Carla Dal Forno creates music like no one else. The writing is endless, the sound is endless, the possibilities are endless. That’s why we love her. And, that’s why we sort out a chat. Her new album ‘Look Up Sharp’ is out now, give it a go — if you’re anything like us, you’ll love it.
Howdy Carla! How’s life treating you?
I’m pretty good, can’t complain. Life seems to be going along just fine.
Australia’s music scene is incredible at the moment, how did down under influence you music?
Yeah, I agree, I think particularly in Melbourne, where I’m from, it’s a really strong scene. When I first started going to gigs I found it incredibly inspiring, and people were really encouraging. The attitude is if you’re interested in music than you should give it a go. Plus there are lots of venues and people putting on shows, so it’s pretty easy to get started. It also means that there’s lots of room for more loose and experimental projects, which is also a bonus.
In your career, you’ve travelled far and wide (London, Berlin, Melbourne, etc), do different cultures and places help your creativity? Do some hinder it do you think?
Definitely. New places means new experiences and new relationships, all of which feed into my work. The only hindrance I can think of is that moving around a lot can disrupt studio time.
From being in bands, Mole House and F Ingers, to producing your own work, how do the two processes differ?
Being in bands is fun and collaborative. People have different skills and ideas which shape what you come up with. When you’re a solo artist you must have all the skills and ideas by yourself. It’s definitely a challenge, but the results are perhaps more representative of you as an individual.
You showcase nature in your work, do you have a love for the outdoors?
Absolutely. Green spaces make me happy and I sometimes think it’s easier to love trees than people.
You’re soon to be releasing a new album called ‘Look Up Sharp’, reflecting on it now, what does it represent to you?
I’m pretty glad that I finished it. Whenever I finish an album I always wonder if I’ll be able to make another one cause it feels like such a mammoth task. So at this point I’m feeling relieved, but also happy because I think this album reflects something of my experiences over the past few years, and also where I’m at now.
What inspired the name of the record?
I wanted a title that could reflect the mood of the album as a whole. That lyric from the song So Much Better stood out as it sounded direct, a bit tense, and also observational, qualities that I think the album has as a whole.
The music video for ‘Took a Long Time’ is textured with double and triple exposures, how do you engage with the visual side of art? Is it something you’d like to explore more in your career?
I worked with a french artist called Ludovic Sauvage on the clips for this album. I would send him some footage and then he would combine it with his own videos in this lovely atmospheric way. I do enjoy having visuals for particular songs as I find this can extend the narrative of the music. It’s definitely something I’d like to explore further.
You have your own record label, Kallista Records, how did that come about?
My previous record label, Blackest Ever Black, decided to shut up shop last year, so I decided to go it alone this time. I’d made some really good contacts whilst being with that label and I wanted to continue working with people I trusted, so it felt like a good time to start my own label.
Do you have anyone you’re eyeing up to sign? Or who would you sign if you could?
This year I’ve been focused on finishing my album and releasing it. I’m not sure what will happen going forward. Perhaps I will release other people’s music, as well as my own. The artists that I would be interested in working with are probably people that I’ve played on my NTS radio show.
And, what’s the plan for the rest of the year?
Next week I start touring in Europe and the UK and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be playing some new songs, which is always fun, seeing some new places, and spending time with my bandmate Mark. It’ll be nice to share these new songs with audiences in real life as well.
Tour Dates:
12/11 – London, UK – Electrowerkz
13/11 – Manchester, UK – YES
14/11 – Bristol, UK – The Exchange
15/11 – Leeds, UK – Headrow House
16/11 – Glasgow, UK – The Glad Cafe
21/11 – Amsterdam, NL – OT301
22/11 – Brussels, BE – Le Botanique
Tickets for these shows can be found HERE. The latest edition of our print magazine can be found HERE.
