Five Albums That Influenced Holli Scott's 'Weather And Weeds'

Hauntingly moody, and blisteringly intimate, Holli Scott’s Weather and Weeds is a mature and distinctive second album. This latest release showcases her evolution as an artist since 2019’s DUST, and blends Scott’s vivid lyricism with her rich vocals.

Scott is able to weave not only a captivating story through her work, but also a myriad of musical influences, dipping her toe into folk, and spoken word, as well as her primary discipline of jazz.

Collaborating with Grammy award-winning pianist Tal Cohen, and world-renowned saxophonist Jamie Oehlers, Scott’s Weather and Weeds explores the intricacies of relationships - not only those we have with each other, but with ourselves, and the environment around us.

Scott’s latest album is getting an official launch this weekend as part of the Perth International Jazz Festival, with an immersive evening at Camelot Theatre on Sunday 27th. Ahead of the launch, and to celebrate the release, Scott takes us through five albums that influenced Weather and Weeds.

Rain Dogs - Tom Waits

This album is dark and colourful at the same time, and if I had to choose a Waits album it'd be this one. The imagery in it is so clear that you can almost smell, hear and touch the stories as if they're right in front of you.

At the same time, I think there's a lot of very powerful symbolism underneath it all, and it leaves you questioning things. I arranged Tango Till They're Sore for the album recording, and it was the phrase 'fall out of the window with confetti in my hair' that drew me to it.

Ghost Song - Cécile McLorin Salvant

Cecile is a master of weaving in and out of different themes, styles and ideas, bringing the drama and making you feel everything all at once. Until is my favourite track on this album - the movement in the melody and lyric is mirrored in the arrangement and the result is super vivid and emotional, like undulating water. I've had this album on high rotation since it came out.

Carnage - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis

Nick Cave was already a big influence, but Carnage broadened my ideas of what is possible in music and broke down a lot of rules I had in my head. Seeing it live made its imprint on me even bigger.

It's incredibly moving, and emotes lyrics and themes in very different ways to the things I'd gravitated towards before. This definitely inspired me to think outside the box in terms of arrangements and sounds, and to use my words in different ways.

Sign of Life - Bill Frisell

This music is so simple at times, but always thoughtful and moving, especially in the ways harmony is used. It inspired me to try to embrace simplicity when it is needed, and to use space in different ways.

I've always loved the way Frisell seems to play and write what he hears without the frills. It feels honest and real.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple

This album again broke down a few walls in terms of what I thought was good and proper and the 'done thing' in music. Fiona Apple is so creative in the way she arranges things, and the lyrics are fierce and don't apologise for anything.

She embraces odd phrase lengths and spoken phrases and it feels like the words are driving the whole thing. I love that it doesn't feel perfect, but there is so much guts in it. It feels like she's claiming something that's hers/ours/feminine.

Holli Scott’s latest album ‘Weather and Weeds’ is out now. The album launch is being held on Sunday 27 October as part of the Perth International Jazz Festival. Final release tickets are available here.