“It hasn’t happened overnight, I worked really hard,” she says. “Back when I was playing in bands, I was never lead singer, I was always in the background playing guitar, getting away with not being in the spotlight. Transitioning from being that background person to being the centre of attention was really difficult because I can be a really self conscious person.
“I put 100 per cent into each of my live shows, I walk off stage exhausted and sweaty. I give it everything and a lot of people will say ‘You have so much energy on stage,’ and it’s just me letting out my anxiety about being up there on my own – I just dance it off.”
The Melbourne-based performer says that her decision to move towards predominantly digital production techniques has been extremely liberating.
“Everything’s computer based now,” says Schmarsel. “It’s such a different territory and I’m still discovering things about it. Electronic music just wasn’t a thing that I ever would’ve thought of doing four years ago. I picked up producing when I had just got into uni and I realised that I could create this large soul sound that I’ve always loved.”
After dominating at Brisbane’s BIGSOUND, it’s no surprise that Schmarsel was chosen by triple j Unearthed to appear at this year’s Listen Out Festival. Caught making some crispy chicken when she answered their call, the local act swears she was genuinely taken back.
“A couple of friends called me afterwards and were like ‘Dude was that legit?’ and I was like ‘Yeah that’s exactly what happened,’” she says. “It makes you feel so good knowing you have support from such an awesome music community. It’s nice to know that your music is being valued and listened to and that people enjoy it – that’s what I really want. I chose samples and I write songs that make me feel like I want to party, dance, have a good time with my friends and drink lots of beers.”
Establishing her solo alias just over 18 months ago, Schmarsel has already scored some serious airplay with her tracks Touch ft. Georgia Van Etten and Almost Here ft. Rara.
“I listen to a lot of music even when I’m on tour, I seek out little samples that I really love and that I feel could be something bigger,” she says. “That’s how I write. I listen to a lot of music, I collect a lot of stuff and when it feels right I jump into the studio and smash it out.
“I love collaborating, there’s so much you can learn from another person. I really vibe how other people feel about a track and creating something together is an awesome thing to achieve. Another vocal is another piece to the puzzle, it’s essentially another instrument that can be used, manipulated and torn apart, sampled and re-sampled.”
An invaluable addition to the Melbourne scene, Schmarsel ultimately finds inspiration in the plethora of sound surrounding her, in particular her fellow female acts.
“After going to BIGSOUND and meeting people like Woodes, SAATSUMA and Mallrat, all these females that are absolutely kicking goals, I feel like it’s not a pretentious competition. I’m getting the vibe that everyone’s out to help each other and that we’re all in the same boat. That’s’ what I really love about our music community, especially in Melbourne, it’s all family.”
BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
