Finding Beauty In Fragility
Sometimes Australian artists can reach a place in your heart that no one else can quite seem to touch. It’s hard to say whether it’s her accent, her vivid lyrics, or her undying pursuit of quality. It’s probably all of these things and many more because something about JEN CLOHER takes me back to North Durras, camping on the beach under the stars; or to my grandpa’s farm in NSW chasing sheep; or to a good night around a fire with friends that are soon to move far away.
After spending the past year writing a lot of music and not playing so many shows, 2012 will mark a big time in Cloher’s career. She’ll be continuing to run intensive workshops with I Manage My Music, a program she founded which helps independent musicians make their career work for them. When not running workshops, she’ll be recording a new album and launching her new website.
If that’s not enough for the celebrated songstress, she’ll be releasing an EP that will only be sold at live shows. “It’s just something that I want to give to people that are going to make the effort to come and see us play, so it’s really just a gift back to those that make the effort to support live music because I think those people are the ones that keep independent music making alive.” Cloher says she wants people to know that what they’re getting is something that’s been specially put together just for them, so even the packaging for the EP will be handmade.
She reveals that the inspiration for a lot of the music she’s creating comes from a turbulent 2011. After both of her parents passed away within three months of each other, Cloher was left reflecting on life and mortality but said she found the process gave her an odd sense of freedom. “I’m just learning to lighten up a bit and see the humour in life and just enjoy it, you know? Just enjoy it, because I’m gonna be dead in 40 years or however long it’s gonna be, so I think for me 2011 was really about just enjoying life today.”
While it wouldn’t have been surprising if the music took a darker turn, Cloher says it’s not the case. She describes the upcoming album as “…absolutely positive; all of my songwriting, even if it is looking at mortality or looking at how fragile and brief our lives can be, at the heart of it I’m always looking at how joyful life is too.”
Her work will be doubtlessly breathtaking and if you want a sneak preview of what’s to come she’ll be gracing us with her presence, her voice, and the highly coveted EP at this year’s Corinbank festival with The Merri Creek Pickers.
Corinbank will held in the beautiful Brindabella ranges from March 2-4. For more info or to buy tix (which range from $39 for a day pass to $149 for the whole three-day fest) head to www.corinbank.com .
