“I can’t live without ARIAs! We’ve only got two – I need at least 24 more before I mean anything.”
CLARE BOWDITCH must be some kind of superwoman. There’s no other possible explanation for how the gorgeous redhead finds the time not only to write and tour her beautifully crafted albums, but question senior political figures on a variety of important social issues in her spare time and, on top of that, raise a family of three young children. Clare squeezed me in between loads of washing to discuss politics, technology, her stunning new album Modern Day Addiction and the three ARIA nominations she’s received because of it.
Bowditch, like many of us, was swept up by the soap opera that was this year’s federal election. Some of her more casual fans might be surprised to hear that her recent pre-election appearance on popular ABC panel programme Q&A, voicing her opinion on topics including the proposed mining tax, wasn’t Clare’s first public foray into the political domain. She has somewhat of a history of hobnobbing with political leaders; pressing former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks for an increase to arts funding over afternoon tea a few years ago and, more recently, conducting an hour long interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard for MySpace. So, did she convince the PM to really open up, one ranga to another?
“She’s a very clever communicator,” Clare reveals. “But she was tired and it was a long interview. There were a few points where she veered onto the party line [but] I got a hopeful glimpse of who she is and it was enough for me to not feel as despairing as I had going into the election.”
After tackling more serious issues like mental health and gay marriage, the interview took on a lighter tone when the PM dished out a master class in her famous ‘karate hands’ manoeuvre. Clare is clearly an avid student, as evidenced by her near perfect impersonation of Gillard on Good News Week.
Karate CHOP!
With her powerful singing voice, red hair and ability to impersonate Gillard’s voice and mannerisms, I put it to Clare that come the end of Gillard’s reign in The Lodge, whenever that may be, there would be no person more suited to play the role of the PM in a politically inspired production in the same vein as Keating! The Musical than her. She agrees, laughing, “Look, I might ring Casey Bennetto personally and put that to him because,” she says, pausing to put on her best Gillard voice, “I think you’ve got a point.”
While on the subject of politics, the conversation veers to fellow musician turned Environment Minister, Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett. “I have some sympathy and compassion for Garrett and the situation that he’s in, where he’s gone in there and attempted to change it from the inside,” Clare says. “It’s been a problematic transition, a lot of people feel he’s lost his voice, but as a human being he was attempting to do something substantial, so I admire that.”
And given her own political interest, would Bowditch ever entertain the idea of running for Parliament herself? “I would consider running as an independent at some later stage in my life,” she concedes. “If I really felt strongly about it and wanted to basically give up my life, because that’s what it comes down to. But right now I am too enthralled with my children, my husband, my songwriting and my fun to consider that.”
One slightly less demanding activity Clare does manage to fit into her busy schedule is time to connect with her fans via Twitter. “I spend a few moments of concentrated effort on Twitter every day,” she says. “If I have a thought or see something that inspires me, I want to pass it on and that’s what Twitter is incredible for.” Though she does admit that it’s easy to become addicted. “I’ve had times where I’ve really got hooked into using it constantly. So it can spin into a modern day addiction in five minutes flat.”
While I congratulate her on a magnificent lead in to talking about her new album (“What a segue,” she exclaims. “Woo!”), Clare elaborates on the experiment that she and her bandmates undertook to explore the themes on Modern Day Addiction. “I gave up technology after hours, so [part] of that was Twitter and I was challenged to the max. It was the same week I was invited to interview the PM – I wanted to make the most thorough set of discussion topics that I could and it was a real challenge because my nights are the time where I catch up on my work.”
All of Clare’s hard work on Modern Day Addiction appears to now be paying off, as she recently scored three nominations for the upcoming ARIA Awards. I begin to question her about how important such awards are, but before I can finish my sentence she jumps in, interrupting and shouting “Imperative! Imperative! I can’t live without ARIAs!” she laughs. “More, more, more! We’ve only got two in our family – I need at least 24 more before I mean anything.”
Jokes aside, one of the more serious aspects of the ARIAs is the red carpet fashion. Last year Clare turned up to the awards wearing a dress entirely made out of garbage bags, in an attempt to draw attention to environmental issues. “I dressed up as Lady Bowdo, my superego,” Clare smirks. “I think that went down pretty well.” I enquire as to whether she might take a leaf out of Lady Gaga’s book for this year’s event and wear something from her local deli instead. “I was going to do a sausage dress,” she responds. “But no, Gaga beat me to it. Fuckin’ Gaga – always in my way.” Though perhaps, given the balancing act she performs between being a musician, a political commentator and a mother, a more appropriate choice of attire would be the cape of a superhero.
Lady Bowdo: cleaning up red carpets everywhere.
Clare Bowditch and the New Slang are currently touring around the country, including stops in Sydney at The Metro Theatre on Saturday October 23, Canberra at Stonefest at the UC on Saturday October 30 and in Melbourne at The Forum Theatre on Monday November 1.
Have a listen to Clare's awesomely catchy The Start of War below.
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