STACK #167 Sept 2018

MUSIC NEWS

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EMMA LOUISE

T he artistic lynchpin of Emma Louise’s new album Lilac Everything rests on an almost last- minute decision she made in-studio, which caused a ripple of meaning to fall into place for the singer- songwriter. She’d decamped to Seattle to record some new demos with Tobias Jesso Jr – whom she’d contacted out of the blue just a few weeks before – and during their last planned session, asked the Canadian musician, producer and songwriter (for Adele and Sia, amongst others) to pitch all of her vocals down. “It was honestly the most relieving decision I’ve ever made, musically,” the ARIA- nominated musician says. “It just felt so right. I didn’t even have to think about it.” There was something about the psychological separation the pitch-shift provided that gave Emma a newfound

freedom. “It made the album swell,” she explains. “It expanded. I think, creatively, I was able to do whatever I wanted.” Through Emma’s vision, and the contributing talents of Jesso Jr and Juno Award-winning sound engineer Shawn Everett, Lilac Everything was born. “It was the most magical, magical thing,” she says. “It was in the middle of nowhere; we were drinking six bottles of wine a night. We did all the songs live.” Start with single and album opener Wish You Well , and don't miss the delicately billowing vocal layers in the astonishing A Book Left Open In A Wild Field Of Flowers . ZKR

Lilac Everything: A Project By Emma Louise by Emma Louise is out September 14 via Liberation.

SLASH, MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS

together with the Conspirators as soon as possible, and continuing on with what we started,” he says of that pleasantly itchy feeling. Of the new album Living The Dream – recorded with vocalist Kennedy, as well as bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and rhythm guitarist Frank Sidoris comprising the Conspirators – Slash says: “It’s a natural progression from World On Fire , for sure. I think it has a little more diversity; some of the ideas

are not really what I would consider to be predictable.” An interesting comment, in light of the man’s mercurial, vaulting solos forming part of the reason he’s considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. “It’s just a snapshot of where we’re at,” he adds, “which is what we’re going for with each new album – to be present in what we’re doing and come up with something that is representative of and reflects this moment in time.” ZKR

A fter nearly 20 years apart from his Guns N’ Roses bandmates, in 2016 iconic guitarist Slash announced he was returning to the punk- rock-hair-metal fold; so began an posthaste stint of stadium and arena dates all over the world, playing perennial GNR classics to millions of fans. However, Slash knew in his heart of hearts that his side-project with Myles Kennedy

& the Conspirators – begun in 2012 with the crowd-charming Apocalyptic Love and its equally well-received follow-up World On Fire (both albums peaked at #2 on the Australian chart) – was where he had to head if he wanted to expand his ideas. “I always planned on getting back

Living The Dream by Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators is out September 21 via Snakepit/Sony.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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