The line between pop and rock has never run parallel for noughties Australian music icon, Ella Hooper. With a career spanning 20 years as the distinctive front woman of Killing Heidi, a dynamic solo artist, occasional DJ, TV presenter for Rockwiz and former regular on Spicks and Specks, Hooper has been branded everything from a pop sensation to the ultimate rock chick. We spoke to her to set it straight once and for all.
“Look I think I am a rock chick, I totally am. But pop has got such a bad rap. I think I always was a rock chic, but not as heavy as people would have thought because the music Killing Heidi put out was a lot heavier than I ever intended it to be because I have a bit of a pop heart.”
Two years after the double EP, Venom / New Magic, Hooper’s much anticipated latest single, ‘To The Bone’, has yet again thrown a spanner in the works in distinguishing where she sits on the rock/pop spectrum as she ventures into new territory; the realm of Saturday Night Fever and discotheque.
With a guitar hook reminiscent of 90’s classic ‘My Favourite Game’ by The Cardigans, an iconic Kylie Minogue-esque dance infused beat and the inclusion of a determined cow bell, ‘To The Bone’ is not a traditional take on disco.
“I wanted to do it in my own way so it’s hardly straight ABBA disco, it’s got to be a bit bent and a bit funk and a bit rocky if I’m doing it”, she laughs.
“I’m at that stage in my life and in my career, and in my own relationship with song writing where I want to do things I haven’t done before. How do I keep this passion fresh and scary like it used to be? And the key is doing things that you’re not sure about.”
That sentiment is prominent lyrically, with the main premise of the song being “about burning things down to start again”.
“To the Bone is about going ‘no, where do I really need to be’…reassessing the whole setup you’ve made for yourself and possibly breaking it apart and starting again if you don’t like it.”
Co-produced by Robin Waters and Tim Harvey, the single was written with live shows in mind so Hooper can embrace her animalistic on stage energy she exudes in Killing Heidi and is the music direction for her coming singles.
“The next couple of songs I am going to release are rock songs. They have loud guitars and stuff, so they are a bit more of a Garbage/ The Pretenders vibe.”
New material will be unleashed live at Brisbane’s Big Sound September 5 and 6, with singles rolling out between now and Christmas.
“I’m not sure if it will be an EP or an album but I’m really in this mode. I feel like everything I am doing has a really strong flavour of the 70’s 80’s or 90’s…I want it to feel like you’re listening to classic hits radio, like Gold 104 but with a bit more modern content.”
Except a taste of Blondie, The Pretenders, The Divinals, the Cranberries and speckles of Kylie to come, particularly channelled in the ‘To The Bone’ music video which will be released in the next coming days. Hot pants and all? You’ll have to wait and see.
For now, we think it’s safe to say Ella Hooper is true music chameleon that does not fit any mould and we love it!
Check it here:
Written by Tammy Walters