Ella Hooper is Older, Wiser and Still Having Fun

Ella Hooper is ushering in a new era with the release of her fourth solo album, Overnight Success.

Going back to her musical roots, Hooper recorded much of the album in Nashville, the home of country music, with an array of talented musicians and producers.

The result is 11 intimate tracks, including singles 'Growing Up Is Hard To Do', 'I Got (Eyes On You)', 'When The Shit Went Down' and 'Cowboy Man ', that are a reflection of who Hooper is, which in her own words is "cheeky, broken, re-made, older, wiser, but - still fun".

Ahead of the album's release, and Hooper's Adelaide show at Trinity Sessions this Sunday 4 October, we fired off a few questions at the Killing Heidi vocalist about her new solo record, her experience in Nashville and how excited she is to play the songs from Overnight Success for fans.

Let's get stuck into your new album, Overnight Success. You've embraced country music for the release. Have you always been a big country fan, and are there any artists who inspired you?

Absolutely. I've always been a country fan, and especially alt-country and Americana. My dad's record collection was the best of the best of those genres, and it was in my DNA from day one. I also grew up in super regional country Victoria, so country music was around me from the beginning.

I love great storytelling and singers who can really inhabit their lyrics, and there's a lot of that in country. Singers like Linda Ronstadt, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, Gram Parsons, Iris deMent. I also love the humour and the looseness that can exist within the genre. It doesn't always take itself too seriously.

While some people might be surprised by your turn to country, there have always been signs in your previous releases. Do you think Overnight Success is an evolution of your sound and reflects the person you are at this point in your life?

Definitely. I don't really see it as a sudden turn towards country so much as following a thread that's always been there and finally letting it off the leash. I've always loved twang, big melodies, harmony and storytelling, and I think I'm just more comfortable now with trusting my instincts. There's so much freedom that comes with getting older; you care less about what you're "supposed" to do and sound like and more about what feels good. What works. Overnight Success feels very much like me, at this point in my life. Hopefully that reads as reflective, cheeky, broken, re-made, older, wiser, but still fun.

You recorded much of the album in Nashville, the home of country music. Why did you decide to record there, and how did that impact the sound and make-up of Overnight Success?

This was a long-held dream of mine! To record in Nashville. The city is muso mecca due to its extraordinary pool of musicians, writers and producers, and in the RIGHT room and circles, there's a culture of serving the song rather than trying to make a hit. I love that. Recording there also meant I got to work with people I really admired, and the musicianship is just ridiculous. You can mention a sound, and someone will walk in and just play it beautifully. It definitely pushed the record into a more polished, expansive, earthy, Americana space.

Having recently visited Nashville myself this year, I was blown away by the number of incredible artists I saw. Did you discover any new talents while there, and did you get to immerse yourself in the scene and play any gigs?

I know, right?! It's so crazy how you can walk into a tiny bar on a Tuesday night and hear someone who could absolutely headline a festival. The best of the best in the whole world hang out there and often play for free just cause they want to keep their chops sharp.

I don't play much while I'm there cause I don't have the right VISA, yet, but I do writers' rounds, etc., and have discovered so many artists through hanging out and doing those – recently, Bobby Dove, Charlie Treat, Michaela Ann, but a young Appalachian banjo-grunge goddess, Angela Autumn, is my number one hot tip.

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You collaborated with a host of well-respected musicians and producers on the record. Take your single 'When The Shit Went Down'. LOLLIES, Jon Estes and Trevor Bahnson all had a hand in creating that song. What was it like working with all these legends, and did it give you confidence to know that you were on the right track with the songs you were making?

It was pretty bloody special. The great thing about Nashville is that everyone is very focused on the song. Even though you have some INCREDIBLE Grammy-winning writers and players in the room – some living legends like Dan Dougmore, who played all the pedal steel on Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor's records – they aren't actually big ego people. I actually find the bigger the name, the chiller the vibe, as they've already proven themselves, maybe. But it does blow me away, the fact that someone like Dan is just sitting there playing all over the songs I wrote in little old Violet Town! Crazy. You know you’re onto something when the right people start adding their ultra pro magic and the songs get bigger without losing their heart.

