• Aqualung & Krista Polvere
• 9:00pm

ABOUT AQUALUNG

“Music can be an amazingly potent thing,” says Matt Hales, aka Aqualung. “When I sing into the microphone in the studio, I’m whispering my secrets in people’s ears. When it connects, it can be so powerful. It’s still a remarkable process to me.”

Indeed, in a field crowded with empty shouting, "Words and Music"–the English singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer’s fourth album (and third U.S. release) under his longstanding nom de disc "Aqualung"–has the feeling of a series of deep emotional truths whispered in confidence. An effortlessly intimate set of subtly crafted, organically melodic tunes with openhearted lyrics and spare, mostly acoustic arrangements, "Words and Music" features some of Hales’ most compelling work to date. Such subtly soulful tunes as “7 Keys,” “Arrivals,” “Good Goodnight” and “When I Finally Get My Own Place” balance adult emotional insight and childlike wonder, and are squarely in the tradition of such introspective pop auteurs as Brian Wilson and Paul Simon. Not coincidentally, Simon’s ’70s classic “Slip Sliding Away” receives a poignant interpretation from Hales on the album.

"Words and Music"–which Hales co–produced with his brother and musical right–hand man Ben, who also provides guitar, bass and harmony vocals, and co–wrote several songs–is the product of an extended period of soul–searching that caused the artist to seriously reexamine his career priorities, after a life that’s been spent making music.

Hales began writing songs at the age of four and won a music scholarship at 16, and soon saw his classical symphony Life Cycle performed by a 60–piece orchestra. He later achieved a modicum of U.K. notoriety with a pair of British rock combos, Ruth and The 45’s, but eventually grew weary of band life. Hales began recording as Aqualung in 2002, and achieved some unexpected early success when his demo of the song “Strange and Beautiful” appeared in a Volkswagen TV commercial and immediately struck a chord with listeners. That fluke occurrence turned Aqualung from a modest lo–fi bedroom recording project into a successful major–label act.

The almost–accidental nature of Words and Music’s birth cycle is consistent with the unpremeditated manner in which Aqualung first came into being, and Hales is happy to be returning to his D.I.Y. roots. “Ever since I began making music,” he says, “my best work has come from a sense of feeling at home and connected and grounded and safe and happy. And this record, which was made without any external pressures or timetables or plan, came from that place, and connected me back to that. Listening to it, I feel relieved and rescued.”

“I nearly called this album "Heart Songs", because that’s sort of what they are,” Hales notes. “'Memory Man' was completely a head record, but 'Words and Music' is all heart. It barely has a head; it’s basically just a heart and a grin. There’s something about the spirit of these recordings that feels like the start of something new. I don’t know exactly where it will take me, but it will be very interesting to find out.”

ABOUT KRISTA POLVERE

“Up against the wall in slow motion, in this world I am broken. Here in your words unspoken, if you really wanted me, if you really wanted me”. Krista Polvere lyrically paints a moving picture of love and loneliness with the haunting delivery of a woman who clearly understands these emotions.

Krista Polvere headed for New York City where she felt she could immerse herself in the city and the place she felt musically inspired by. “I've always felt that music was something to be treasured, but it’s much too special to keep to yourself,” says Krista. This ideal emboldened the singer/songwriter from Adelaide to move to the biggest city in the world. “New York City is so fast, it picks you up like a tornado, holds you like a heartbeat”.

Unbelievably, one of the first people her music caught the attention of was Lost Highway / Universal artist, Ryan Adams. “This came about by chance”Krista mentions. “I was looking for a pedal steel player to work with and was introduced to Jon Graboff. Jon plays in Ryan’s band The Cardinals, who are all great musicians and lovely people”. Krista naturally then met Ryan Adams at one of his shows where he suggested they might work together. He had already heard Krista’s demos by then and called Krista up a week later to follow up. They have since gone on to write a song for Krista’s debut album "Here Be Dragonss" and Krista joined him on his National tour of Australia. “Working with Ryan in many different scenarios has been an incredible experience. Being able to collaborate with someone of such prolific ability sheds light on a lot of new avenues for me, gives me an approach to the song writing process from an unexpected angle.” In her dreamy lyrics Krista subscribes to the fact that:“There’s gotta be a road that gets to heaven… cause I’ve taken the road and it was on fire”.

In her recording career, she seems to be walking the right road, meeting many collaborators including Adam and Grasshopper from Mercury Rev and of course, Ryan Adams who all play on her debut record. Another chance meeting was with successful Canadian musician, the shy but brilliant Ron Sexsmith. Krista first came across Ron thru opening for him on a national Australia tour. They got along really well and kept in contact. Krista also headed out on a National Tour with Steve Earle throughout Australia and most recently with Joshua Raddin. Producing the album is Grammy Award winning producer/engineer/mixer Malcolm Burn. Malcolm has produced albums for Emmylou Harris, Chris Whitley, Patti Smith, and Rachel Yamagata and has engineered and mixed Bob Dylan’s “Oh Mercy.”

Krista Polvere’s confessional, moody songs tear and weave around the listener, forging a connection between artist and listener. “In time my love you will see, dimensions I carry with me, you stole from me in the dark, set adrift tonight with my heart, night river crossing all of these tears. I’m breakable”.