Magic Dirt
by Kata
Gellong four-piece Magic Dirt burst onto the Aussie rock scene eight years ago. Currently onto album number three, they continue to explore and push the boundaries of their experimental rock sounds that, since the release the 1994 EP, ‘Life was Better’ has provided a favourite to music lovers. They have already toured in Europe and the United States, supporting bands like Jebediah and Powderfinger. Adalita, Magic Dirt’s front-person, guitarist and all-round cool girl who likes integrity, open-mindedness and real punk rock, took the time to chat with us. In our exclusive interview she tackles everything from the problem of animal cruelty and oppression to personal behind-the-scenes dirt on the Dirt. So, come on, get messy with us . . .
Adalita- guitars and vocals
Dean Turner - bass and vocals
Adam Robertson - drums
Raul Sanchez - guitars
Who are some of your influences?
There are so many influences, not just music and one of the biggest is my own life.
What bands are you currently listen to?
PJ Harvey, At The Drive-In, Tchaikovsky, traditional Japanese instrumental music and anything that is around the stereo. We have so much music in our house, it’s bulging and oozing out the seams.
What first motivated you to take up your particular instrument and play music?
 I can honestly say it was a gut instinct. I don’t know what got into me but one day I begged my mum to buy me an acoustic guitar. I don’t know what possessed me and I still quiz it today. I bought a simple guitar lesson book and it took me ages to make anything sound good. It was so hard at the start, my fingers would get so sore and I wonder what made me continue with it. Then I bought an electric guitar and I still remember how excited I was. So excited that when I got the guitar and the little practice amp home, I had no idea why it wouldn’t work. I knew so little about guitars that I didn’t realise I needed a lead for the guitar to the amp. Then I just got obsessed with playing the guitar everyday. I had a little, crappy tape recorder and I taped anything I thought sounded good. It was so my world back then. My guitar was everything to me. When I got to the hard chapters in the lesson book I shut it and made up my own chords to suit my skill level and I never opened the book again. Instead I learnt off my friends, who were also in their own bands.
Describe the music scene in your area, and how it has either helped or hindered your band.
It was such a great scene to be in because everyone was learning and everyone wanted to play punk rock ‘n’ roll. You know, real punk rock. And we’d form little bands and jam in our rooms for hours on the one song. As long as you made some sort of noise people would listen and if you weren’t too crap they’d jump up and down and throw cans at you in appreciation. Where we lived was like a mini Detroit and Geelong in the late 80’s to early 90’s loved its Stooges and MC5 and Sabbath and you get the picture. It was so much fun. The heady days. I covered most of it above but I must also say that when we got hyped and we’re fairly popular, there was a different vibe in our scene. Our music friends treated us with contempt and said we had sold out. There was a terrible case of the Tall Poppy Syndrome and we were distressed about it all. Our own mates! But you just get over it and get on with the job. Our actual home town, Geelong, on the whole are really quite proud of us and always gets mushy when we do well, ie: - the local paper. Most of us live in the big smoke now and most of those that were unkind to us years ago have changed their tune and are complimentary now. I don’t give a flying fuck anymore what anyone thinks of my band. If I let it get to me it gets me down, so there’s no use even thinking about it. Just get busy and get on with the job of creating music. What better way to spend my time.
What advice would you give anyone trying to start a band? From around here I guess.
Make sure everyone in the band is communicating. It’s no good if no-one knows what the other is on about or wants. Jam heaps and don’t get discouraged if you don’t come up with anything good all the time. That’s unrealistic because the nature of inspiration is so fleeting and to capture it, simultaneously, with other people is no mean feat. Don’t be too hard on yourself/selves. It takes a lot of work and you may experience setbacks. Look at these as challenges and how you’re gonna find a solution. Have fun. Remember you’re doing it for the love of it and that’s the main thing. Make sure you all get along fairly well and you all ‘click’. Talk about lots of stuff, even fame and money because it can come upon you sooner than you think, if that’s what you want. Practice, practice, practice. Play any gig you can get. The smallest, crappest venue or time slot can be life-changing. Take every opportunity that reveals itself but always be aware. Listen, look, ask, make contacts, follow your gut instinct. And if you feel you are being treated unfairly, talk with your band members and other people you trust and take appropriate action and let the asshole/s know that you will not have a bar of it. No fucking way. But definitely, follow your heart and always dream big. But remember, in reality it may take a while. Never give up. Give it your all. You’ll need to think positive and feel confident and sweat a lot. It’s fucking hard work most of the time but then there’s those times when you will, say, do an awesome gig and it’s all worth it. Be yourself and everything else will fall into place. Because you are all unique and have special talents and can offer so much so it’s no use trying to be something you are not. And that’s where you will get your confidence from. From being yourself and working hard and having fun. So what are you waiting for?
