ChitChat With THORNBIRD (VIKKI THORN)
Interview By: Reina Cogan
Hey guys, it’s Reina here from Rawing In The Pit Media, and I am having a quick ChitChat with Vikki Thorn from THORNBIRD.
Firstly, thanks so much for having a chat with us today Vikki. We are super excited for your debut album to be released, which is coming up really soon. How are you feeling about the release?
Thank you for having me! Yeah, I am really excited. It’s been a long time coming. I actually had to go back and listen to the album again ha! I almost forgot what it sounded like. We recorded it over a year ago, so it will be very exciting to finally get it out there.
Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for the album? I understand there’s quite a lot of inspiration from the desert of Utah.
Yeah, I was living in Utah for about 10 years with my family, and I really fell in love with americana and roots music. It was a small western town, and I got a lot of inspiration from the community and the landscape we were surrounded by.
Many people may already know you from your incredible journey with The Waifs, I am a huge fan by the way - London Still plays on repeat on my Spotify. What was the turning point for you to go solo?
I wouldn’t really say it was a turning point, I think all three of us had been thinking about it for a while and then during the 2 years of COVID, with all the cancelled waif engagements, it was the perfect time to start.
That’s true I think a lot of people during COVID had more time to self-reflect.
Definitely, and I think especially during that time, and with the issues going on now, a lot of people turn to music for comfort and support, so I am really glad I can be a part of that.
When you describe the first moment you saw your new band members playing in a bar, you said they had this amazing connection. How have you found working with a new band?
I was actually quite intimidated by them at first. The kids, well I’d like to call them kids, but I don’t think they are much younger than me! They all had this very free, loose presence on stage, and it’s not exactly what I was used to. But it’s been amazing to work with them and be able to really let loose on stage, it’s a lot of fun.
How did you come up with your new band name? Obviously, Thorn comes from your name, but I’m curious about the bird?
Did you ever watch that show on TV called Thorn Birds, you may be too young. Well, it has nothing to do with that! My last name is Thorne, and my husband use to call me little bird, so it just came together. Basically, I just didn’t want to be called Vikki.
I am a sucker for a harmonica, so I was really drawn to Hells Backbone, could you tell me a bit about the background of that song?
Oh, that’s probably one of the most personal songs on the album to me. Where we lived in the US, our house back onto Hells Backbone, which is a nature reserve in the desert of Utah. It has these massive canyons, and it’s quite daunting. The song really talks about living on the edge of such a wild place. I found I had to really become in tune with nature and my surroundings. And that’s how that song kind of came together. It was a really personal and transformative song for me to write.
Now that everything is starting to ease up with COVID restrictions, what is coming up for you? Will you be touring?
Yes, well I am actually starting my tour next week. We will be touring the country throughout March and April including all the capital cities. It should be a lot of fun. I am also performing at the Wildflower Festival on the 12th of March, which will be really amazing. I’ll be performing with some incredible Australian female artists, like Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Sarah Blasko, Kate Miller-Heidke, Deborah Conways. So, I am really looking forward to that.
Well, that album is amazing, thanks again so much for your time Vikki, we can’t wait to hear your debut album on March 11th.
UPCOMING THORNBIRD SHOWS
Tickets available HERE
Thur 10 March Theatre Royal Castlemaine VIC
Fri 11 March Queenscliff Town Hall Queenscliff VIC
Sat 12 March Wildflower Festival Yarra Valley VIC
Fri 18 March Imperial Hotel Eumundi QLD
Sat 19 March Wildflower Festival Brisbane QLD
Sun 20 March Byron Theatre Byron Bay NSW
Thurs 31 March The Street Theatre Canberra ACT (*just added)
Fri 1 April The Brass Monkey Sydney NSW (*just added)
Sat 2 April Wildflower Festival Hunter Valley NSW
Sun 3 April Heritage Hotel Bulli NSW
Wed 6 April Brunswick Ballroom Melbourne VIC
Thu 7 April Meeniyan Town Hall Meeniyan VIC
Fri 8 April The Gov Adelaide SA
Sat 9 April Kings Park Perth WA
THORNBIRD ‘THORNBIRD’
RELEASED 11TH MARCH 2022
NEW SINGLE ‘BULLETS AND HEARTACHE’
OUT NOW
