ENTERTAINMENT: Adalita rediscovers the magic

ENTERTAINMENT: Adalita rediscovers the magic

Adalita_general useA far cry from the punchy power-pop rock of her band Magic Dirt, Adalita’s long-awaited 2011 solo debut was a quiet, atmospheric affair, recorded in the wake of her bandmate Dean Turner’s death at the age of 37.

Next week, Adalita releases her second solo album, All Day Venus – and in contrast to her debut, it’s a record that harks back to the classic Magic Dirt sound that fans remember.

“It’s definitely what people are more used to – the louder me. I was stressing about it all sounding too much like Magic Dirt but I was stressing for no reason…it’s good, it’s only natural that it would remind some people a little of Magic Dirt,” Adalita told the Star Observer.

“I really needed to play loud again basically and it actually turned into more of a monster than I thought it would. But I’m really happy with it and it’s that kind of album that just has to be played loud.”

That’s not to say All Day Venus is a big, dumb rock record – on songs like He Wrote, Adalita reveals an experienced, almost world-weary perspective about life, love the breakdown of long-term relationships. It’s a long way from those shiny happy Magic Dirt hits like Dirty Jeans and Watch Out Boys.

“He Wrote was one of those songs that I had no control over. The words just poured out and I really wanted to tell a very plain, humble but everyday story of the breakdown of a marriage,” she said.

“I have cried many times listening to this song, my own song. I feel weird saying that, but it’s like it’s not my song anymore and never really was. Almost like another hand was writing it at the time.”

Adalita’s band are true icons of Australian music – it’s 20 years since they released their first EP and since then they’ve released eight albums, ranging from lo-fi grunge to the high-gloss pop-rock of classic records like Tough Love and Snow White. But the music came to an abrupt halt after an EP release in August 2009 – the same month founding member Dean Turner’s battle with a rare form of tissue cancer finally ended after nine years. Even now, four years on, Adalita admits she’s unsure of what lies ahead for her now-dormant band.

“There are no plans to play live. We definitely would like to release some things and honour the legacy of the band. It’s very much on my mind… Magic Dirt is my life and family and it will take some time to get back there and put it all together. And yes, things will never be the same without Dean – but I know he would want the stuff released.”

Info: All Day Venus out September 19. Adalita tours Australia from October 1 – details at adalita.com

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