What sort of interest do you have outside of playing?
 Music is my life at the moment and will be for a while. It’s all I do and wanna do but sometimes my social life suffers a little but my friends are sympathetic towards my lifestyle. So really when I get some time off it’s amazing because I can do things like hang out with my friends, cook proper meals at home or read a book or clean my bedroom or go to the beach. But my main interest outside of the band is conservation and animals. We are all nature kids. We adore the land and we do heaps of things to help restore and protect the earth’s animals and plants and oceans and forests.
How many tattoos do you have? Where are they located and what are they tattoos of?
I have a dragon tattoo on my right shoulder. I love dragons. I also have an old school tattoo of the classic bluebird on my left shoulder with a Japanese character underneath that means ‘to be different, to be special, to excel’. My newest tattoo is of a black wolf howling at the moon on my left arm under the bluebird. I’m definitely getting more.
How do your songs usually evolve? What do you think each member of ‘Magic Dirt’ brings to the mix?
There are some songs that definitely are ever evolving and they never stop. I love it when songs take on a life of their own. I personally prefer it that way, when the song grabs me and demands to come into existence. For me it’s a very mysterious process, such a puzzle when I think back and try to work out where a particular song came from and it’s difficult to pinpoint. But that’s the beauty of inspiration- it’s here and then it’s gone. Songs are like gifts. They’re gifts and sometimes they’re little brats. Songs definitely have personalities and sometimes you think you’ve got it and then it slips out of you’re hands. Like, for instance, when we tried to record the track „Competition Girl" for our latest record, it just refused to be recorded. It was like „ Na, not today!". Same for „ Pace It". I love it when I feel that familiar lump in my soul, when there’s a song waiting to burst out. I’ll usually make up the bones of a song, like the lyrics and the chord progressions and then I’ll take it to the boys and they will make something up that goes with it. Everyone plays such an integral part. We would be nothing without each other. Dean is better at arranging songs than me and everyone has their own special qualities that help to construct the song. Sometimes I think that the song has already been constructed before it came into existence, like it’s always been around except that now we have to solve the riddle and put it all together. It’s hard to explain. Sometimes it’s like the song writes itself and I’m the mediator. If I was a poet I’d be able to describe it better.
Do your songs tend to have messages or are they more or less just fun songs?
I love being free to sing about anything I choose. I like to leave some room for ad libbing on stage, to say what I’m thinking at that specific time. The newest record definitely has more fun songs on there, a light-hearted feel. A lot of past songs have been about anguish and despair and hopelessness and all those fun things that some of us have to go through every now and then. I tend to write from experiences I’ve had. Some songs are exclusively about love and it’s cruel side. My general tendency is to leave lyrics open-ended which allows for interpretation by the listener. I love it when people read different things into the songs and it’s always changing. The song rarely keeps it’s original meaning for me, like I said it’s nearly always evolving. I also really like to write the odd song about something very specific and where the lyrics are straightforward and blunt. There is a song on the new album called „For a Second" which is about animal experimentation and how it hurts me to know my animal friends are being treated so badly. It’s really a song of hope because I am saying that I will always be there to protect them. And there are some songs that are purely for bubblegum purposes only.
Of all the songs you have recorded, is there one that you consider their most favourite? Why?
I love a track called „ Now or Never" which evolved from another song called „ Crushed" which we recorded backwards and then laid some new tracks over the top including one of the best vocal takes I’ve ever done and the lyrics are gorgeous. It’s just such a beautiful song and Adam did an amazing drum pattern over the top. The track is a part of the „ Pace It’ single. It’ll be hard to top that one but I’ll try.
Adalita, have you been singing for a long time and taking lessons or anything like that?
I have, yes. And no, I’ve never had lessons but I’m just about to start because I have realised that like any part of your body, you have to take care of it. I’m really excited to learn how to make the most of my voice and how to make it as powerful as possible.
Has there been any moment in your young career that you wish you could do over again if had the chance?
Definitely not.
Any anecd0otes or stories that you would like to share with us?
Unfortunately Dean is the master storyteller and I wish he was here because he has some very funny stories. But you know, funny things are always happening on tour, like people sleepwalking, stories of debauchery etc. There have been so many outrageous times on tour and tours usually provide the bulk of anecdotes. Hmmmm, let me think. I remember waking up one morning in our hotel room and hearing everyone making loud, disgusted noises. I walked into the room and saw that everyone was looking into the bathroom. There was a little plastic bin in there and there was something inside it. I had a look. It was urine. Someone had pissed in the bin instead of the toilet in the middle of the night and no-one was owning up. It was hilarious.
How would you describe your live shows?
Energetic, focused, always room for something to go wrong and then having fun with the mistake/s, loud, sweaty, fun fun fun.
