The XARA FILES

Truly unlike any other performer, Xara Fiasco takes you on a personal, intimate journey with each song she sings. Part confession, part tease, all personal, raw, and real - she pulls you in like a spider into the web of her musical world. Her original lyrics astound and challenge the limits of narrative music.

Accompanied by her whimsical indiepunk piano, she incorporates influences as diverse as  Tori Amos, Regina Spektor, Trent Reznor and George Gershwin to create a style that is both nostalgic and fresh, biting and and yet catchy, and never predictable.

In real life she is an active player in the Sydney Australia music scene.

Xara Fiasco is hard to imagine, surprising to hear and impossible to resist.

Q&A

1. Why are you a singer/songwriter?

I need to express my anger at some people in my life (and in the past) and this is a very effective and creative way to to exorcise those little demons.

Take em out for a walk and see em get hit by a bus musically (so to speak).

And the more acceptable response to that question would be;   'I have to' and 'it's all Ive ever done'.

2.  What is your musical background? Do you have a musical family or did you just fall into songwriting all on your own?

My mother is an opera singer and my great grandfather and grandfather were both musicians who played by ear like I do.  My grandfather in particular was an exceptional piano player.

3. What sorts of things have you done to improve your songwriting?

Poetically, I've just been through a whole heap of adversity (like getting sober, and seeing loved ones attempt suicide and lots of mental health issues) so I'm drawing from those experiences in the work at the moment. Technically, I think playing a lot helps. SL has been one of the best ways to improve my craft as I'm playing to diverse audiences around the world and at different times. With this comes lots of dialog about my music and a more deeper understanding of why I do what I do.

4. Have you written any songs in the last 12 months? What are you working on now and where do you feel your music is headed?

I've started to write songs again in the last three months, and  to keep my music fresh I'm experimenting with different vocal techniques and effect. I'm also putting all the stuff I've done/gone through from the last 18 months (ie getting sober ect) into writing  poetry and new songs. I've started recording a new album to be released in SL. I hope to travel to the US next year to tour and hopefully gain an independent label's support and to find a RL manager as well. In the very long term, I want to eventually move to the US and keep writing songs both for myself and for other people to play/sing.

5. And finally, what advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar path to yours?

Be prepared to work very hard. On both your promo and your craft and the technical side as well. There is a lot of competition out there in SL, so you have to stand out. Think of something no one else is doing in there musically. Be on time to gigs, don't go over time,  and treat people with respect. The music community is way smaller that you think. And remember not to be perfect! People actually like to know that you're human too. :)

XARA LINKS

The XARA MP3 Sample

My apologies to Xara for havng mucked up the recording of her entire show! But for those who have never heard Xara I did catch a splendid minute of sound.