Jenny Biddle @ The Manly Fig Album Launch - 'Chest of Drawers'

- Music column by Simon Forman, Perfect Pitch Music Marketing Sydney.

Our Manly interview with rising star Jenny Biddle, who launched her new album ‘Chest Of Drawers’ at The Manly Fig in late August.

Success rarely comes easily… ask anyone at the top of their game just how they made it and the answer will inevitably be the same - hard work!

And so it is that after years of developing her talent, mastering an array of musical instruments and playing in countless noisy pubs; Jenny Biddle is finally releasing her new album to the world. Delivering a collection of elegantly crafted songs that showcase both her impressive talent as a guitarist and her maturity as a songwriter, ‘Chest of Drawers’ has been a long time in the making…but it’s definitely worth the wait.

Over a cathartic cup of hot chocolate, Our Manly chatted with Jenny about the journey she’s taken to reach this point in her career and the hard road she’s had to endure along the way.
OM: So Jenny, you are finally about to launch the new album. How do you feel about finally having the chance to present these new songs to the world?

JB: It’s all very exciting. It feels like it’s taken about a decade to get to this point! In fact, it’s taken a year to record it and get all the graphics together and everything…so yeah…I’m very excited to finally be at this point.

OM: To me, the songs on this album often seem to reflect a sense of being on a journey of discovery - in particular, tracks like ‘Village By The Sea’. Would you say that’s how you felt when writing these songs?

JB: Ummm….Yeah. Most of the tracks are written from personal experiences. I really struggle to put myself in other people’s shoes when writing. There are a couple on there where I have managed to do that..songs like ‘Buzz’ and ‘Our Darkest Day’, which is a song about the Victorian bush fires. Most of the songs are from personal experience though. Mostly it’s about feeling things and just needing to get that out!



OM: So the catalyst for your song writing process would normally start with something you’ve experienced?

JB: Yeah… or, as I say, just a feeling. And then trying to put that feeling into words or sounds and kind of get rid of it.

OM: And is it a solo effort for you when it comes to songwriting, or do you have other people that you like to bounce things off?

JB: No… it’s solely me.

Although with this album I have had a lot of assistance with the many different instruments played. But in saying that, I was co-producer on the album as well… so I’ve had a lot of input with all the layers and all those other elements.

The help I did receive was great. For example one song has didgeridoo on it and another has cello… but the music and lyrics, as a basis, are all mine.

OM: And correct me if I‘m wrong, when I listen to these songs I also get a real sense of you needing to be a bit of a free spirit, to not be tied down. Is that something that’s part of your nature?

JB: (laughs) No, no, I disagree…totally not!

OM: Ooops… Okay. I guess with songs like Come and Go, the lyrics suggest not being held back.

JB: Well yeah, that song’s about being in a relationship and not being tied down, you’re right. But I mean, I think I’ve got a lot of things that I both need and long to follow… and that’s about not being held back.

But I don’t know about a “free spirit”. I think I often feel really tied down already, without even the idea of being in a relationship, whether it’s just society or rules… that kind of thing.

OM: Among all the other things you do, it’s your talent on the guitar that often wins you the most recognition. I was wondering what first led you to start playing?

JB: I started playing the ukulele around the age of 4 or 5… just having a jam along and stuff. That was really the start of it. Then I got into learning the piano…and hated it! I hated the lessons…oh it was just painful.

Then my Dad gave me a guitar when I was about 9 or 10 years old and I found that it was just more me! I was just able to use that feeling, rather than someone teaching me and saying “Play this, play that”. So I taught myself and it was much more fun!  

And I had more control about where I wanted to take that as well. I mean, I have a lot of fun with different tunings and stuff and I’m not always just sticking to the same old chords.

OM: So when it was clear that the guitar was for you, did that remain the main focus, or was songwriting always a factor as well?

JB: I think it was always there. I’ve mentioned in the album notes that when I was five I remember running out onto an imaginary stage and screaming “Set the wheels in motion” (from John Farnham’s Pressure Down), using a hairbrush to sing to an imaginary audience. And I’ve always felt that connection with music.

I started writing songs when I was 10, around the same time I picked up the guitar, so it’s always been there and I’ve always been working towards it I guess.

But it seems very competitive, the whole music industry, which is something I’ve struggled with. I’ve always had that dream but I worried I would never make it. So I did study primary education at university, just as a back up plan. But then I found the study process quite painful.

Still, that connection I feel with music has just given me the drive to keep going; and now the last few years has been full time music.

It’s good fun but hard work!

OM: Just to return to your love of the guitar. It’s interesting, but I actually find it quite hard to draw a long list of famous female guitarists. I was wondering who were your inspirations when you were learning?

JB: I actually don’t know much about any of the classic guitarists like Hendrix and stuff. I mean, I know of them of course, but I haven’t looked to too many of them for inspiration. I didn’t really ever listen to Eric Clapton or people like that.

Growing up I was really a Chisel fan so Ian Moss is someone who‘s been an influence on my music, so to speak. And I really like Josh Cunningham from The Waifs…he’s a gun.

I suppose I’ve always been a solo artist and while I haven’t had a band to rely on, I’ve always wanted to make it more interesting on the guitar…you know, stray away from chords and that sort of thing.

OM: And on that notion of being a solo artist…. with this album and tour you’ve been working with a full band. What difference did that make with the recording process?

JB: It’s been a completely different process. I mean I’ve got this new band and they’re all professional musicians, but I actually didn’t get the band to play on the album.

Instead there was this guy James Englund who did most of the production and another guy called Steve Iuliano who also helped produce. These guys were phenomenal. They can play every instrument! As a result, they did a lot of the stuff on the album.

OM: So you didn’t feel like you were losing control of your songs in any way?

JB: Ummm…sort of…at times. I mean, most of the time I was able to let them know how I wanted it to sound… but it was a different process.

OM: And so performing live is going to be a different process again I guess? Losing some of the live spontaneity you can have as a solo artist… is it hard adjusting to this?

JB: Yeah… that’s something we’re working out and that I’m trying to come to terms with. I’ve done so much solo work with my originals and covers…I mean I always try to take covers to a completely different place and just take it wherever I feel like at the time. And that is such a pain for the band because they can’t read my mind. They have to play to a set thing and so I have to conform to that as well. I’m still trying to get to know the band and at the same time they’re trying to get to know me so we can all start to branch out a little.

OM: Putting all these changes and challenges aside… you must be really proud of what you’ve achieved with the new album?



JB: Oh yeah! I’m more excited about this than my earlier album (Almost Live at the Basement). This has been a much more professional process and I’ve put a lot more blood, sweat and tears into it than ever before. And a lot more people have helped out as well…it’s just been a huge project that feels like it’s been going for so long and so there’s a real sense of achievement now it’s out there.

OM: So in an ideal world, what does the future hold for Jenny Biddle?

JB: Ahhh…hard to say I guess.

I’d like to be successful enough to support myself with my music, but also to be able to support all the people around me who help. Getting to that sort of level would be great.

When you’re young, you have all the usual dreams of fame and fortune… but these days it’s more about being able to connect with people through the music. Music helps me so much when I’m listening to other people’s songs. So if I can help other people that way, whether that’s through a sad song or whether it’s getting people up and dancing… that’s where I’d like to be.

Jenny and band celebrated the launch of ‘Chest of Drawers’ with a performance at The Manly Fig on Friday 28th August.

This was followed up by a performance at The Basement on Sunday 30th August.

The new album ‘Chest Of Drawers’ is out now and available at all leading record stores and via digital download.

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