What is your favourite song to play live?
At the moment I’m having a killer time playing an old song called „ Shovel". I look forward so much to singing it because it sits well in my vocal register and I get goosebumps if I stay focused all the way through.
What has been your most memorable performance?
There’s been so many. Sometimes I think it’s the last one I did because it’s fresh in my memory and I’m having such an amazing time playing at the moment, that I look forward to when next I’ll be up there doing it again. Wanda Beach Surf Club in ’95, I think, was pretty amazing. The kids mobbed us but in the most affectionate way possible. Such a great vibe.
Have you been too drunk to play properly?
In the last 3 years, no. I am completely straight when I play now but it wasn’t always that way. Getting into the music scene can also mean hanging around pubs and what do you do at pubs? Drink. So I was getting smashed and having a ball and fuck yeah there were times when I couldn’t string two words together let alone remember the gig. Some of the gigs were very funny, the audience got into it. But I got sick of feeling sick all the time and suddenly it wasn’t funny anymore. So, you know I just see it as you have a good time but then when the time comes to work for what you want you have to make sacrifices and some of those sacrifices can be the best choices you ever make. I love being completely aware of myself on stage, so aware that I can feel like I’m in another world and get swept away by the music.
What bands have you been playing with so far? Tell us what were them like.
This year we toured with Powderfinger and Jebediah. Both bands excel in their craft and are extremely dedicated. And they are supremely nice. We get along well with both of them and it was great to hear the different styles of music and watch how each person does their thing. And also to see how the audience and band interacted with each other. I learnt heaps of stuff touring with them which I think is important and also keeps my head in check. We played a few practical jokes, especially with Powderfinger. They loved it. The end of the Jebediah tour was a little emotional ‘cause you spend a lot of time with each other travelling the country and it’s quite like a little family sometimes. It was such a long time ago and I was totally pre-occupied with experiencing all things yankee. We had such an amazing time, lots of debauchery.
You’re a band from Australia, but toured across the States. How would you compare the American scene to others you have encountered?
The music scene has probably changed heaps but back then it was definitely a very indie scene. We can’t wait to go back. We’ve also toured in the UK and Europe. I really miss England. I would love to write some songs there.
What is the hardest part of road tours?
Getting enough sleep and eating nutritious meals instead of potato chips from every roadhouse. And everyone tends to have a short fuse after the half way mark. Most of the time we all have a big laugh about it all. And we tend to learn what we’ll need for the next tour to make things as stress-free as possible.
Any suggestion on the best spot to hide weed while travelling? (haha just kidding!)
Deep anal insertion or wreck yourself by putting it in your lungs.
How was playing on Australia’s biggest festival the Big Day Out in this year?
We played at the Gold Coast Big Day Out and I never tire of playing at festivals. You get to see heaps of ace bands for free, muck around with other bands and rock out for 40 minutes in front of hundreds of hyped up punters. It’s like nothing else. We had a great reaction this year and it was incredibly hot. Chock a block.
What is your tour schedule like for the present?
February is our rehearsal month and in March and April we tour pretty much everywhere. I cannot wait. Touring has never been so much fun. There’s a lot of anticipation in the air about this one.
What do you find challenging in about being in the music business?
I find it challenging to predict who is an asshole and who is not. I find that some people cannot handle the fact that I am a female who has so much control over what I do. That I know what I want and always try to figure out how to get it. My eyes have been opened by some fantastic and very supportive people in the industry. There are great people to work with, it’s just a matter of finding them. As far as the music media are concerned, live and learn is the best motto for me. But definitely be wary and use it to your advantage. Most journos are ill-informed and need to be told the facts. Honesty is vital but never feel that you need to tell them anything you don’t want to. I like to take complete responsibility for my actions and their repercussions. I use my gut instinct and I am wary about who in the industry I place my trust in and how much trust I place in them. There are some real scum-suckers out there.
You are just shooting a new video clip right? Can you tell me a bit about it?
We have finished shooting the new single, „ Pace It" with Exit Films, directed by Glendyn Ivin. It was done in an old car park in Melbourne and we started at 5 in the morning. We adore this video. It looks fantastic. Very happy.
What does ‘Magic Dirt’ has out there (so we can spend our hard earned $)
Our new single „ Pace It" is in the shops now. We will have heaps of stuff for sale at our shows on our upcoming „ Love Ya and Leave Ya" tour which starts on March 2nd in Tasmania. There will be t-shirts and hopefully stickers, badges, wristbands and stuff, fingers crossed.
What plans do you have for the future?
Write, write, write. Just to keep making music and I want to help preserve the great things we have on this planet. I figure you only live once and life is too short to fuck around so it’s best to get cracking on whatever it is you do best and do it better.
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