21 year old Brigitte Bardini released her debut album Stellar Lights on Monday. So The Rock City Jester thought it high time we sat down to throw a few questions her way - and let Canberra find out about what this producer/songwriter is all about. Listening to the album: it's clear it will be something to behold live when venues kick off again.
Stream the album here
Use three words to describe your sound.
Ethereal
Atmospheric
Exploratory
What is the story behind your latest single?
My latest single Heartbreaker is my 3rd release and the precursor to my album Stellar Lights which has just been released! This track was written about entering adulthood and discovering that you have things in your life that are very special to you. With this comes a sense of fear of loss and a lyric like “I don’t want to lose my future to my past” really emphasises my not wanting to waste the present moment by dwelling over the past. It’s important to do what we can to embrace what we have rather than worrying about a hypothetical situation that doesn’t even exist in reality.
What is your approach to song writing?
I have a makeshift home studio so if I’m at home and inspiration strikes I’m able to have all my instruments, hardware and software at hand. I think usually it starts with either a basic riff on guitar or some chords on synth and then I build upon that. At times it can also start from something internal that I feel I need to get out where I might have some basic ideas and/or words floating around in my head that I feel I need to lay down into a track. Overall I try to just let things happen organically and approach writing whenever I feel that driving force to do it rather than writing for the sake of it.
Talk about how you became a producer and the techniques you use to stand out from the crowd?
I started producing when I started to write as I found that I naturally wanted to build upon the basic structures of a track and make it feel like a whole song to the best of my ability. At the beginning I would usually just noodle on my guitar and try to improve my technique and skill level so I was able to play the things that I wanted to hear. From this I began to write, record and then with the recordings I would add layers with whatever equipment I had at hand. I now have updated a lot of the equipment I use to put down a track along with having more knowledge about the technicalities of it all. I think I don’t really have a specific technique, I’m more driven by instinct and trial and error as I just try and create what I want to see in a track and if I don’t know how to do something I have to learn how to do it and evolve in that way.
Tell me about your musical icons.
Some of my musical icons include Jeff Buckley, PJ Harvey, Thom Yorke, Beck, Paul McCartney and Air. I think something these artists all have in common is their devotion to music and their fearlessness in exploration and innovation. I aspire to be like them as I feel that they strive to do something different and continue to push boundaries in music and therefore have a timeless quality. Even in relation to Jeff Buckley’s release of Grace, it seemed so unique for the time it was brought out in 1994 and is still today so original and there’s nothing else like it.
What about beyond music?
Good question! One big icon for me would have to be Marilyn Monroe. I went through a phase when I was a kid when I was totally obsessed with her and I think what’s really interesting about her is the way she is perceived by the public. How even when she was alive, fame had already immortalised her and by default dehumanised her. I suppose looking into her fragility and real passion for acting with her wanting to be a serious actress it’s quite tragic when you think of how much was working against her as a woman in the entertainment industry of the 50’s and early 60’s.
Jim Carrey is also a huge icon to me! I grew up watching his movies like The Mask, Dumb and Dumber and even his more serious roles like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I love how much of a multi-dimensional character he is on screen and in life.
I also remember him making a speech at a university where he was discussing his experiences with poverty after his dad lost his job. He said something like “You can fail at what you don’t like so you may as well do something you love”.
This was such a black and white moment for me and was one of the things that gave me the final push to pursue music full time.
Can you profile your fan base?
I’ve seen a lot of interest in the US and the UK so who knows, I may potentially find myself travelling overseas when things open up! I look forward to when I can meet face to face with people and connect rather than through digital means all the time which has obviously become hugely prominent for everyone because of Covid.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
It’s hard to know but I think ideally I’d have released my second album already and would be working on the 3rd. I’d be touring nationally and overseas and would be able to live solely off music.
Tell us about your favourite live show moment
I haven’t actually been able to do any live shows as of yet due to covid but I can tell you about a live show that I attended! It was summer in 2019 and I’d heard through Amyl and the Sniffers that Joan Jett was coming to Melbourne to do an intimate live show at the corner with limited tickets for sale! I was so wrapped, being a huge Joan Jett fan, immediately booking tickets for my friend and I. It was so incredible to have seen someone that I admire so much play at such an intimate venue. Won’t ever forget it!
Where can people find out about you and keep in touch with what you are up to
You can go to BrigitteBardini.com for all the latest info, links to all my socials and where to listen to my music!