' or his double CD retrospective and Kate Bush ‘The Sensual World'
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| Do you have a favourite album cover of all time? |
Umm, maybe Joni Mitchell ‘Blue'.
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| and what, may we ask, are the five albums you listened to most recently? |
| Edie Carey “When I Was Made', Deanna Kirk ‘Beautyway', Duffo featuring Jeff Duff ‘Ground Control to Frank Sinatra', Rachael Sage ‘Public Record', The Best of Todd Rundgren ‘Go Ahead, Ignore Me' |
| What five movies did you watch most recently? |
Farenheit 9/11, Australian Radio Film and Television School 2003 Graduate films, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, Lantana, Harry Potter (the new one). |
| Which artist would you most like to meet or borrow a bag of sugar from as a next door neighbour? |
| Joni Mitchell or Elvis Costello |
| If you could have been responsible for writing the best song or piece of music ever written, what would it be? |
| I love “The Moon's A Harsh Mistress' by Jimmy Webb. |
| If you could have three wishes, what would they be? |
World Peace, Healthy Earth, Grammy Award |
| On to the more intimate side of Rachel.. what did you dream about last night AND you can't say 'I do not remember'... |
I dreamt I wrote a message in chalk on the ground - but I can't remember what I wrote! |
| And, if we were to “shadow” you on a typical day, what might we see you doing? |
Get up at 8.30am, make a coffee, check my email, go back to bed with the coffee, write for an hour, go for a half hour walk, do some business emails/phone calls, work on a song, go to a gig, have a shower, go to sleep… |
| What did you do, the day before yesterday? |
| Got up at 9, made a coffee, checked my mail, went back to bed with coffee to write for an hour, went for a walk, sent out some emails to promote a gig, other business emails, then did some shopping and banking. Went to a friends birthday drinks, hung out with my boyfriend in the evening. |
| If you had to move to another country for a year to record an album, but you only had a few suitcases and an hour to pack… what would you take? |
| CD player, CDs, keyboard, recording gear, clothes, boyfriend. |
| What bugs you most? |
| The fact that the world can't seem to function properly in peace. |
| What makes your day really shine? |
| When I'm writing, recording, performing to an appreciative audience. Going for walks, doing yoga, feeling healthy. Being with people I love. |
| I hate to end it all like this Rachel, but.. finally, what are your plans for 2004? |
Writing for a new album and then recording the new album, learning more about film scoring (short courses etc). |
| Rachel Gaudry .. thanks for dropping by... the delightful Sandra will see you to the car... |
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Rachel Gaudry was interviewed by WJ Plecha - August 2004
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