emma swift on tour
After the success of her debut album Blonde on the Tracks, Nashville-based singer Emma Swift returns home to Oz for her first national tour
Words Alexandria Knight Images Nicolata Lupi, Autumn Dozier
Australian-born Emma Swift’s record Blonde on the Tracks – a beautiful Bob Dylan tribute album – debuted in the Top 10 on the ARIA Chart, and also earned the number-one spot for best-selling vinyl and country album in Australia! This acclaimed singer-songwriter, who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, has returned home to take her record on tour and will be playing in Thirroul on June 19. We chatted to Emma via Zoom, on day three of her quarantine stay, about her inspirations, the transition between countries and bringing the album to life on the Australian stage.
What type of music do you make?
It’s more classic folk, similar to Joni Mitchell, Cat Power, Bob Dylan, and that kind of world. In Nashville, where I moved, there is this incredible community of musicians to work with regardless of whether they are country artists.
Why did you move to the United States?
I grew up in Wagga Wagga, NSW, and when I turned 30, I decided I wanted to be a singer and that I would move to America.
It was a very dramatic, kinda ridiculous life pivot. It was something fun that I wanted to explore. I had previously been on a road trip through the United States with one of my best friends and just had this absolutely fantastic time – going to dive clubs, listening to classic country music, drinking whiskey and flirting with cowboy types. I fell head over heels for the place. I knew I wanted to spend some time there, make music and live in Nashville. It’s been an extraordinary, fun and slightly ridiculous journey. I have been there for seven years now.
Are you excited to be home – and for the opportunity to be playing gigs again?
I have been very, very fortunate that a lot of people in Australia really backed the Blonde on the Tracks record. The album charted in the ARIA Top 10. I was kinda blown away by the popularity of the album and that it connected with so many people. I was blessed to be asked by Live Nation to come out and play some shows. It felt like a real lifeline to me because, obviously, the pandemic is ongoing and it is really difficult for many musicians around the world to be playing gigs.
Australia is an earthly paradise compared to where I have been. It is great to come home and get the chance to play.
How did it feel to have such a positive response to the album?
It blew me away that so many people were so kind and generous about this record. As an artist, I have always been drawn to music that I like to create. I am not necessarily seeking to create something that will be popular or people-pleasing but when I put this album out and it got such a wonderful, kind and loving response, it really knocked my socks off. It was quite surreal. I have been reading Rolling Stone since I was a teenager, and they premiered one of my video clips. Then Bernie Taupin, the songwriter who co-writes with Elton John, did an Instagram post where he bought the Blonde on the Tracks on vinyl. The record has reached some fabulous places and people, and I feel so blessed to have that. To have this album get so much support… it really warmed my heart.
After the tour, what are your plans?
My plans are to hang out in Australia and spend some quality time with my family and friends. I haven’t seen some of my nearest and dearest people in over two years now. I am so happy that I am going to be able to see my loved ones again, hug them, smile and be in their company. My sister had a little baby at the beginning of February 2020, and had the pandemic not happened, I would have been in Australia to meet and support my family. But I missed all that.
After quarantine, I go to Melbourne and meet the fabulous band that Darren Middleton from Powderfinger has put together. From there, we go on tour and play the shows. After that, I am going to enjoy Australia with all the people I haven’t seen. I will go back to the United States, though, as I have some festivals booked and work to be done.
Have you worked with Darren Middleton or this band before?
No, I haven’t. This will be the first time that I play with any member of this band. Since I have been out of Australia for such a long time, I haven’t really played with a proper rock band here. When Darren offered to put this super group together, I was so excited to be able to do it. The rehearsal space is going to be a little bit like the Big Brother house. Once they let me out of this pod, we are gonna get together and rock it out.
Have you missed performing live since the outbreak of the pandemic?
Very much. I love playing shows and I love singing with a band. The human interaction and connection you get when you play a song live is a fabulous feeling. It’s spiritual to me – it’s like going to church. I have always gone to gigs and I have really grieved not having live shows and performing music.
Having an album in the top 10 of the ARIA Chart is a big achievement – why do you think it’s garnered such a huge response in Australia?
I made a record of songs that I really love and believe in. Once I took it to my fanbase and said, “Hey, there is a pandemic on – ideally I know you would like to stream this, but it would be great if you bought it instead.” And they did. People really did want to get behind the record. I also think I can’t cut Bob Dylan out of the equation. He is an extraordinary songwriter loved by many people. A lot of people that have never heard of me before were curious to hear what I had done with his songs as well as how I sang the favourites and his classics.
Bob Dylan is clearly an inspiration to you…
Absolutely, I adore Bob Dylan. I think he Is a brilliant songwriter, wonderful musician and creative guy. Following his path and style and watching everything he has done over the course of his career has brought me so much delight. He made several really impactful and wonderful albums in Nashville. When I first decided to move there, a lot of the reasoning was because artists like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, R.E.M, and people we don’t usually think of as recording in Tennessee, made some of their best work there.
Bob Dylan’s songs have been sung by so many amazing women like Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders, Marianne Faithfull and Nina Simone. In a way, the record is not just a tribute to Bob Dylan, it is a tribute to those female singers as well.
What do you think your tour is going to create for the Australian audience?
The vibe of the concerts is truly a celebration of music, art and culture. It’s also about Australian artists. We plan to put on a show that is very much a retrospective of Bob Dylan’s career and it will include more than the eight songs on my album. It will be the classics and favourites as well. Live music can be so powerful and to be able to get out and do that again is gonna be very special. Before the pandemic, I felt that I took seeing and being part of live performances for granted. I don’t think I will ever do that again.
You’re set to play at Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul – are you looking forward to it?
I’ve never played a show in Wollongong before. It’s gonna be beautiful and special. Two of my closest friends live in Wollongong so I can’t wait to see them and connect with them at the show as well. I’ve heard also that Anita’s Theatre is absolutely beautiful, and I just can’t wait.
Tour dates
PALAIS THEATRE (INTIMATE), MELBOURNE
THURSDAY JUNE 17
ANITA’S THEATRE, WOLLONGONG
SATURDAY JUNE 19
CITY RECITAL HALL, SYDNEY
SUNDAY JUNE 20
ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH
TUESDAY JUNE 22
FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE
THURSDAY JUNE 24
For complete tour and ticket information, visit livenation.com.au
For more information about Emma Swift, visit emmaswift.com
Listen to ‘Blonde on the Tracks’ here