It’s taken about seven years for Mietta’s debut album A Mad Distance to finally see the light of day; however, it has been worth the wait. When you release a record it is supposed to be a time for celebration, though Mietta isn’t popping the champagne just yet. “If I’m completely honest with you, it’s been a bloody stressful time. There have been so many things to organise for this tour but it is exciting. The band that I am having on tour differs from show to show, so there is the logistics of making it all work. It’s great to have the album out though and I am very proud of the songs.”
With a strong Italian family heritage, Mietta was always destined to be a musician from an early age. Surrounded with lots of great records, the variety of music that Mietta was exposed to has rubbed off on the diverse sounds that make up A Mad Distance. “My nonno was very musical. He was a violinist and he was the conductor in the Mildura Symphony Orchestra when he was a young man. He played mandolin as well and used to gig around Melbourne all the time. My dad is a great blues guitarist and he is pretty convinced that he is Keith Richards. It’s pretty amazing having Keith as a father – I’m going into some pretty amazing musical heritage. We’ve done some gigs together and that’s pretty cute.
“Music has surrounded me from a very young age and it was a very natural progression to start playing myself,” Mietta said.
Unable to pinpoint exactly where the Latin influence to her music comes from, Mietta chuckles and admits that it was most likely through her love for Ricky Martin at 13 years old. A sample of a Brazilian band that Martin used in one of his earlier works led Mietta down a long road of further discovery. Travelling to Spain and playing countless gigs with some of the finest musicians in the country was also an inspiring time. Although a record contract in Spain was knocked back, it was upon returning to Australia that the bones of the record were formed.
Produced by Damien Charles, “one of the country’s best sound engineers without a shadow of a doubt”, the journey throughout the twelve songs is quite an exploration into the many influences over the years. One of the key tracks, ‘Midnight and the Deep Blue Sea’, features a seventeen-piece symphony orchestra and is Mietta’s ‘Wonderwall’ or ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ (in terms of classic songs). “Sam Boon who is the orchestral arranger on the album is so switched on and talented. I remember listening back to the final cut of that track at the end of the day and turning and laughing with Damo. I would love to have released that as a single, but ‘Gone’ is a lot more radio friendly I think.”
Heading out on the road in support of the album, Mietta is set to play in Melbourne on the 24th of July and Ballarat on the 26th. With 26 musicians set to take the stage in Melbourne including a ten-piece chamber orchestra, these gigs are destined to be epic.
“It’s going to be an adventure taking this show on the road. There are plans to take it over to Spain soon enough and we are working on the follow-up. See you out there soon!”
When&Where: The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne – July 24 & The Main Bar, Ballarat – July 26
Written by Tex Miller