Deborah Hocking

AustralianMusic.info

Singer/songwriter Deborah Hocking says the most significant relationship in her life is with her music. Deborah is a hard working Melbourne-based singer/songwriter who featured on the Girl 2 compilation. She spoke to Kath recently.

How long have you been performing and whereabouts in Australia are you from?
I have been performing as a solo artist for the last five years and have played bass in original bands in the past. I am based in Melbourne and am hoping to get a permanent band line up together soon, after launching my two CDs at the Evelyn with a band... I want more band!

What would be your three major musical influences?
Tiddas, Tori Amos and Yes (70s prog rock -- did you hear, they're coming to Australia!)

What is one thing you'd like to change about the music industry?
The commodification of the music industry and short-sighted view that we seem to get caught up in... disposable pop with no longevity taking precedence over career artists and investing in albums which add to our artistic texture as a society... and radio's complicity in this. If we put economics before the music, I believe we all lose out in the long term. Having said this, there is always wonderful life springing from the grass roots, and the emergence of DIY recording and the flourishing of independent labels have contributed to this landscape!

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Playing the national folk festival circuit, and having played in festivals in Canada. I would also love to have a band together and be touring a band LP around Australia. Of course airplay would be nice too. Just as a general statement, I'd love to be living a beautiful life in which music takes up a greater chunk of my time, and to be hanging out with thinking, self-aware people of substance and integrity.

What do you think makes a band stand out from all the others?
Definitely authenticity. We cannot clone each other's character, and it is through being who we innately are that our music is enabled to live, breathe and find its own personality. A cohesive and psychically in-synch band is magic to watch; it transports me, and reminds me why I am in the industry of creating and sharing music.

What CD releases have you had out? Any in the pipe-line?
'Stage' was included on the Local and Live compilation CD (Australian Music Foundation) to coincide with the Australia Day Showcase Gig that I played earlier this year, and 'D-Day' was included on the very wonderful Girl 2 compilation (Indent Music). I launched my current EP, Stage, and acoustic LP, D-Day at the Evelyn in August 2002, and am still giving these CDs some time to carve out their audience. I am currently cutting back on gigs - from 3-4 a month, to one or two, to create time to write. My next project will be a band LP and the direction of that will be largely determined by the players who constitute the Deborah Hocking Band line up. I would dearly love to be working increasingly as a band, rather than solo, and would like the next CD and live shows (both the festival and pub circuits) to reflect this.

(Non music-related question) Buffy or Secret Life of Us?
Easy! Secret Life of Us... bring on local content!

Final thoughts...
I recall a line from a movie I watched recently, in which someone said "To live is to give up one 'what if' moment after another." We get one shot at this... no regrets! And remember, we can't be in competition if we are in solidarity.