Considering her track record so far, you could forgive Lisa Mitchell for sticking to a successful formula.
She released her debut EP when she was just 17, her second at 18. Her full-length debut, 2009’s Australian Music Prize-winning Wonder, delivered on that early promise, debuting at #6 on the ARIA charts and going platinum, while 2012 follow-up Bless This Mess made a similar chart impact.
But Lisa Mitchell is different now; Warriors is her third studio album, and she’s not afraid to shake things up – either on record, or on tour.
“We really got rid of a lot of guitar and piano in this album,” says Lisa, who has teamed up with US producer Eric J (who has worked with Flume and Chet Faker, among others), opening up some brave new realms.
“I was interested in someone doing a different thing than what I’d done in the past,” she says of the new partnership. “I find the producer/artist relationship really interesting, and really challenging. I guess it inspired a new space for me.”
The new record definitely marks a distinct progression in Mitchell’s sound; the influences of electronica, pop, and funk seem to have crept up just above the folk sensibilities, all the while maintaining the same quality of songwriting that earnt her a legion of loyal fans. It appears somewhat more of a natural evolution though, rather than a forced diversion.
“I don’t think you can try to control it too much; you can have your intentions, but it takes its own course. It’s one of those cases where ‘one plus one’ doesn’t equal two.”
If her music has shifted, know that her heart is just the same. Longtime followers of Mitchell can rest assured that while she and her art may be evolving, she is still keenly aware of her firm roots.
Though the new augmentations of beats and loops are central to Warriors, Mitchell’s folk core remains. ‘What Is Love’, ‘Josephine’, and album closer ‘Love, Death X’ contain only the slightest hints of live instrumentation, while Eric J’s pure pop sensibilities also shine throughout, but tracks like ‘Warhol’ and ‘’Where You Are’ remind us that Lisa Mitchell can genuinely play the guitar.
When all is said and done, this is still music written and performed by a folk singer from country Victoria, and Lisa makes her priorities known: “I think it all comes down to caring. I care about how people feel when they come to our show.”
That show – kicking off last night and continuing on throughout the country for the rest of the month – has recently been road-tested with none other than Grouplove as they recently dashed across Sydney and Melbourne playing to sold-out rooms. After a bit of time away from the stage, Lisa relished the opportunity to re-connect with a live audience.
“I found it really refreshing… sometimes art can lend itself to suffering characters, but those [Grouplove] guys are the opposite, just lovely people. And their crowds are equally open and lovely, it was just a breeze to play.”
The experience helped shape the lens through which her new live show is imagined. “I think I learnt just to really trust your audience. I know that might sound obvious, but there can always a temptation to detach or pull away when you’re onstage. [Grouplove] are such a great example of a band that is totally with their audience… it was really inspiring.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUq0hb7NkiE
Those attending Lisa’s ‘Something About These Streets’ national tour (which also showcases a perfectly-selected duo of emerging pop talents in BUOY and Dean Lewis) will be treated to a feast for the senses as Mitchell steps out from behind the guitar, the piano, and even the hand-held microphone to put more of herself across.
“I’ve been using the head-mic which is a new thing for me, and it’s so fun to have two hands to move around, and do bigger or more theatrical movements. It’s a bit of an adjustment, but holding a microphone can feel unnatural too… It’s more like real life – when you speak to people you want to move your hands.”
“It’s a whole new world. We’ve got a beautiful lighting show, so it’s going to be pretty special. I’m really interested in the live music space – how far you can push it, and what else you can do with it. Things like what you wear, the movement, the style and lighting all come together.”
You’ll be able to witness it all unfolding on Lisa’s national tour throughout the rest of the month (dates below), with additional dates having been added to both Melbourne and Sydney. Warriors is released today via Parlophone/Warner Music, and available now.
‘Something About These Streets’ Tour Dates
with BUOY & Dean Lewis
Thurs 13th Oct – Howler, Melbourne, VIC (2nd show)
Fri 14th Oct – Howler, Melbourne, VIC (SOLD OUT)
Sat 15th Oct – Woolly Mammoth, Bris, QLD
Sat 22nd Oct – Newtown Social Club, Sydney, NSW (SOLD OUT)
Sun 23rd Oct – Newtown Social Club, Sydney, NSW (2nd show)
Thurs 27th Oct – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth, WA
Fri 28th October – Rocket Bar, Adelaide, SA
