Danielle Deckard Gig Review and Interview.

To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the End of the World EP release, Danielle played a handful of intimate shows to support the deluxe EP release in Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart. Supporting Danielle on these dates except Hobart is indie-folk singer songwriter and 2014 winner of Triple J Unearthed is Rosie Catalano. In Melbourne, Tobias Robinson opened the show.

Danielle and I caught up for a chat before her set last Saturday in Melbourne.

Hi Danielle, How was Canberra last night?

It was great. It was surprising. Better than I thought it would be. Going to a new place for the first time, I did not know anyone there, it was great crowd, everyone was so lovely. It was a wonderful show.

How have the other shows been? Has your music been well received?

Really great. I was telling the story the other night, the Sydney show was an intimate venue, people were packed in and it had a tiny stage and the crowd was right up on you and afterwards it cleared out really quickly and normally I end up chatting with people for ages. I got like ten messages after, People saying that they really wanted to talk to me but there was a big line of people waiting to talk to me. I was thinking, you guys all left me! The gig was really really great. It is fun to meet new people, I mean I love it when people return, makes it like a premiere when they bring people they know.

When you settled here, why did you choose Sydney?

Well my partner is from Adelaide and I met him in the States and we moved over here, we were looking at Sydney or Melbourne and he was studied his Masters in Sydney, and he worked in the Music Industry too, so we decided to live there.

We then had a chat about us both being swimmers as well as my kids. Nice to have another connection!

Tell us about your music video for The End of the World. It is fun to watch. It had over 70,000 views on facebook the last time I checked. Did you come up with the concept?

I am not really sure, I think it was my partners idea, he is my business partner as well and produces my music. I can’t remember who came up with the idea, let’s say it was me. (both laughing)

So it was your family and friends that were in it?

Yes, I wanted to get anyone that had impacted me all over my life who has influenced him, even if I had not talked to them in ten years. My mum is in it; my dad is in it.

So you read my review and I am glad that you liked it, I mention that ‘Sleep’ could have been written about me. Have your fans shared any stories with you and can you share one with us.

Yes, someone was recently telling me one. I mean people connect to different songs for different reasons. When I was growing up music was  form of therapy for me. It is what I would do if I was upset generally. I would go into my bedroom and stay in there for hours. I would listen to a song over and over again. A girl was telling me something about the song ‘I Lied’ which is a song about a breakup, it is a kind of universal heartbreak song. She was telling me about a guy that she was dating and I think that he said it was over and he turned up on a reality TV dating show and she was really confused why. I guess is just a song about heartbreak.

You are playing with Mane in Adelaide, we have interviewed her and she is lovely. I can see how you two will fit together to have a really good show. Do you know her?

Not personally, we have messaged each other a few times I am really looking forward to playing with her.

I think you and her will make a really good match for a show.

Have you had anything go wrong on this tour?

Good question.  Not really, there are always these moments where I have my worksheets for each venue and I check them. Last night I was in Canberra early and I saw that they don’t supply sound person, it was more a DIY scenario. So they had the mixing board and we had all our instruments but there was no PA  so I was freaking out thinking that I had to bring a PA.  I hadn’t read that anywhere if I had I would sort something out, so for about 10 minutes I was thinking that I’d have to play  unplugged.  However the PA was in a weird layout in the room, up really high in a very unusual setup but it actually sounds really good. It all turned out great.

Do have any other funny stories like have you lost any luggage?

This morning I woke up to fly in from Canberra and we turned up with our guitars and everything and normally they get you to sign a waiver, just in case they lose the luggage. They did not do that, they were really busy and they did not have a spot for the big oversized luggage and they said to put all of our luggage over there in the corner and we will take care of it. I said “No! Actually that is worth thousands of dollars and we need to know that it got to the plane on time!”  Leaving it there, anyone would of been able to grab it. She seemed a little annoyed at me!

I would be feeling a little annoyed at her!

Who is playing with you tonight as you musician?

My partner.

I wished Danielle well and got ready for the night to begin.

The place was buzzing while everyone was waiting for the first support act Tobias Robinson, who put on a great set of songs that I connected to so well I sought him out to get in touch. Rosie Catalano then played and she was amazing. Everyone enjoyed her set.

Danielle and her partner Paul came on and what an impression they made. Danielle songs sounded just as clear and polished vocals as they do on the EP. Her partner rocked out well, swapping instruments, from bells on his feet to a ukulele, guitar and bass. What a team they made. Highlight for me was the song ‘Sleep’ although Danielle played many news songs that are on her album planned for release next year.

All in all it was a fantastic night. Being in a venue where we can eat and drink while listening to quality music was really enjoyable. Danielle said that she might come back down to Melbourne for her single Launch and if she does, I will be there for sure.

written by Jen