Sally SeltmannSally Seltmann is one of those quiet burn local legends our industry is blessed to be adorned with.
A successful writer and producer for herself and others (as New Buffalo, for Feist's 1234, with Seeker Lover Keeper… and on it goes), she now returns with new, sixth album Art School Reverie.
A reflection on her younger self, and in particular her time at Sydney Art school COFA as a young one, it's familiar in tone and approach in the best way. Existing fans will be well satisfied, and new ones will have lots to explore. Solid pop songs, layered lyrics and an accessible electro and acoustic production – all with a slightly raised eyebrow (in the best way).
Lead single Do I Want Fame? is a younger Seltmann asking a question that motivates many artists – or industry at least. The answer? Hilariously deadpan and honest, "not really."
It's so bold, but so gently delivered – the honesty is striking but also puzzling – can an artist really admit that they just want to make music because they have something to say and they couldn't really give a shit about the machine?
"In a way, that was my younger self thinking those things," Seltmann explains. "But I guess I sort of think that now too, I feel like I've always placed more emphasis on being an artist and expressing myself and sharing my music than trying to just be really famous. You know what I mean?"
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The specifics of ‘not trying to be famous' are again clear – it's not about not turning up to support your art or refusing to play the game. But it's about not, well, getting sucked up into that shit too much.
Seltmann again spells it out in song directly, "there's a reason I threw my hat into the ring… my need to express everything." It's a basic need to connect that drives most artists – but is saying it out loud, that directly (and sweetly), allowed?
"I studied visual art and then I also was always in a band and I always did music and was writing songs. So I have a constant need to express myself to get things out, you know, and communicate, I guess, in a creative sort of way," she says.
"And heaps of people are like that. You know, people in their garden, people in their kitchen and cooking, whatever. I kind of hope that with my album, even though it's about my time at art school, that it resonates with other people that do totally different creative things as well. And just that it's so good for you, it's so good for your soul, and for the world to just create and express."
Art for art's sake, or more directly, for connection's sake, is a fundamental need that the industry machine can easily overtake with its bells and whistles. But at its heart is the thing that music does best – extend an invitation to connect.
The process of old school connection is something Seltmann will do when taking the album on tour, with the easter egg of also being supported by her daughter Judy, also an emerging young artist.
"Judy's got her first single as a solo artist coming out in early March and Darren [Seltmann's husband, formerly of The Avalanches] produced that." If you imagine theirs is a gloriously musical household, then you'd be right.
"We're kind of this gang, the three of us, me and Darren and Judy, sharing lots of music as fans – we love Geese for example – and in other ways."
Beyond the current single there's lots more to love on Art School Reverie, including the kind of quaint earlier release, Shirt With Pussy Bow. It's such an old fashioned idea and visual, Sally explained it was the contradiction that she loved.
"Pussy bow is, it's just like a blouse that has, or a shirt, that has this long piece attached and you tie a bow in it, you tie it right up under your neck. But I kind of love the name and think it's funny because it's got "pussies" in it," she laughs.
"I've always been obsessed with that name, it's for something that is super conservative but with this strange name."
Are we allowed to say that? It's so silly and strong and once, a set of contradictions makes it to the song too. It's a bit unexpected, out of its time and even uncomfortable, but rewarding for the listener who wants to dig into the references.
It is one young woman's story, that the now older Seltmann reflects on, but with an easy path for the listener.
"I have a bedroom studio and I recorded and produced the album myself, which is different because my last two I did with my husband Darren. It was like how I did my two New Buffalo records, I did them by myself and that was very bedroom, lo-fi, just me.
"And I like changing things up in that way, but I felt like it was really time for me to do an album on my own."
Sally Seltmann’s Art School Reverie is out now. Tickets to her upcoming tour are on sale now.
Sally Seltmann – The Art School Reverie Tour
With special guests Sophie Koh and Judy Seltmann
Friday, March 6th – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne, VIC
Friday, March 13th – Mary’s Underground, Eora/Sydney, NSW
Saturday, March 14th – The Servo, Port Kembla, NSW
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
