theaussieword.com catches up with global superstar Toni Childs for a special exclusive interview!You had some huge hits in Australia in the late 80’s & early 90’s, what’s your fondest memories from your debut albums Union and House of Hope? It was the surprise that my music connected in such deep ways with people in Australia… people on the other side of the world. I loved that!
Do you have a favourite track from Union and House Of Hope that you enjoy performing live? Dreamer and House of Hope.
I’ve Got To Go Now is your biggest hit to date right here in Australia (a personal favourite of mine!) with such powerful lyrics and an amazing video. What does this song mean to you? It’s a song about being addicted to pain and choosing to walk away from it.
What was it like hearing Many Rivers To Cross on an Australian television advertisement in 1996 and the Lost Angels soundtrack? A shock cause I hadn’t known about it. When I actually saw the ads, I thought they did a fantastic job.
Do you have a favourite part of Australia that you like to visit? Byron Shire, it is beautiful, inspiring and has a fantastic energy. Could actually be my favorite place on this globe!
In 2012 you relocated from your island home of Hawaii to the small town of Myocum in New South Wales right here in Australia, how was the transition? Fantastic… we found a great home and a great community to interface with and make us feel at home.Do you have any favourite Aussie sayings? No worries, fair dinkum. There is an honesty and a sense of justice in Fair Dinkum, it’s a value I can align with.
Your biggest career highlight? Producing my new works… It’s All a Beautiful Noise and Citizens of the Planet.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring? Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Radio Head, The Gorillas, the White Stripes, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Coldplay.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists. John Butler Trio, Hunters & Collectors,Tania Bosak, The Church, Scotch and Soda, Gotye & Arte Kanela.
You have a brand new album on the way It’s All A Beautiful Noise. Tell us a bit about it and where did you get the inspiration to write it? My husband Mik La vage, and I created this album together. He was working on a film doing the sound design and scoring the music, and the soundtrack really clicked with me. When I started singing on it, it almost felt like another voice or aspect of my being was coming thru – we just followed that thread.
Your first national tour was opening for Bob Dylan, how was that experience and did you get to meet Mr Dylan!? It was fricken awesome. He was so lovely to me and very generous.Is it true you caught Pink Floyd in concert in 1972 and it was that show that helped you decide to pursue your dream in music? Yes it solidified that I wanted to do what they were doing… and I am still hoping to make that happen!
Tell us about the contemporary art influence behind your new record and your latest works. I like immersive theatre, I am inspired by interactive installations and I like creating a theme, and breaking the theme out with various components… as a storyteller, you tell a deeper story.
What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not making music? What spare time??? Well a massage and get into water walking on a beach!!
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye? Well, it is a constant learning curve at this point and a necessary one. Right now, I am setting up independent distribution channels with various warehouses around the world and learning about how to set up effective successful crowd-funding experiences for people and our team. And creating automated sales tools on e-commerce and e-fulfillment services. Setting up these systems as been challenging but in the end [when completed it will make our lives as indie artists much easier].
Thanks for the interview! What final message do you have for us today? Thank you for your interview!
Join Mik and I and our talented band of Musicians for a once in a lifetime trek and music experience in the Himalayas. We’ve been invited to perform It’s All a Beautiful Noise April 2015 at a yoga retreat/festival. After the yoga festival we will fly to Pokora and trek the Annapurna Circuit, and give a series of free concerts for the beautiful mountain people of Nepal. This trek will give us the opportunity to meet some special people, and allow this new album to blossom and expand. And we will end our trek with a most incredible sunrise concert!!
FYI: we are not bringing acoustic instruments up the mountain… we are bringing backline and sound systems and generators, and film crew, etc. Tickets go one sale tomorrow and are $1400 for the ten day trek. I had the privilege to see this sunrise in 1992 and let me tell you it is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. And because of this we really want to make this once in a lifetime trek affordable as this is something that everyone should have the chance to experience. Get your Gore tex boots, and get in shape > http://www.himalayanleaders.com/ghorepani-poonhill.
thanks for the interview Toni! 🙂
Check out Toni Childs on Facebook & Twitter.
Toni Childs Live In Melbourne Show Details.
Check out Toni Childs on Facebook & Twitter.
Toni Childs Live In Melbourne Show Details.