Sweet Jean
Image: Sunshine Coast Pride 2013
When it comes to creating anything artistic, it is vital to reflect often on one’s past work to evaluate and evolve moving forward. Sime Nugent, one half of duo Sweet Jean with Alice Keath, explained that this process was a big factor which influenced their new album Monday To Friday.
“It’s a matter of everything becoming some kind of reaction to the last thing you did, which for us was an EP of really gothic old folk music. So for this record we really just wanted to trust our instincts and move into unknown territory by writing in a different style.”
This approach has seen the pair “leaving the banjo in the cupboard” and instead employing more synth and electric guitars while writing about things happening around them in their everyday life.
In saying that they are writing about everyday life it’s important to point out that the band’s storytelling hasn’t become mundane, rather they are still exploring more philosophical elements as well. “On this album we’ve spoken about ‘where do we get that sense of wonder once you’ve had some of the bubbles burst around you?’” detailed Nugent. “There are songs on the record about very immediate things, such as getting a taxi on a Friday night, but also really gargantuan things like landing a space ship on a comet.”
By writing in this more freeing manner the pair are enjoying themselves much more on stage. “We’re having a great time playing these songs and I think that comes through in our live show,” said Nugent.
As part of the promotional efforts for the record Nugent worked closely another creative in Pier Carthew to produce the music video for single ‘Main Street’. “It’s always dangerous putting a musician in-front of a camera and asking them to act so it was great having Pier there because he kept us on a tight leash, mainly trying to stop us laughing too often.”
For anybody still on the fence about heading out to see Sweet Jean, Sime recommends that you can get a test of what to expect by heading to their website where you can sign up to the mailing list and receive a free download of an exclusive cover version of Womack and Womack’s ‘Teardrops’, which is track they otherwise only play live.
Aug 4, 9pm. Brighton Up Bar, 77 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $15+b.f. Tickets & info: brightonupbar.com.au or sweetjeanmusic.com
