Performance Of The Day: "How To Be Your Own Person" by Kat Frankie

11th November 2019 //

Hey everyone!

If you're looking for a bit of magic on a grey November day, look no further.

We love finding performances online which leave us feeling blown away by the talent and the pure magic of it.
Sure, magic can sound like such a cheesy word, but we dare you to watch to the video and find a better word.

We're like giddy little kids here because we can't wait to hear what you all think.

- Performance Of The Day -
"How To Be Your Own Person" by Kat Frankie


Kat Frankie is a musician based in Berlin, Germany.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Kat found inspiration in artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, Bread, Carly Simon and more.

With a love for melodies she taught herself how to play the guitar and things developed from there.
She started performing in 2002, released her debut EP in 2003 but couldn't fully focus on music back then.
Instead she made a living by working as an interior architect before then moving to Berlin in 2004 where she found a welcoming music community.

Ever since she's been writing, recording, touring, collaborating with other musicians and has kept on releasing albums and EPs.

Releases:
EP: "Outside" (2003)
LP: "Pocketknife" (2007)
LP: "The Dance of a Strange Heart" (2010)
LP: "Please Don't Give Me What I Want" (2012)
LP: "Bad Behaviour" (2018)

And now Kat Frankie is about to release the "BODIES" EP, out on December 13th. The first single off of it, "How To Be Your Own Person" is already out.


The brilliant folks at small sessions have captured a gorgeous performance of the song.

The beauty of a cappella performances is something that just feels so unique.
Kat Frankie and her group of musicians have performed "How To Be Your Own Person" just pulls you in and keeps your attention throughout.

The vocals are the main instruments and the percussions are the only supporting elements.
Now, just reading that might make one thing it's a very simply arranged track, but it's not. The amount of details and the cleverly layered vocals make the track a magical journey to listen to.

We usually don't give advice when listening to music, but try to listen to every detail, every vocal, every clap and see just how much you can discover.


Watch the performance right here:




- stream "How To Be Your Own Person" -



Kat Frankie online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Timothy Wiehn

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Video Interview: Dean Lewis

Hey everyone!

Dean Lewis' music is everywhere - whether that's on the radio or on the hundreds of playlists all across Spotify & co.
And his vivid and relatable tracks have earned every single spin & spot.

With honest lyrics and beautiful compositions, it's really no surprise that music fans all over the world turn to Dean's music for understanding and comfort.

The singer/songwriter from Sydney, Australia had his first success with his debut single, "Waves", a stunning yet heartbreaking track, released in 2016.
Since then Dean has been writing and recording, honing his craft and finding out who he is as an artist.

He returned with "Be Alright" and took over the world by storm, paving the way for his debut album, "A Place We Knew", which was released in March of 2019.

Now on his lenghty tour which is going to lead right into festival season, Dean gets to share his music journey with all those who support him.

It is, without a doubt, a big and busy time for him and we're so thrilled to see what's next.

HITS host Vanessa got to chat with Dean about journaling, movie soundtracks, what his 5 year-old self would tell him and a lot more.


Watch our conversation with Dean right here:




Massive thank you to Dean for this super lovely chat, it was a blast!
And thank you to Universal Music Germany for setting this up for us.



Watch the music video for Dean's new single, "7 Minutes", right here:




Dean Lewis online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Video: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Universal Music

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Interview: Didirri

Hey everyone!

There are a few things we want to do more of in 2019.
We focused a lot on learning more about particular songs and albums last year - and we still aim to do that in the future.

But we didn't put as much focus on the brilliant artists that create those songs we love so much.
So this year we will be shining all the spotlights on the fantastic creators we come across.

We hope you're ready for it!

Today we're excited to share our conversation with the brilliant Didirri.


Didirri is a musician from Melbourne, Australia.

Ever since starting out, Didirri has managed to achieve big things; such as selling out two headline tours in 2017, supporting acts like Tash Sultana, Vance Joy, The Jezabels and The Temper Trap, and on top of that he sold out his first ever show in London at Shacklewell Arms.

Besides all of that, the young musician also played Fairgrounds Festival, Grampians Festival, Boogie Fest and NYE On The Hill.

Didirri switches between playing with a full band and playing solo shows. The latter providing a lot of intimacy, while the full band shows hit you with all the depth his music has to offer.

His debut EP, "Measurements", was released in July of 2018 and has convinced music fans all over the world of Didirri's talent.
Whether it's the dreamy "I Can't Get Last Night Out Of My Head" or the historical "Formaldehyde",
these songs quickly became staples for multiple playlists.





