Vanessa Amorosi hit the big time as a teen with her hit single, Shine. She’s been off the music radar for a while and now is back with a new edgy style. Bellaboo catches up with her…

You’ve been out of the music scene for a little while but you’re back with a new album, ‘Somewhere in the Real World’ which comes out in October. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about the album?
It’s very diverse. It’s rock soul orientated. There are some tracks that are ballad/soul and some groove orientated tracks that are quite edgy and quirky. It’s very different to what’s out there.

How does this new album define you now compared to how people knew you before?
When I wrote the ‘Power’ album I was around 13 or 14, so by the time I started performing it I was a lot older anyway. And then because they were successful for me I was constantly touring and doing a lot of shows overseas. I toured with Jo Cocker for a long time - gigging and all that stuff. So really, this album is what I am and what I grew up to be. I’ve always been into Primus and Mr Bungle and heavy alternative stuff but I never got around to do what I’m doing now.

It’s pretty exciting for you. The new album has been described as a tough new sound, would you call if tough?
I think it’s edgy because I’m an edgy person myself. I speak very openly and I don’t like to beat around the bush, as they say. So lyrically and song wise, it’s speaking the truth, you know. It’s speaking about experiences that I’ve gone through, whereas back in the past I was mainly speaking about stuff I would like to experience.

‘Kiss Your Mama’ is the first single off the album, what’s the song about?
It’s about boys respecting their parents and their elders. I think it’s an attractive quality. I like it when boys ring up their parents and see how they’re going and ring up for birthdays and just checking in.

Guys often have good relationships with girls when they have a good relationship with their Mum’s, don’t you think?
That’s the rumour.

You have been out of the public eye for quite some time. What did you get up to during that time?
Because I had success in Europe, I ended up touring there doing the Jo Cocker tour for a long time. I then came home and started writing songs for other people. I did the first Australian Idol album that came out. I did a couple of tracks for that. Then got into production land and started working on the music I wanted to get out there and do. Getting the right team around you takes a long time. I had to work out who the right people would be to help support me through this because it is a really hard industry to keep afloat in. Your team is everything. I’ve been very, very lucky in that I’ve had a record company that wants to know who I am, wants to know what it is that I’m wanting to achieve and how are we going to get there. My record company has been fantastic in that respect. That’s what sells these days. People don’t want what other people are copying. They don’t want carbon copies because they want the real thing. So if you come to the table being unique and yourself then that’s what I think creates a long career.

Definitely! I also read something about you that I really admire, that even though sex appeal is something that sells records, you don’t turn it on because it isn’t you and what you’re about. What do you think about commercial image and appeal? What message do you think it sends to other women?
Vanessa I think it puts out the wrong message, I think women can be sexy with clothes on. It’s all about personality, it’s all about faith and how you present yourself and how you respect yourself really. It’s not about showing your boobs off and wearing a short skirt and flaunting every piece of skin that you have. That’s something that the guys may look at but it’s not going to get your relationship to a place that it’s worth being in or respected by people. I think you have to be comfortable in your own skin and sexy with clothes on. You can look just as beautiful in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Like you said, it is about being comfortable in your own skin and when you put on a persona it comes across.
It’s a certain energy you know. I mean, I know what I go for in guys and it’s a guy that’s got a personality and is also quite strong and knows what he wants. It’s the same with women. Be confident with yourself and that shines through no matter what your skin or your body is like.

Talking about being comfortable in your own skin, let’s talk about music videos. Do you enjoy the video-making process?
I never used to but I really enjoyed the video clip I recently did because I was very hands on with it and knew how I wanted people to see me because I have been performing for so many years and I’ve lived on the stage. That’s what I am, I’m a performer, I’ve gigged all my life. So that’s really what I wanted people to see. This is what I look like and this is what I’m about. Yes I do have clothes on and I can have sex appeal doing that.

So from that I assume that your latest video is a performance- based video, you’re not acting in this one.
No, no acting. I’m not about being an actor, I’m about the music so that’s where it stops. I’ve had videos where I’ve had to act and I’m not that person. That’s fake and put on. I want to be truthful this time. I’m a singer and I think you can get across the message of the song by the way you perform that song, especially live. That’s what leaves people with a final impression because that’s when your soul is trying to connect with other souls and it’s about that energy.

You’re a super talented singer and an amazing song writer, do you play any instruments as well?
I play everything pretty badly. Drums, keyboards and all that sort of stuff but pro tools has made it easy for dumb dumbs like myself to do that stuff.

Are you feeling nervous at all about the release of the album? Any anticipation?
Either way, it’s going to be a good outcome because I’ve worked hard and this is truthful and this is me. If it doesn’t work, I gave it a good shot and if it does work then off we go. Even if this album doesn’t work then I’ll keep going. It won’t be the last time people have heard from me, sorry guys.

You’ve done so much in your 25 years, there must be a little bit of pressure on you after having so much success so young.
Because singing is so much a part of instinct, being a performer, the highs and lows don’t mean a lot as long as I can get back up and do what I do naturally. You learn a lot because you are young and you have highs and lows and you come across some wrong people and great people too. At this stage I’ve got a great team and I’m actually very excited because I don’t have anything to worry about any more.

I’d also like to know about the other things you do because you love animals and you’ve also helped disadvantaged children. Do you still get involved with these kids and do you still live on a farm?
Yes, I still live on a farm because that’s just where I live and I don’t think I’ll move from there. I’ve done a lot of traveling and I’m hardly at home any more but I’ll always have the property. I’m trying to write up a program at the moment that helps disabled children which will involve the farm. It’s in the process of getting started now and what I can tell you is that it will involve science on farms.

You’re a totally motivated and multi-talented person, do you still dance, because I know you’ve trained in many forms of dance?
My uncle was a dancing teacher and all my aunties as well, so I was trained for years as a qualified dancer in all those areas but I don’t pull out those cards any more.

Well we all like to dance when no-one is watching, what song do you dance to?
Money for Nothing – Dire Straits.