Jessica Mauboy is continuing on her path of Australian and world domination – from appearing on Ellen DeGeneres to launching her single ‘To The End of The Earth’ at the state of origin, there seems to be no stopping this freight train. TOM Magazine’s Charlotte Boumford chatted to her about her style, origins and what’s next.
TOM: What does music mean to you?
Jess: Music is definitely a personal, passionate thing for me. I think what led me to music was growing up in domestic violence and being a part of a massive family; I’m one of five girls, we’re very close. Being able to see the different livings of how people live really connected me to music; the feeling, the rhythm and the beat. I think being able to shut everything out was how I became a part of music.
TOM: Coming from a large Indigenous family, music is an integral part of your culture. Do you think that is where it began for you?
Jess: Definitely, I grew up with my Dad’s side, we went to church every Sunday and I grew up singing for the service. We sang in language as well. I guess growing up in a massive Indigenous community I had a vision of being a role model. There was always this perception of Aboriginal people being a certain way and I wanted to help change that. I felt music was definitely going to play a big part.
TOM: Your vision of being a role model is certainly coming to fruition- you’re doing a lot of mentorship within Indigenous communities and also the Woolworths earn and learn program.
Jess: Overall, I like playing a part in everyone enjoying, embracing and having their own moment. I’m a big fan of a lot of youth work and helping kids at that age where they’re not sure of themselves and what they want to do in life. I think being able to push that and help that has such a big impact.
TOM: Let’s talk about the new single! “To The End Of The Earth” was released not long ago and you performed it at the State of Origin; how’s it all going?
Jess: It actually launched on origin day didn’t it? I think because I’d already been listening to it, it feels like it’d been playing on the radio for months before! Having been away from music for 2 years, I guess it was really hard to come back in. I was not sure of how people were going to react to the song and my new sound.
TOM: Yes- the song has more of a club sensibility, would you agree?
Jess: I like to think, Pop Euro! I’m such a big fan of that kind of music; a lot of people don’t know I’m such a big fan of it actually. Culture Beat– “Mr Vain” and Corona “The Rhythm Of The Night” are some of my favourite songs. With “To The End Of The Earth” I felt like it was really easy for me to get my hands dirty in terms of being able to press buttons, being able to actually be there for the whole night into the next day producing the song and technically saying I want the vocal here, I want the vocal there. I think with the first two albums a lot of it wasn’t hands on; I didn’t feel like it was right yet for me to be able to say ‘well.. you know, not really! I don’t like that.’ With this album it was different, I felt strong about where I wanted to go and with this song especially- I had so much fun writing this!
TOM: It’s a very fun song! Where were your inspirations for “To The End Of The Earth” drawn from?
Jess: A lot of people when they hear it are probably going to think… oh, love story! But I actually wrote it about home, it’s about Darwin and being able to feel my most comfortable. A place where I can just open my arms and reach out and you know, be barefoot on the ground, get my feet dirty and play in the freshwater. All those sorts of elements of my upbringing, I really felt that is what I really needed to write about in this song. I think on a personal level, people are going to go away with the song and think that it is about a guy or my boyfriend, but I love that for me personally, I have my story, that’s my connection; that’s what it’s really about.
TOM: For the upcoming album, you wrote and recorded in LA, how was that for you?
Jess: I wrote with Jaden Michaels, she’s an incredible singer! I don’t know why she’s not an artist yet?! People need to know about her! It was produced by “Captain Cuts, “when I first met them I listened to a lot of their stuff and they sounded like they specialised in dub step, I was like… I’m not really sure how this is going to go, this is really interesting! Flicking through some of their beats, it was really cool just to have a big muck around. In the end, it all came together!
TOM: You’re taking it all on tour really soon and going far and wide including a lot of regional areas. You must be excited about getting back on the road?
Jess: Yes yes yes! We’re going to do it! It’s been a dream of mine to have my own tour and direct it. Yes! We’ve been dying to go out and get dirty again with the music and be as vocal as possible. I can’t wait to reveal what we’ve been doing behind the scenes. One of my personal favourites about the tour is going to be really allowing an insight to how I am in the studio and how I am when I’m working with my team and visually being about to see that.
TOM: If you had to personally sell your single to anyone on the street, what would you say or how would you do it?
Jess: Oh my gosh, that’s a good question! I’m not really a sales woman, I wouldn’t know. I’d just have to sing it, I’d be the one on the street just singing it! I couldn’t see myself going “Hey! You mob, yeah buy my CD, this is real deadly yeah!” My dad would be like “Shh! Just sing it. Sing the song, Jess!” I guess I’d just have to physically show it… I don’t know how!
TOM: Well it’s okay, I don’t think you’re going to need to have to sell it anyway!
Jess: It’s so hard for people to try and even get their song on the radio. I’m lucky that I’m with an incredible massive record label that has that power and respect. It’s crazy! You really made me think about that. Thank you, Charlotte.
“To The End Of The Earth” AVAILABLE NOW.
Check out tour details below.
http://www.jessicamauboy.com.au/home
Catch Jessica Mauboy live at a venue near you in November 2013 and January 2014.
NOVEMBER 2013
Thursday November 7 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Saturday November 9 The Plenary, Melbourne
Wednesday November 13 WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Thursday November 14 Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
Friday November 15 Sydney, Star Event Centre
Saturday November 16 Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin **NEW SHOW
Sunday November 17 Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin **SOLD OUT
Tuesday November 19 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
Wednesday November 20 Jupiters Theatre, Gold Coast
Friday November 22 Events Centre, Caloundra
Sunday November 24 Moncrieff Theatre, Bundaberg
Tuesday November 26 Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
Wednesday November 27 The Halls, Mackay Entertainment Centre
Friday November 29 Townsville Entertainment Centre
JANUARY 2014
Wednesday January 8 Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Thursday January 9 C. Ex Services, Coffs Harbour
Friday January 10 Lismore Workers, Lismore
Saturday January 11 Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
Sunday January 12 Tamworth Entertainment Centre, Tamworth
Tuesday January 14 Club Forster, Forster
Friday January 17 Evan Theatre, Panthers, Penrith
Saturday January 18 AIS, Canberra
Sunday January 19 Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
Tuesday January 21 Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
Wednesday January 22 Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo
Thursday January 23 Wendouree Centre For Performing Art, Ballarat
Friday January 24 Geelong Arena, Geelong