Didirri online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram


Find out what Didirri told us about his track "Formaldehyde", recording his EP, supporting Vance Joy, bad advice and a lot more. 


house in the sand: Hey Didirri! Thanks so much for taking the time to have a little chat.
How are you?

Didirri: Living life, loving it sometimes.

HITS: Do you find that writing music helps you to process things you go through? Or do you start writing about experiences once you've actually processed them?

Didirri: A little bit of column A, little bit of column B really. Healthy reflection through song is defnitely part of my writing process, as it is expression of emotion as it comes to me.

HITS: We absolute love your track "Formaldehyde" and the story behind it.
We'd love for you to share the writing process of it with out readers.

Didirri: It is an exploration of the infertility of Frida Kahlo and the plight of many women who have dealt with the inability to bring a child to full-term. I wanted to express my admiration for those powerful women who can turn something as painful as losing a child into art for others to reflect on.
It is supposed to express the anger of being out of control and the need to hold onto something painful for the sake of processing properly.



HITS: Rumour has it you've ended up laying under a piano, playing the clarinette while recording the EP.
How did that come about? And are there any other unexpected techniques we can hear on the EP?

Didirri: My producer and I are both very into folly rooms, the experimentation on the EP is due to a lack of sleep and an excavation of interesting sound. We likened the EP to sculpting sound, rather than painting it. Creating an excess of sonic qualities and then carving away the shitty ones. We wanted to create a space that was intriguing but still speaking to the songs.

HITS: You've played a bunch of shows for SofarSounds, which is such a cool concept, especially for the listeners.
But what was it like for you to play songs in such intimate settings?

Didirri: Incredibly exposing, confronting to my songwriting. But ultimately intimate and wonderful.

HITS: Probably a complete contrast to that was supporting Vance Joy at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne - so what was that experience like?

Didirri: It is a sea of delayed reaction magnified by the immensity of the crowd. Every single joke, every single line, every single moment lasts at least 30 times as long.

HITS: On Twitter you wrote, "I write songs to give myself advice, and hopefully others.", so what was the best advice you've given yourself?

Didirri: If you have a Plan B, you don't believe in Plan A. When Plan A fails, make a new Plan A.

HITS: And again, another contrast - what was the worst piece of advice you've ever gotten?

Didirri: Music is fun, but remember you aren't helping people, do something worthy with your life.

HITS: Your music is obviously featured on a bunch of playlist - but who is currently on your playlist? Any cool acts or tracks you might like to share with us?

Didirri: Oh pep! Bon Iver. Billie Eilish. Blake Mills. Julia Jacklin. Ro. Canary.

HITS: And the final question: we've built a house in the sand - if you could build a house anywhere in the world, where would you build it?

Didirri: The cobbled streets of Barcelona. I think it has my heart.


We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Didirri!
Make sure to check out his music.





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Questions: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Ian Laidlaw | Answers: Didirri

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7 songs: Jackson Dyer

Hey guys!

It's a Monday and I'm super stoked!
I've had some juicy pineapple for breakfast, the sun is shining, I'm blasting my favourite songs AND (drum roll, please!) the "7 songs" are back.

It's been a while and I've just realised how much I've missed the feature.
I love love love finding out what everyone listens to, but combining that with finding out why they love the songs and what they connect with them just takes things to another level.

So I'm not going to waste any more time - because we've got tunes to listen to!


Today our guest Jackson Dyer treats us to a brilliant playlist, so let's get to know him!


Jackson Dyer is a singer/songwriter originally from Sydney (AUS), now based in Berlin (GER).

His sound intertwines the classic singer/songwriter elements, Soul and Alternative with such grace.
He spent years playing his music on the streets and stages of Europe, played tons of festivals and supported acts such as Hozier, Hiatus Kaiyote, Mighty Oaks and Alice Phoebe Lou.

After all of that, he went back home to Australia to write and record his debut album. In a calming town in Northern NSW, he produced and created what we are about to hear - so buckle up and prepare for some Australian landscape inspired sounds.


In case you are Berlin based, lucky you - you've got the chance to see Jackson live at Baumhaus Bar on July 26th - here's the event.


Check out Jackson's performance of his song "Steal Away" here:




Jackson Dyer online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram


Let's check out Jackson's selection!

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1) a song which makes you dance

"Pull Up To The Bumper" by Grace Jones

When I was a kid, my family would go on holidays to a small beachside town north of Sydney.
My Aunty and my Mum would often sing this song at the top of their voices and my cousins and I would think it is incredibly embarrassing.
 Now, whenever I hear this song, I am the one embarrassing whoever is close by with my "dancing".


