Vale Heidi; Now, A Season Of Verses
July 30, 2010In their teens, Ella and Jesse Hooper ruled Australian music as Killing Heidi. They tell Jonathan Alley about their contemplative new music project, The Verses.
The Verses is a different ballgame: not Killing Heidi 2.0. Ella: “There’s a funny thing about The Verses. Will we appeal to the old-school adult contemporary crowd, or old Killing Heidi fans, or both? It’s a nervous time. These songs had a different flavour and tone; they come from a different time in our lives. Not looking back on ‘teenage angst’: this is getting into your 20s.”
It couldn’t strictly be termed ‘country’, but there’s a lurking twang on Seasons. Ella: “When I was younger, my dad used to say, ‘El, I think one day you’ll do a country album. I’d say SHUT UP, there’s no way I’ll EVER do that!’ I was too young to understand how beautiful that genre could be; here I am at 27 and it’s definitely one of my favourite, heartfelt styles of music.”
The first live shows for The Verses were a national support slot for a reformed Fleetwood Mac. Jesse: “It was amazing fun. We met Mick (Fleetwood) a few times, and had a good sit-down with Stevie (Nicks).They were really impressive – night after night.” Ella: “I pinched myself! I was like ‘I just walked past Stevie Nicks. What is going on?’ It was a lovely sign from the cosmos that we’re on the right track!”
The Verses are not immune to pop. Or for that matter, oddball cover versions. Ella: “We’ve just worked up Ladyhawke’s My Delirium into our live set. It’s quite ‘Townes Van Zandt-y’; a dark, country version, but with a kooky keyboard line. We slow it down and trip it out. The song works in any format: like a good pop song should!”
Music’s been very good to the Hoopers. Ella:“It’s a great job for personal development. Some say it retards you, you live in this fantasy land. But you see pretty wild stuff. It’s taught me acceptance. Life’s an adventure; you have to keep an inquisitive nature.” Jesse: “It’s defined who I am. I’ve loved growing up with the freedom to play music.”
Seasons by The Verses is available now via Warner.
