Aussie popstrel Garbiella Cilmi rose to fame in the UK earlier this year with her single 'Sweet About Me', but her career got rolling in her home country back in 2005 when her tracks 'Don't Tell Me' and 'Sorry' were featured on the soundtrack to Australian movie 'Hating Alison Ashley'. That said, it's this year that has seen her career take off bigtime, winning over an increasingly global fan base and storming Australia's ARIA Awards, where she got no less than six gong, including one for Best Female Artist. Her album, 'Lessons To Be Learned' is out now and her new single, 'Sanctuary' was released earlier this week via Island Records.
Gabriella gives us an insight into her career so far.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
Ha, now this is a story! I tried out ballet and I was shit. I was also shit at sport and when I said I wanted to try out music my piano teacher said I had no musicality. However, I knew that music was what I wanted to do so I just picked up a guitar and started to sing - the rest is history...
Q2 What inspired your latest single?
My latest single is called 'Sanctuary'. I wrote it about a year ago when I was in Australia and really comfortable with the relationship I had with a friend. Unfortunately we aren't friends anymore, so it makes me a little sad when I sing it, but I guess that's life! The song is also about how I was happy living at home in my sanctuary but how I also wanted to go out and explore more things, which I am now doing.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
For me it's different every time. It depends a lot on my mood and also where I am at the time. Sometimes I start with the lyrics and then build a song around them, whereas other times I make a melody on my autoharp or in my head and then fit lyrics around that. I also like to mess around with Garage Band on my AppleMac - I've done some really cool stuff with that including recording my cat meowing and then mixing it with some other sounds! I create songs in many different places, depending on who I'm working with; I've even recorded one in a bathroom!
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Lots of different people influence my work: Nina Simone, Robert Plant, Debbie Harry and Cat Stevens. Blondie's 'Rapture' has inspired a number of my songs, and I used to listen to Cat Stevens before I went to bed to help me sleep. I have taken different elements from all these people and used them to create my music. I also used to play Led Zeppelin with my band - they were the reason that I fell in love with music and have probably been one of the biggest influences in my life.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I would tell them to listen to Track 2 ('Sweet About Me') and then skip to Track 8 ('Awkward Game') to find out what I'm all about. They are my two favourite tracks on the album, along with Track 11, 'Terrifying'. I think that my music is good for long car journeys. You know, when you've got the windows down and the wind blowing in your hair, I wrote them for that! I also hope that my music brings some light into everyone's lives and helps brighten up a cold day - it's very cold in this country!
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single/album and for the future?
I hope that this latest single shows my sensitive side and I hope that people like it! I think that it is the perfect soundtrack for a lazy Sunday, just chilling out - something that I love doing! I hope that my next album is just as successful as this one, if not better! In the future I would love to release a country album, as that is where my real passion lies. My dream would be to duet with Willy Nelson or trio with him and Lupe Fiasco, I LOVE him! Another more personal ambition is to live in New York and one day marry a Frenchman. I love the accent and French men tend to be very good looking and chivalrous - I like that.
MORE>> www.gabriellacilmi.com and www.myspace.com/gabriellacilmi
-----
VIGSY'S THEME PARK TIP: Chuff Chuff's Ride The Seven Seas at Alton Towers
Chuff Chuff is the longest running dance event in the UK I'm told, and this weekend they present a night of mayhem with a Seven Seas event at good old Alton Towers - all staged in their very own pirate style. There are three themed areas spanning current global rocking beats, classic house, and soulful, eclectic type stuff. Going Global in Treasure Island will be Judge Jules, Micky Slim, Jeff Jefferson, Dave Thatcher, and Alex Schmitz, while on the bill for Les Classiques at Mutiny Bay are partyman Brandon Block, Hacienda veteran John Kelly and the Hoxton Whores. The third arena is Soul Vision at Smugglers Cove with Gilles Peterson, Steve Young and Adam Regan (from Leftfoot). Tickets include accommodation in the Alton Towers hotel and an after party. I don't know if there are tickets without accommodation, but either way, if you're going I'd book Monday off pronto.
-----
Don't forget you can now check out CMU favourites old and new on CMU-Tube, our online music video service powered by MUZU.
Set up your own MUZU channel, select tracks from the MUZU catalogue, and embed your own MUZU Player on your own website or blog - simple. Sign up here.