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2) a song that calms you down
"Canto de Xangô" by Fabiano do Nascimento

This man makes some incredibly beautiful music and this whole album, "Tempo Dos Mestres", is one of my favourites at the moment. One of those timeless releases that speak directly to the soul.


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3) a song with a deep meaning
"re: Stacks" by Bon Iver

This song has accompanied me through many hard and also incredibly positive times.
Every time I listen to it, I can hear something different in the lyrics and production.


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4) a song that makes you feel nostalgic
"If You Got The Money" by Jamie T

Reminds me of simpler times when I was younger and had just discovered the joys and pitfalls of an ice cold beer, haha.


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5) a song which has accompanied you for a while
"Velvet Gloves & Spit" by Timber Timbre

This song has only been out for about a year, but it has been on high rotation at home and I think it will be a favourite for a long time to come.


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6) a song from your favourite genre
"Wililé" by Fatoumata Diawara

I don't really have a particular "favourite genre", but I've really been enjoying Malian and West African folky/blues music for a while. I remember seeing Fatoumata Diawara perform a while ago and it sparked an intense interest in the beautiful music from this part of the world.


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7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you
"If You Need To, Keep Time On Me" by Fleet Foxes

When Fleet Foxes announced that they were releasing a new album after a 6 year hiatus, I was super surprised and excited, as I thought that they'd never release any music again and that I'd never get to see them play live.
I was over the moon when I was able to see them last year for the first time!


________________________________________________________________________________________________________


And that's it!
Did you enjoy Jackson's playlist?
Let us know in the comment or our social media channels.



Previous 7 songs features: Simon Alexander | GOUX | Meadowlark | Arlissa




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words (Intro & Outro): Vanessa Jetwash | Words (about songs) & Image: Jackson Dyer

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Gig Photos: Kat Frankie at ClubCANN in Stuttgart

Hey guys!

Here's the thing - being a music photographer is mega cool but it comes with a lot of tricky tasks.

The trickiest one?
For me it's not taking a million photos during a gig.

Some venues and artists allow you to photograph an entire set - and whenever that's the case,
I'll take the opportunity.
The latest full show I got to photograph was Kat Frankie's show in Stuttgart.

I was introduce to Kat's music towards the end of 2017 and immediately added her songs to my playlists.
There is something so refreshing and excitingly honest about her sound that convinced me in a heartbeat.

So yeah, below are way too many photos, but let's just go with it and pretend photo floods are normal.


If you feel like saying hi to me, here are my links:
website | twitter | facebook | instagram

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Date: 6th March 2018
Venue: ClubCANN, Stuttgart (GER)

Support Act: Charlotte Brandi


Charlotte Brandi and her two backing musicians did an incredible job starting the evening in such gentle and enchanting way.

You could tell that there was so much meaning and passion in the songs they've played and it was so wonderful to witness.

The crowd really listened to every track and noticed the details in the songs, and the trio was really the perfect choice to start the night.





Charlotte Brandi online: Facebook | Instagram



























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Headliner: Kat Frankie


All it took was a little hand motion from Kat and the entire crowd eagerly took a big step forward and closed the gap between the stage and audience.

The Berlin based musician, originally from Sydney, Australia, had full control of the room for the entire evening.
Opening with the hypnotizing "Swallow You Whole", Kat and her band started the night with a bang.

It's easy to just get lost in the music the band provides you with, switching from ballads to uptempo tracks. One element that appears to be the thread of the entire set are the harmonies that the band delivered so seemingly effortlessly.
The interaction between Kat and the band members was flawless and such a joy to witness.
Everyone was on their A-game and the audience appreciated it to the fullest, cheering, clapping and dancing along.

Kat's way of working a crowd is so simple and charming, telling stories in between songs and making jokes here and there.

Tracks like "Please Don't Give Me What I Want" and "Bad Behaviour" had the fans hollering with joy, whilst ballads such as "Finite" left everyone admiring the magic that was happening on stage.

I could go on and on writing about this gig, but it would mainly just be me telling you how fantastic it was.
Sometimes those shows that made you really happy, are the hardest to write about.


So instead, please check out the photos and make sure to listen to Kat's music whilst you're at it.





Kat Frankie online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram





























































































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And there we go - those are our photos from the show.


Drop us a line to let us know what you think,
and of course - feel free to stay in touch via Instagram.





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Photography: Vanessa Jetwash | **tickets have kindly been provided**

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