We caught up with the ex-Rhea’s Obsession songstress and Indarras’ magician Sue Hutton fresh from the Walk On Fire release party.
Hi Sue, how are you getting on?
I just wrapped up the CD release concert in my hometown of Toronto and [I] feel quite jubilant about the whole thing. The music industry is a whole new reality compared to the days of Rhea’s Obsession so I feel a sense of being a child in a new world; I feel like I’m starting anew – so fresh is probably the best word.
Your latest album Walk On Fire is due for release (at the time of writing) on Friday. What are your feelings about the release of this very special album?
Thank you for calling it very special- as it certainly feels very special to me. I stepped into this on my own so there’s some vulnerability in the work. Although I’m surrounded with players, co-writers and producers it’s been on me to see it through to the end. And it’s feeling like quite a task. I’m thrilled to have it finally released to the world.
Walk On Fire is a blend of parts of myself. Since Rhea’s [Obsession] days I’ve been immersed in social justice work so having an opportunity to blend that voice with my voice in music is fulfilling on many levels. Involving [the] voices of human rights advocates (Peter Park, Shandel Shand and Mika Hjorngaard) has been pretty special. The work with the stellar line up of musicians working with me has been amazing too. I’m feeling very grateful to everyone involved for making this happen.
“Indarra speaks truth to power …”
How would you pitch the album to a perfect stranger?
Walk On Fire is music to listen to when we need strength; soothing; truth. Layers of harmonic female vocals glide from vulnerability to power, moving between Gaelic, Bulgarian tones over dark soundscapes. Indarra is spices from around the world – layered guitars that at times don’t sound anything like guitars, bass that sounds like it’s an Erhu or some other type of Eastern bowed instrument, Tabla, percussion with Kalimba reversed and effected so it sounds like something you can’t recognize. [And] mesmerizing analog synth tracks.
Indarra speaks truth to power – three special tracks feature guests telling their stories of overcoming trauma and their emerging resilience. Indarra blends the spoken word talking about the need for social change in the system atop the soundscapes of Indarra.
I had read on Wikipedia that the proposed third album title from Rhea’s Obsession was Walk On Fire. While your music career has spanned much more than just Rhea’s Obsession how would you liken the outfit to Indarra?
Rhea’s Obsession had a three album deal with Metropolis and we never completed the third – which I was planning to title Walk On Fire. Here we are seventeen years later with Walk On Fire being delivered under another name.
Rhea’s [Obsession] was a product of Jim Field and myself- and that was special and irreplaceable. Indarra is a new chapter, and a collaborative effort with a circle of players. I’m super grateful to work with all the players. Kevin Laliberté has co-written and produced the majority of the tracks on Walk On Fire- and brings his amazing musical finesse to the feel. He’s a brilliant musician, and really shows his ability to create art over a broad range of musical palettes on Walk On Fire. The sounds he was able to create for Falling Into You, Innis Aigh are just amazing – a real inspiration to respond to. It was easy to write with him; the music just spilled out of me in response to his ideas.
Chris Perry did the final mix – and he also mixed Between Earth & Sky by Rhea’s.
“I was very transparent with everyone that I needed support …”
There’s some social commentary/politicizing going on in the themes running through the album. Can you elaborate on them here and how they helped to channel your creativity into making a louder voice?
Indarra translates into strength in the Basque language. And living in a time of great power imbalances in our civilization, albeit there have always been great power imbalances, I am very much into developing messages of strength and hope for people.
Since Rhea’s I have been in social advocacy work as a social worker with marginalized communities. I’ve been doing advocacy work as well as bringing music to people who are isolated like in long term care facilities. Incorporating social political commentary is just part of who I am and I feel a responsibility as as artist to do so.
I spend time working and collaborating with [the] disability community. It’s a community in which people have often been dehumanized, shut away, institutionalized against their will and tortured- is a world that has yet to really find its place in the bigger picture of social change. Human rights are still being ignored and I feel like it’s important to create space to share voices.
Peter Park is an amazing speaker I have had the privilege to work with, and am so glad to share a track with him on Walk on Fire. Same with Shandel Shand, who speaks out beautifully about prison reform, as well as Mika Hjorngaard.
I have never been incarcerated nor do I currently live with a disability so I feel it’s important to share the microphone with those who can speak directly to those issues.
“I like music with passion …”
How did the writing process go with so much talent?
I loved bringing the different flavours and talents of a broad pool into the mix, although it was perhaps a bit of a dance keeping everyone happy and clear on what we were doing.
It was working alongside with all these different people in little satellites that came sparkling together as one galaxy eventually. Rather than all of us writing in a room together. That’s why I wanted to bring Chris Perry on to do the final mix with a neutral set of ears [and] to tie it all together from that outside perspective. He rocked it. Some of the mixes went a little different and there is probably a whole album out there of Kevin Laliberte’s mixes but that’s for another discussion.
Because it had been a few years for me I was very transparent with everyone that I needed support to do this. I had to build my confidence back up. I’m blown away by the love and support everyone poured into Indarra. That alone makes me want to cry some happy tears.
I am a bit of a technophobe and didn’t believe I could actually track my own vocals but with everyone’s help I did it. All the vocals are tracked by me and I would send files back and forth with the various producers. Kevin Laliberte really helped me get the home set up happening and was very patient with [me] learning!
Talking of other musicians you share the name Indarra with a lovely Spanish group on Spotify.
An interesting fluke. I’ll have to listen to them!
“… we can create harmony with those around us …”
Do you have any oddities in your personal music collection?
I like music with passion and believe there are only two categories of music in the world: good and bad. I listen to music from all categories. My favourite new band is Wardruna and wow their live show [is] completely spellbinding the kind of music you’re sitting on the edge of your seat for note by note.
I’ve also been listening to old stuff: Imogen Heap, Amiina, Michael Gira, Maria Callas, Otep, Sandy Denny, the solo vocal tracks from Bohemian Rhapsody and I love the new Attrition tracks.
With only a month an a bit to go until new year not only are the nights drawing in but the year is coming to a close. Where are you hoping to take Indarra in the near future?
We are planning a performance in a prison here in Ontario. We’ve just completed a concert with our spoken word collaborators that was extremely special and I hope to do more of that.
Indarra [is] a bit of a performance accordion in that I can do solo performances, as I did recently in Pittsburgh, and then expand to a nine person band [like] we had in Toronto. There will be some unfolding of all of the above. Depending on who’s available.
I’m looking forward to recording more tunes for the next album and I’m looking to enhance my home studio set up to do more. Also, looking forward to collaborating. Martin from Attrition and I are planning a collaboration as well as more with Athan Maroulis.
Check the website and join the mailing list. I’ll be posting updates and little clips.
Are there any final words of wisdom you’d like to leave us with?
Be kind to yourself and to others. Always. Pay attention to your breath and your heart before you react to the actions and words of others. The more we can be in tune with ourselves, the more we can create harmony with those around us and contribute to the well being of our amazing little blue planet.
[This article is an edited version of the email correspondence between Author David Oberlin and Artist Sue Hutton.]
