Each month as part of The Light Show, the Auckland Art Gallery has an Open Late evening, where the general public has a rare opportunity to view the exhibition after hours, with George FM DJ's and a live band providing the soundtrack for the event. Next Tuesday Chelsea Jade will get her chance to perform in the magnificent atrium, bringing her brand of ethereal, sassy pop music to the art crowd. This will be the fifth and final Open Late, with the exhibition closing on February 8th.
Chelsea kindly answered some questions for us via email, and shared the work of four artists she has collaborated with over the years. We highly recommend checking out her new EP, Beacons.
What can you tell us about your recently-released EP, Beacons? Does it feature any tracks from your earlier releases?
My new EP Beacons is comprised of six correlating tracks that haven't been solidified as a release before though some have dipped into view on occasion.
The visual side of your music is clearly very important to you, where do your ideas and inspiration for this come from?
The desire to permeate every available sense with the expansion on an audible idea. Peering at details.
What can we expect from your show at the Art Gallery? Will you be playing with a band?
I'm flying solo which means I can let the tide take me wherever it wants to go when the time comes.
Is there any significance with themes of light in your music?
If you count treble as extreme lightness and bass as deep darkness, they are the pylons that my powerlines are strung up between. The middle range doesn't capture me so much and I tend litter it in out of necessity to illuminate the other two.
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Wife
James Kelly, or 'Wife' served as my coach for a late night vocal I did in the big kid studio at Red Bull Music Academy, Tokyo last year. I think he's a scholar and a gentleman, musically and interpersonally.
Boycrush
I begged Alistair Deverick to let me play with him in the live realisation of his project 'Boycrush' because it felt similar to how it might feel to be in Aqua. we made a song together called 'Secrets' which has an accompanying video and a we have a new collaboration on his forthcoming EP.
Encouragement
James Duncan is a forever friend and I have weathered self inflicted thigh length tambourine bruises playing in his solo project when I was 21. Now he has a new band with former Family Cactus members Adam Ladley and Holly Beales and it's good. It's really good.
Strange Babes
I was set up on a songwriting blind date in LA with Sam McCarthy and had the time of my life. Our mutual friend played me some of Sam's 'Strange Babes' project through his tinny car stereo while we drove through the Hollywood Hills and I fell deep for 'Holiday'.
Chelsea Jade - Beacons EP
Chelsea Jade will be performing at the Auckland Art Gallery as part of their Light Show Open Lates on Tuesday 3rd February. Tickets have now SOLD OUT.