It sounds like you really put everything into this album. How proud are you of Overnight Success? Do you think this is the best work you’ve done?

I'm incredibly proud of it. I think every record you make is a snapshot of who you are at that moment, so I try not to rank them too much. But I do feel like this one captures me particularly well and is some kind of step forward? It's got the experience of the records that came before it, but a lightness and confidence to it that I wanted to achieve. Don't get me wrong, it took an army of helpers, a tonne of money, willpower, blood, sweat and tears, and a few mini-nervous breakdowns along the way to get it done and make it appear effortless, but it has turned out to be worth it, thank GOD!

What's the biggest lesson you learned during the making of Overnight Success?

Trust your gut. I know that sounds like a cliché, but it took me a long time to properly understand it. The moments on this record that feel most alive are generally the ones where I stopped worrying about whether something was cool enough, commercial enough, too commercial, or "me" enough and just followed instinct. That meant tearing some stuff apart and starting again sometimes, which is heartbreaking when you've just spent days and thousands doing something, but you just know it’s not quite right.

Country seems to be everywhere these days. Why do you think the genre has had a resurgence in recent years?

I think country has always been there, but people are hearing how broad the genre can actually be. It can be heartbreaking, hilarious, sexy, political, weird, poppy, punky or completely traditional. There's room for a lot of different voices. I also think people are craving songs with characters and stories in them, music that feels human and specific. Country is very good at that. It's the people's music – it ain't fancy! 

If you had to pick just one country song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Oh god. I could never actually choose...but I'm going to say Iris deMents's 'My Life'. 

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You're taking Overnight Success on the road this October. Are you pumped for fans to hear the new songs live?

Very! This record was made with live energy in mind, so I'm really looking forward to getting these songs out of the studio and into a room full of people. We are ready to unleash swagger, heartbreak, humour and big choruses! I also think the new stuff will sit well with the older material. After spending so much time making the record, there’s nothing better than finally getting to play it loudly with other humans! That is the real reward. 

You're also playing several intimate, iconic venues. Was this a choice, and if so, what was the reason behind this?

Yes, definitely. I love a big show, but there's something incredibly special about being close enough to see people's faces. The songs on this record have a lot of detail in them, and I wanted to create shows where there's room for the quieter moments as well as the big, rowdy ones. Some of my favourite gigs have been in slightly ramshackle, beautiful old rooms where you can really feel the history of the place.

Ruby Mae is supporting. What is it about her music that made you want her to join you on tour?

Ruby is a fantastic songwriter, and she has that quality I'm always drawn to: authenticity. She sounds completely like herself. I love the warmth and honesty in her music, but she's also got plenty of personality and sass (I mean, one of her big singles is called 'Dickhead'), which will really complement my vibe. I think she’ll be a beautiful fit for these shows and I can't wait to have her along. 

What can we expect from your live show?

Hopefully a good time! There'll be ballads, big choruses, a bit of twang, some older favourites and as always, a lot of talking and storytelling from me. I've been doing this since I was 13, but I still really love the physical, slightly unpredictable nature of playing live. I want people to leave feeling like they've been somewhere, experienced something with me, not just watched something passively. So, don't be scared to get involved!

Once the album is out and the tour is done, what's next for Ella Hooper?

A little bit of everything, really! Lots more touring is first up. I've got the Red Hot Summer Tour, then a few festivals with KH, then a break, then I support Sixpence None The Richer all over Aus, then I'll head back to the US to keep building the Nashville side of things. I've also got ideas around broadcasting and podcasts, etc., so I'll keep following those threads too. The nice thing about being this far into my career is that I don't feel like I have to choose just one lane. I make records, go on adventures, tell stories and see where it all takes me!

Overnight Success is out Friday 2 October. Pre-order here. Catch Ella Hooper performing at Trinity Sessions on Sunday 4 October. Tickets on sale now via ellahooper.com.