STACK #141 Jul 2016

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T he airy, sensual style of Krista Polvere’s country-tinged folk has impressed many over the singer-songwriter’s career – but with her upcoming album, that little web of people is set to expand. The release collects together a series of tracks Polvere wrote during a highly tumultuous period of her life, which spanned a fervid and musically prolific romantic relationship which saw her constantly travelling between Australia and the American South. “It was a very artistic, creative relationship fuelled by passion and craziness as well,” she says of producer and musician Brian Elijah Smith. “Obviously it was a difficult situation to be in. I mean, long distance is just a nightmare for anyone really. I would never recommend it. The amazing part was that I got to travel around the South and play so many shows.”  From their base in the Shenandoah Valley in West Virginia, the pair were playing live every weekend; in addition to festivals they often performed the kind of intimate house shows very popular in the South. “I know there’s a lot of people doing house concerts here now; over there that’s what they do, and they’ve been doing it for ages,” she explains. “When I say ‘house concerts’ I mean like, anywhere from 50 to 200 people who just get together from the community. It just gives artists more of an opportunity to reach out to the general public without having to go to bars, ‘cause some people just like to hang out at home. They get to talk to the artists as well, create friendships or just chit-chat. It’s more face-to-face interaction.”  Though the relationship that was

in that time – it’s quite revealing.”  Within single Shut Up And Ride  you can hear the legacy of several country artists behind Polvere’s vocals; in All I really Wanted  her voice contains a breathy Stevie Nicks quality; and all the way through, Polvere doesn’t polish her notes but allows emotion to eclipse precision. “I don’t overanalyse my voice,” she says. “I don’t even know what it sounds like, ‘cause you’re so close to it. I think it’s probably like your identity, or the way you look, the way you see yourself… it’s not always the way other people see you.” For a taster of what’s to come, get a peep of Devil In Me  (which features on Polvere’s currently available EP of the same name) – a lament of dissatisfaction in love. “It’s desire and a desperation for somebody that is emotionally unavailable,” Polvere says. “It’s about that feeling of being so frustrated, but wild for them.”  

The way you look, the way you see yourself... it’s not always the way other people see you

fodder for these tracks is over (“It went south, so to speak – pardon the pun”), Polvere attests she can look at the songs as monuments to a specific time, rather than find their emotions mawkishly nostalgic. “I don’t listen to the music and reminisce, or anything like that,” she smiles. “I’m really proud of the record, and that’s the good thing that came out of that, in timing. It was a massive challenge, but there’s a lot of feeling in it. There’s a lot of meaning to it. All of the songs are about him and us

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