Former front woman of The Superjesus Sarah McLeod is heading to Connection’s Famous Fridays to play a live set. Since the band split in 2004 McLeod has brought out her successful debut album and made a cross over into the world of electronic music.
As she packed her bag and got ready to head the airport Sarah chatted on the phone to OUTinPerth Editor Graeme Watson. They talked about Bruce Springsteen, clubbing, good door manners and Sarah asked who Barbie Q Coals is?
There’s a whole part of your career recently I seem to have missed where you’ve changed direction?
I haven’t changed direction; I just do lots of things. I’m just really busy. My musical brain doesn’t know any speeds except on or off. I’ve pretty done very little for the last few years but it’s switched itself on again and there’s no stopping it, so I’m doing everything at once. I’m doing club gigs, I’m doing acoustic gigs, I’ve got another side project which is a rock band, I’m in like three bands and doing all these other tracks with house DJs in England and Sweden. I’m all over the shop.
I guess one of the challenges of the corporate side of music is creative people want to make lots of stuff, and be creative all the time while record companies like things to be paced and have records come out every three years or so?¦
That’s what’s going on here, I recently broke up with my management and they were all very strategic, which is great, they had plans for everything but now that I don’t have a manager at the moment, I’m just going for it. I’m like a kid that’s just been let out of school. So I’m just touring everywhere and doing everything I want to do. As long as I’ve got time to do it, I don’t see the reason why I shouldn’t. So I’m just going bananas really.
Your new solo stuff, there’s such a mix of different types of music.
The solo stuff is hard to describe, the actual album I haven’t put out yet. So everything you hear is remixes, because no actual albums tracks have been released yet.
So are the versions that will be on the album more acoustic?
No, they’re not acoustic at all; they’re really electric; playing acoustic gigs is just something I’ve been doing on the side as well
How does the music transfer to being an acoustic presentation?
As far as how it translates, it works really well.
I guess a good song is always a good song.
Exactly, I have a bass player with me, and I use a lot of reverb on my acoustic guitar and I’ve got a kick drum on the floor so it’s getting pretty rockin’. It’s not really very acoustic.
You’ve travelled around a lot over the last few years, spending some time in London and the USA,
I lived in LA for about six months and then New York for a year and London three years.
Do those different environments help creatively?
When I was in London that’s when I started getting into dance music, because that was like the hub of it. Everywhere I went there was club music and you know, you’re a product of your environment. I was spending a lot of time with DJs and Producers. Producing a lot of dance music with different DJs and I started getting influenced by it. I think that’s what kicked it off.
What make a good night out for you?
I don’t really like to go out unless I’m working. I don’t like to go somewhere unless I have a purpose. I’m not much of a loiterer. A good night out to me is a great gig where I get to interact with the audience and meet everyone afterwards and have a few drinks with them all. I usually go out at the end of my gigs and stand at the door and wave everybody goodbye. I’ve started doing that lately. It’s like when I have a party at my house I always see my guests off at the door. People give me shit about it and are like “What are you doing McLeod?â€
You were brought up well…
Well yeah, they’re at my house, I’ve got to see them out and make sure they get a cab and now I’ve started doing it at gigs. Well they’ve come to my show and paid money, I want to make sure they’ve had a good time and wave goodbye.
I was intrigued by your cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark it’s so remarkably different, it’s not just a dance version of his tune, it’s more than that…
I kind of just did it. I didn’t really have any design on what it’s going to be. I just did it for kicks and I did in that sort of low tone and laid back liasse ene faire approach to it because I was really hung over and was doing it in bed. Basically I couldn’t be fucked doing it any other way. I was like “I’m just gonna do it like this.†It was sheer lethargy that led me to that style. I’m glad I did, it makes it different.
Do you remember the video for Springsteen’s version where he pulls Courtney Cox out of the audience?
Yeah, who doesn’t know that video it’s great! It’s golden.
Any chance you’ll be doing that, should people at the front line themselves up?
I often pull people on stage. I do a lot of audience interaction, I love it.
Will this be your first trip to Connections?
It will be. I’m pretty excited. Who is Barbie Q? she keeps twittering me? She’s pretty keen that I’m coming.
Barbie is one of Connections Drag Queens
Cool, going to be getting down with Barbie Q and the men! I haven’t done in club gig in a couple of months, so I can’t wait!
Sarah McLeod will be taking over Connections Famous Fridays this week. Its $10 before 1am, $15 after, get in before 11pm and it’s free. Doors open at 10pm. Free entry before midnight to anyone dressed in their hottest rocker or rock chick gear.
Graeme Watson
