INTERVIEW: The Baroness releases debut single 'Another Day': "Live each day as it comes with passion, gratitude and enthusiasm"
Today marks the release of the debut solo single from Newcastle’s singer songwriter The Baroness (full name Michaela Baranov), ‘Another Day’. Although this is her first solo release, The Baroness has attracted a loyal following thanks to her role as touring vocalist for Australian band Peking Duk, including recently performing with the band in from of 75,000 people at the recent Fire Flght bushfire relief charity concert.
‘Another Day’ is an empowering dancefloor track packed full of 1980s inspired electro and synth beats that The Baroness says was inspired by her love of The Chemical Brothers, Kavinsky, Cyndi Lauper and Whitney Houston. She says she wrote the song “to motivate and stimulate people to live each day as it comes with passion, gratitude and enthusiasm. I wanted the beat to be high energy, fun and infectious and chorus vocals to have a euphoric, sing-along vibe.” it’s an absolutely addictive track that is the feel good banger we all need to get us through self isolation. We recently spoke with The Baroness to find out more.
Hey The Baroness! How is everything going for you in this crazy new world of isolation?!
I’m taking each day as it comes! I’m a hermit at heart and have always spent a lot of time alone. Although it really is a stressful time not knowing what’s next or being able to make proper plans and it’s these times we need others the most so I’m looking forward to physically cuddling my family and friends when isolation is over!
I’ve been doing even more cooking, writing, yoga and YouTube watching than usual and am slowly working through a very procrastinated to-do list around the house! The best way I write is by walking long distances and thankfully outdoor exercise is still allowed in NSW at this point. I think I may lose my mind if this changes!
To start off, let’s take it all the way back to the beginning - what are your first memories of music?
I’ve always been drawn to music. I started singing before I could talk, which was at the age of 3 when I had an operation to allow me to hear properly. Growing up, there was often music playing at home and I learnt how it influences the atmosphere and mood. My parents listened to a wide variety of artists - The Beatles, ABBA, The Corrs, Julio Iglesias, Puccini, Pavarotti and 1920’s jazz bands, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, to name a few, and their eclectic taste definitely rubbed off onto me! I sang in choirs from kindergarten, started playing piano at the age of 11 and picked up the guitar at 13 which led me to writing my own songs.
What steps did you take to get your music career started?
When I was 14 I wanted to really focus on my career as a songwriter. I entered competitions and was fortunate enough to win two in the same year - The John Lennon Songwriting Competition and ACMF National Songwriting Competition. This motivated and encouraged me to keep writing and performing where possible, which at this time was local pubs and small cafes. I was always networking online through Myspace and researching people who were associated with my idols, with the goal to get signed to a label. When I was 20 years old, I decided to throw myself in the ‘deep end’ and venture overseas, originally for 3 months. This turned into 3 years, riding one helluva roller coaster in America, Europe and Dubai - meeting people, writing, performing, learning and living.
Looking back in hindsight, every person I met during this time played a significant part in my journey and by having no particular plan or specific goal while travelling other than meeting people and making music, I seemed to find, or create, my own opportunities.
Your debut solo single ‘Another Day’ is out today and it is amazing! Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind the track?
Yay! Thank you, I’m really really excited about it! I came up with the concept of the song while on my daily walk.
It was the pre-chorus that I actually wrote first -
‘So electric in this headspace, wanna do things you never could explain’.
I was feeling down and anxious at this time and the song was almost like a motivational pep-talk to myself, about shaking off this bad mood and taking control of my thoughts so I wasn’t just living any ordinary day but rather making something out of the day.
What was the ‘behind the scenes’ like for this track – who did you work with, how long did it take to record and so on?
I reached out to Xavier Dunn early last year, as I’d been following his journey as a producer for quite some time. ‘Another Day’ was the second song we began to work on and it really created itself. I had the melody and most lyrics to begin with and he was so great at shaping the idea to give it the right energy and feeling. My main references were Whitney Houston, Chemical Brothers, Cyndi Lauper and Gesaffelstein. I wanted it to have a strong pop beat, electronic elements with the depth of grunge and euphoria that would ignite anyone to break out into a wild dance! We did a bit of experimenting to find the right sounds for production and I think the whole song was finished after 3 studio sessions.
Over the last few years you have been a featured vocalist on a number of tracks, how does the process differ for you as a solo artist as opposed to collaborating?
When writing vocals for someone else’s project, it’s about getting on the same page as them and understanding their vision for the song. I always ask for references to guide my starting point and then it’s a collaborative effort to finish it - I send voice memos of melody and phrasing ideas for them to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to and then come up with lyrics to fit.
If I have suggestions in regards to structure or elements in production, I will always share them but a song can typically evolve in any direction so under these circumstances I let the producer hold the reins. I take on collaborations to learn from others and be challenged creatively along paths I wouldn’t usually travel.
When working on my solo material, I always have references for the production elements and I know the energy and vibe I want the song to encapsulate.
I work with Xavier in the studio to turn the ideas into a ‘tangible’ project and during this process lyrics, melodies, structure and the music all evolve by experimenting and allowing ourselves to ride the creative wave that’s sparked from the initial vision. It’s still 100% a collaboration and team effort. Working on your own material is a more intimate process as you’re putting your heart and soul out there more than ever, so it’s important to feel comfortable, have a great deal of respect and trust in the producer and be willing to let go and take risks so you end up with a song that is true to you, but better than what you had imagined it could be.
You recently performed with Peking Duk at the massive Fire Fight Australia benefit concert. What was that experience like?
An experience I will never forget! Truly so special. I will never forget the tender feeling I had in my chest from the sight of everyone in the stadium soaking up the music, beaming ear to ear and/or crying from overwhelming emotion. It’s moments like the Fire Fight concert that you understand how powerful music can be and it makes me so grateful for being able to connect people and contribute to such magical moments.
Do you have more music to come and can we expect a full EP or album from you soon?
Yes! I’m working on new music, and hoping to release a few more singles later this year.
There has been a lot of debate in the last few years on gender equality in the wake of #metoo. What are your thoughts on sexism and gender equality in the music industry?
I feel the entertainment industry is male dominant, particularly in the realm of producers and live production. Although women have always, and now more than ever are making their mark. Gender doesn’t determine how far one can succeed, it comes down to determination and willingness to learn and evolve.
Every individual has different qualities and I think it’s important to focus on how you can contribute to the world, what you can offer in regards to your passion and also strengthening whatever you may consider your weakness, rather than allowing the opinion or actions of others to stop you.
Society continues to change and there’s always going to be people who want to knock you down for one reason or another. It’s important to let go of these people and surround yourself with those who want to see you achieve.
Do you have any tips or suggestions on how to navigate the new and sometimes scary world of self-isolation and quarantine?
I read a lot of philosophy and do a lot of yoga which I find really helps me manage anxiety and being alone. Activities like sewing, cooking, gardening and cleaning are all forms of meditation which help to clear my mind.
I also keep a daily journal which is just a stream of consciousness. It’s like a conversation with myself and allows me to reflect on experiences to understand the emotions attached. It’s a good way to process feelings and learn more about who you are.
What else is on the agenda for The Baroness in 2020?
I am working on more music with my friend and producer, Xavier Dunn. The ultimate goal is to work on an album, go on tour and also create a seasonal warehouse party that visually and musically takes people to another space, another day.
‘Another Day’ by The Baroness is out now via Central Station Records. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music or Spotify
To keep up with all things The Baroness you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
