Reetoxa opens up about the deeply personal stories behind “Akaroa” and “Erica And The Stars,” discussing dreams, mental health, loss, hope, collaboration, and the journey behind this powerful double A-side.
1.
“Akaroa” began with an extraordinary dream during an extremely difficult period
of your life, and years later you unexpectedly found yourself in the New
Zealand town of Akaroa. How did that experience change the way you understood
the song and its meaning?
The song
seems to keep growing every time I hear it or sing it. It’s very special to me and getting to go to
Akaroa and see the town was a spiritual journey. I’d love to go back there it’s beautiful.
2. You
had never heard of Akaroa before that dream. When the song suddenly returned to
you while you were actually standing there, what went through your mind, and
how did you capture that moment musically?
I had
forgotten the song but when I got to the town it come flooding back. It’s a sleepy town but very beautiful. I think the guitar chords relate to the
dreamy feel I had.
3.
“Erica And The Stars” was created during another incredibly challenging
chapter, and you described the music as becoming a lifeline. Looking back now,
what does this song represent to you personally?
Somehow my
dog barking , Erica appearing through psychosis and the hospital staff saved my
life. I learnt you can trust people with
your mental health and that help is available .
4. The
Budapest Orchestra performs on “Erica And The Stars,” recreating the orchestral
sound you imagined while writing the song. What was it like hearing that vision
transformed from something you heard internally into a real orchestra
performance?
Oh wow it was like a religious experience watching the Budapest orchestra. They where magical and really lifted and enhanced the song.
5. This
release brings together an impressive group of musicians, including James Ryan
of Men at Work, Peter Martin of Jet, Kit Riley, Terry Hart, Jessica
Mcpherson-Riley, and producer/mixer/mastering engineer Simon Moro. How did
these collaborations shape the final versions of the two songs?
They
interpreted my demos and while staying close to my visions they enhanced them
all. Watching Jess specially made me realize
I had to take my singing more professionally.
They feel like brothers and sisters now.
6.
You’ve said that your biggest influences often come from real-life experiences
rather than particular artists. How does your personal life feed into your
songwriting, and do you usually write from a specific moment, emotion, or
story?
Sometimes a
song will just appear and sometimes I’ll go ok I know what I’m trying to say
here. Other times it takes years to
write a song that’s in progress. I do
every trick in the book to write a song.
7. The
two songs come from very different experiences, yet both ultimately deal with
darkness, loss, hope, and transformation. Did you consciously see them as
connected when putting this double A-side together?
Yeah
definitely I felt they really clicked and joined together and decided to
embrace that and take the hard questions.
Hopefully I can help just one person who has experienced miscarriage or
mental health issues.
8.
“Erica And The Stars” has a particularly cinematic concept, involving space,
the stars, and the idea of confronting the forces that were troubling you. How
important are visual imagery and storytelling when you build a song?
The
hospital gave me the most amazing drug and I was tripping balls finishing that
song. I would take it if I knew what it
was lol. It was an amazing time being
undiagnosed as there were no limits to my writing and it expanded my mind.
Sometimes I wish covid would happen again.
9. The
recording process took place between The Avenue Recording Studio in Cheltenham,
Victoria, and the orchestral sessions in Budapest. What were some of the
biggest challenges of bringing together musicians working in different
locations?
Although it
was not a cheap record it was done to a budget so I’m so grateful and happy
with everyone involved as they gave their all.
What I learned is you need to practice your stuff cold before you press
the record button.
10. You
also experienced a major setback when changing your surname resulted in the
loss of your old lyrics, photos, voice memos, and notes. How did rebuilding
your creative archive from memory affect you as a songwriter and artist?
I could of
just collapsed in a heap and given up but I went on a cruise and the songs came
Flooding
back. I guess if it’s a good song it
will come back eventually. Losing my
photos of my late mother was heart breaking though. I always back up my photos now to two clouds.
11. Your
previous album, “Soliloquy,” received strong critical attention, while “Double
A Side 2” continues your journey toward what will soon be three albums. How do
you feel Reetoxa has evolved between those releases?
I have
become more professional and now go to a studio to practice at least five hours
a day. For “pines salad” I was only
practicing once a week.
12. With
open-mic performances underway and discussions taking place with labels in the
UK, Asia, and Europe, what would you most like to achieve with Reetoxa over the
next year, and what do you hope listeners ultimately take away from “Akaroa”
and “Erica And The Stars”?
I hope I
get signed and that the third album is launched on a label. I am getting a live band together as we speak
and hope that the last singles from “soliloquy” build momentum towards the
third album and tour :).
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