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"It's been a really busy couple of years and I was wondering whether or not I should do the Winter Secrets tour this year, but for me it's one of my highlights of what I do. I'm glad we were able to squeeze it in." The ever wonderful Clare Bowditch opens up ahead of her fourth annual 'Winter Secrets Tour' in July and August, which will see the ARIA Award winner touring around the country with fellow Australian music goddess, Adalita.
"We're going to hear some of Adalita's songs," Bowditch says of the current prep for the tour. "She's going to come in and join me for my set as well. We're going to bring the audience in to be involved and it'll probably be a show that is unlike any either of us has done together! We're really excited too. I always learn a lot from the artists that I bring on tour with me for Winter Secrets, so I'm particularly thrilled. I always learn a lot from Adalita, every time that I'm around her. I really can't wait."
Bowditch, who last won hearts of new and old fans alike with her record The Winter I Chose Happiness in 2012, will be bringing her beloved catalogue of music to life once more, though she does note the exciting challenge that has become the song selection for this tour.
"It's fantastic." Bowditch enthuses. "It is becoming more and more challenging, figuring out which songs to choose! One of my favourite songs to play at any show is one from a few albums back called "I Thought You Were God". That's the one that was chosen as the Winter Secrets Competition song this year. I can't wait to hear other people interpret that. I wonder if there's going to be reggae version or a rap version of it, I would highly encourage that! It's nice to be able to let someone show off their talent in front of our audience and it's also fantastic to be able to give away $1000 to someone who probably needs it or would enjoy it. That's part of all the fun for us. The main stuff is about getting everyone involved and having a different kind of show, where there's not that traditional fourth wall between audiences and performer."
Alongside performing and writing new material, Bowditch has thrown her efforts into Big Hearted Business - the project which aims to teach creative people about the business side of the industry while still encouraging their individual artistry. The business, which has generated an insane amount of popularity, understandably, has kept Clare juggling her commitments, but she assures me that this is something she is wholeheartedly passionate about.
"I'm preparing to begin recording a new album later in the year, so that's always on my mind." she begins. "I'm writing, writing, writing at the moment and seeing which ones are working. We're going to try some new stuff out on the road. A lot of my life is dominated by my love project, which is Big Hearted Business. That website has gone bonkers and the events which we've done...people seem to be really building communities based around the ideas that we're talking about. We're obviously not the only ones in the world who felt the way we did about art and about artists and creativity. It's really exciting. A lot of my time is at a desk, editing!"
So how exactly does Clare do it all? A woman in the music industry who has remained at the fore of the country's best singer songwriters, businesswoman and general brilliant lady and performer - how does Bowditch manage to keep all plates spinning? Easy, she says 'no'. A two letter word that seems quite simple enough, is sometimes one of the hardest things to utter, especially in an industry where opportunities may often seem quite fickle, Bowditch quite confidently says how she reached this point of contentedness amongst the chaos.
"There is actually no balance!" she laughs. "This generation of parents and creative have been fed this thing of there is some kind of place of balance in life and I've just never hit it! Sometimes it's insane, sometimes it's peaceful. If it's too insane, you've got to make it peaceful. I think it's one of the things that is missing from politics. You have to take time to reflect. If you're so busy all the time, the thing that is precious about our art or our unique perspective on the world just dries up. I am constantly working to be less busy, obviously, and it just does not work out! I tour a lot less than I used to at the moment, quite consciously and I say no to things that I'm asked to do. I just have to."
"To have the courage to determine your own life rather than just go with the opportunities as they come, it's not possible to say yes to everything without saying no to something and very often, we're saying no to the possibility of happiness and to our artistry and our families. The things that make us happy. That was a really clear realisation during The Winter I Chose Happiness, writing that. I don't do it anymore, nor do I feel bad about it anymore!"
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CLARE BOWDITCH & ADALITA - THE WINTER SECRETS TOUR
Tickets on sale now
Friday 11 July - TAS - Festival of Voices Tasmania, Federation Concert Hall
Thursday 17 July - VIC - Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
Friday 18 July - VIC – The Corner Hotel, Richmond
Friday 25 July - SA - The Gov, Adelaide
Saturday 2 August - NSW - Factory Theatre, Sydney
Friday 8 August - QLD – Brisbane Powerhouse
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