How Paul Kelly Brought These Aussie Soul Singers Together

Late last year, iconic Aussie singer-songwriter Paul Kelly released his collaborative album Paul Kelly Presents: The Merri Soul Sessions, featuring the vocal work of some of the country's most unique soul singers.

The next move was to take his ensemble of singers out on tour, which Kelly did, and in the midst of the run, some of the vocalists have given us insight into what the recording and touring process has been like in their own words:

CLAIRY BROWNE

Describe your experience recording the Merri Soul project?

What a great honour to be part of The Merri Soul Sessions. It was an unexpected but welcome opportunity. The recording experience was very special for me, just being asked to sing one of Paul Kelly's songs and getting the chance to work with all those folks has been a highlight of my career. When someone so iconic asks you to interpret their art it's deeply personal, it's a gift. The guys in the band are also so great. Everyone involved was super awesome to collaborate with and I'm buzzed to have had the chance to take part in it. Kira Puru is my boo and I had been dying to work with her on a record and go on tour with her so this opportunity is just too perfect!

"When someone so iconic asks you to interpret their art it's deeply personal, it's a gift."

What are your thoughts about being a part of the project and the tour?

Each show has been so unique and special, being able to sing alongside such talented performers each night is inspirational. We have had some great moments. It’s a fun group to be on the road with, sort of like a traveling family band... I’m going to be sad when it’s over.

Who is your favourite soul artist?

My favourite soul artist — that's a difficult choice, it's like asking me if I like my mum or dad better. Today I'm gonna say Mr Hathaway (Donny Hathaway). I have been listening to him a lot lately. When he sings Jealous Guy it slays me.

DAN SULTAN

Describe your experience recording the Merri Soul project?

I remember it was a pretty warm day in Melbourne and I was struggling — I was a little crook and slightly rundown from my album tour. I always wanted to do it and felt very honoured to be a part of it but I was in two minds that morning — I was doubting myself a little and wondering how it would go. But as soon as I got into that studio with those incredible musicians, I felt amazing. I went from not feeling particularly confident at the start of the day with a lot of things running through my head, but it really all worked out for the best and I'm really proud of how my song came out.

What are your thoughts about being a part of the project and the tour?

I'm very honoured to be asked and to do anything with Paul and all of those musicians and vocalists. They are all people I admire and have a lot of respect for. It's been an incredible opportunity to travel and learn from Paul because I've looked up to him throughout my career.

Who is your favourite soul artist?

My favourite soul artists are Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, The Dirtbombs and James Brown.                  

LINDA BULL

Describe your experience recording the Merri Soul project?

I loved wandering up to Soundpark [studios] every day to record The Merri Soul Sessions with Paul and the band. They are my most favourite people in the world to work with. We have spent a lot of time together touring, but not so much time in the studio recording. Seven strong, hilarious personalities with opinions to match. It was never boring, the days flew by. Something electric happened in the studio when the door shut. I can hear it on every track. Individually they are all so brilliant, but together, an unstoppable force. When I sing with them I can feel they’re incredible power behind me.

"It shits me he’s not given more credit for his amazing voice."

Every song was beautiful, a real dream to sing backing vocals to. My track Smells Like Rain was the first to be recorded and the first song on the album, so the pressure was on. It is one of my favourites. I can see it, hear it and feel it. That makes my job so much easier. This is one of the things I love about Paul’s writing, he is so good at matching his songs to singers. He gave me a beautiful gift of this song when he asked me to sing it. I hope to be singing it for a long time to come.

I’d never met Clairy nor Kira before the recording but have known Dan since he was three. He can sing the phone book and drips soul, the little bugger sat down when he sang his song. He made it look so easy. When I first heard Clairy and Kira’s tracks time slowed down and my heart pounded and ached. Hello! They both have golden tonsils.

Of course I have been one lucky gal to have sung with my sister Vika for so long, yet she never ceases to amaze me with her incredible voice. Her power floors me. I still clap like a mad woman when she fangs it!

Paul is the one who in my eyes takes the cake with Righteous Woman. Intense straight forward emotional singing at its best. It shits me he’s not given more credit for his amazing voice.

What are your thoughts about being a part of the project and the tour?

I’m loving singing  the songs, dancing and laughing our way around the country with this Merri mob.

Who is your favourite soul artist?

My favourite soul singer is Ann Peebles.

VIKA BULL

Describe your experience recording the Merri Soul project?

Making a record with the Merri souls was wonderful - I just love them, their musicianship, their work ethic and their humour. I find the studio to be very intimidating and I don’t have much patience for the recording process so when I arrived the first day of work and saw that the band was all set up and ready to go live, I breathed a sigh of relief. It made perfect sense really because we’ve all played together for a while now, know each other pretty well and some sort of magic happened at Soundpark in those couple of weeks that gave me the goosebumps. Paul put together a fantastic list of songs and damn I love every singer on the record!

I was very pleased to be asked to sing Sweet Guy and What You Want. Both songs are hard to sing - very emotional but I like having something to sing that makes me wanna belt it out.

What are your thoughts about being a part of the project and the tour?

Jan and Feb has been a blast. Touring has been terrific fun with such a kickass band and the fact [that] there are six singers on the road is great 'cause it spices things up a bit !

Who is your favourite soul artist?

My favourite soul artist is the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
  

KIRA PURU

Describe your experience recording the Merri Soul project?

"I had no idea I'd fall for everybody as much as I have."

I'd taken a hiatus from making music when I got the call. It got to feeling futile like it sometimes does. But I obviously wasn't going to turn someone like PK down. It was comforting to see a seasoned artist like Paul work with precision and confidence while still seeming open to my interpretation and style. Steve Schram has a similarly gentle but firm hand in the studio. I'm always very thankful to get a fly-on-the-wall type look at another artist's process, let alone people as skilled as Paul and his band. The band was sharp in the studio and relaxed and friendly when the tape wasn't rolling. It was by far my most pleasant studio experience to date and getting notice that we were to tour the project was nothing but welcoming and exciting news.

What are your thoughts about being a part of the project and the tour?

Everyone on the tour is so incredibly talented in their own right, each of them offering such a different flavour to the overall mix. It's evident that making records are not always a one-person affair, it's nice to be involved in such an inclusive project that casts a spotlight across the team and not the individual. I'm humbled and thrilled to be involved. Thus far the tour has been a blast. I had no idea I'd fall for everybody as much as I have. It feels like family. I'm thrilled that we have the time and opportunity to extend.

Who is your favourite soul artist?

My favourite soul artist… I feel like I probably have to say Etta James here. But Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke are right up there with her.