Meet Davidda!
29 NOV 2019
About this time last year, I was pulling together a backing band for our Festival One show at the end of January this year. Davidda, who I had only ever known as a singer through church, put her hand up to play drums. When she showed up to the first rehearsal and began to play, we were all completely blown away: she has that rare kind of skill that combines not only an amazing technical mastery but also a sensitivity to the songs and just where the beat needs to sit and interact with each of them. She’d learned all of the songs in advance, was flawless right from the outset, and added just the right colour to each. Not only did she effortlessly slot right in as drummer, but her unassuming and sleeves-rolled-up attitude made it an absolute joy to have her involved.
Fast forward to today, and Davidda, who is also a keen guitarist and has been writing her own songs from an early age, has just released her debut single called ‘Kindle’ (listen below). It’s poignant, refreshing and almost wistful, and Davidda’s sweet voice glides smoothly through it anchored in a grittier depth, weaving the story she’s telling through her clever melodies. It speaks to her unique skill as a wordsmith, and takes us on a journey through the mind of someone struggling to be true to themselves, and the courage it takes to do this.
Recorded and produced through Parachute Studios as part of a special opportunity Davidda won, it’s out now on all of the usual streaming platforms. In honour of the occasion, I interviewed Davidda to learn a little more about the genesis of this intriguing song. Read more below!
FIRST UP, TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: WHERE DID YOU GROW UP, AND WHAT IS YOUR MUSICAL BACKGROUND?
Kia Ora, Katie. It’s a pleasure to share a little bit of my story with you. So, I grew up in a small town called Paeroa.
I have this little disclaimer, whenever someone asks where I’m from, I have to make mention of the L&P bottle so we’re all on the same page.
In a tiny nutshell, my parents are musical, and my Mum is a music teacher.
I learnt how to play the guitar when I was around 3 years old, and I think it was the same for my brothers too. Mum made sure to expose us kids to all sorts of music, and often volunteered us for different events that needed musicians.
When I was about 11, we needed a drummer in the music team at church, so I stepped in. I think Mum taught me a basic beat, and I figured the rest out over the next couple of years.
Playing the drums feels like the most honest way for me to connect with music and spill out what I am feeling.
Watching how my Mum and brothers engage in and with music is what drew me in the same direction.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS WRITTEN YOUR OWN SONGS?
I would write words and sing them to myself when I was a kid, this was before I started singing in public, so they never reached other peoples ears.
I went to intentionally write songs when I was 14. I went through this really cliche Shakespeare obsession at high school when we were studying some of his work, and I started using portions of his sonnets in my songs. The first ‘proper’ song I wrote was for a songwriting competition, and one of the lines “you’ve got me falling like the leaves in autumn” was inspired by that sonnet.
Today, I’m less about the Shakespeare and more about writing down the truth of what I am seeing or feeling. Lately, my writing has reflected my self-awareness, and how I fit into the world - or kind of how the world fits inside of me, or something.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE SONGWRITING PROCESS THAT REALLY DRAWS YOU TO IT?
I like how songwriting is essentially capturing ideas, experiences and feelings in a concise manner. Often it just spills out of me, rather than me sitting down to write a song. I’ll be doing something and then a sentence or two will spring to mind and I’ll have to write it down or record it.
Sometimes I do other types of writing such as journaling or poetry ~ and if a melody presents itself then I know it’s a song I’m working on.
‘KINDLE’ IS YOUR DEBUT SINGLE: HOW IS IT FEELING TO BE PUTTING YOURSELF OUT IN THE WORLD AS AN ARTIST?
I had to really think about what my intent is here. I had to think about why I want to share this with the world and what the next step is.
I want to release this song so I can engage with the world and share how I process the things happening in my life.
I was nervous to be sharing this song, especially because this isn’t all of me - it’s just one part of me, and wondering how I might be perceived. Kindle is a glimpse at one section of my brain/heart. I would hope that ‘Kindle’ creates room for whoever embraces her, to feel a sense of reflection or contemplation.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS SONG?
Kindle was me exploring the mind of a person wrestling with their intuition. We are susceptible to following temporary joys and keeping at bay the things that look problematic because we think we’re fragile, which is true, but we’re also made malleable.
The bridge is the part of the song that is the lightbulb moment, when in hindsight everything stacks together and you see the full picture.
It’s like this cycle of coming back around time and time again, met with this epiphany that you can’t always do it on your own; sometimes you need external intervention to help lead and refine your balance.
YOU WON A PRETTY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE TRACK PRODUCED AND MIXED BY PARACHUTE STUDIOS – TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THIS, AND HOW THE EXPERIENCE WAS FOR YOU?
Oh, yes! It was a wonderful experience! I spent a little bit of time with Jeremy McPike the studio manager - such a cool guy, and I was super lucky to spend the day recording with the incredible Dan Martin.
My boyfriend Dave and my friend Ty accompanied me. Ty ended up laying down some bass and electric guitar for the song, and I am so stoked to have had his musical input.
It was good to learn about what you should have prepared before you head into the studio, and what sorts of things you’ll be required to do.
The studio was beautiful. What made it even more awesome was getting to work with my friend Ty, someone who really knows me, and also recording with Dan who understands music and was able to interpret what I was feeling. I’d be keen to do some more recording in future with Dan at Parachute Studios, so fingers crossed that we can do some more tracks.
WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT THE PROCESS, FROM IDEA TO COMPLETION?
The most difficult part for me, was getting to the place where I’m ok to let go of the song. When I feel that it is complete; I have to get over the hurdle of taking my hands off the song and letting it exist as it’s own entity.
I also needed to come to terms with sharing a product that represents who I am as an artist, and accept the vulnerability involved with releasing the song.
It’s probably a common thing, but I always get a bit nervous about baring too much of myself, then I get a bit mixed up about being misunderstood.
DO MUSIC AND YOUR FLORISTRY STUDIES RELATE?
I think so. In some ways. The colours or textures are like melodies, and I find where they fit by listening to and seeing the song as a whole. You can put together and pull apart/ rearrange a bouquet, popping each piece where it fits. It’s like a little symphony - everything fitting where it should to make some sort of harmony for you. It’s exercising my eye vs using my ear, maybe? I dunno. One tangible way that my floristry and my music have overlapped is when I made a floral arrangement in an old guitar I had lying around.
Stepping into floristry has also been a relief - finding another outlet for my creativity away from writing and music has been so freeing. While they are separate pursuits, for me there is definitely some overlap between the two.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST HOPE FOR YOUR MUSIC, AND WHAT’S NEXT?
Across the years I have shared snippets of songs, little ideas or full length videos of me mucking around on facebook. Someone replied to one song in particular and said that it made them cry.
They felt that it was an answer to a really tough spot they were in and brought peace. The word ‘solace’ came to my mind and has been something I draw back to. If there is a chance that someone will find solace or calm from the words I write and sing out loud ~ this is the peak. This is the greatest, most important thing I can offer through my music.
I believe in our hopes and dreams manifesting when we are diligent to the process and things that we need to feel and look at inside ourselves. I think I’m just going to keep writing and backing what I like making. I’m going to write up my dreams for this next year and work towards these things in all the practical ways that I can.
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