August Artist of the Month: Louise Bruce
This August, Highland FM’s 100% Home-Grown program is proud to spotlight Louise Bruce, from last month’s previously spotlighted band Ella’s Holiday. Hear directly from Louise about her passion for singing through the years and the joy she finds in collaboration and being a storyteller.
Straight from Louise…
I first started singing with my sister, Sally and Ray Young (ex-Bullamakanka fame) at the age of 17. We were an acoustic trio with a big emphasis on harmonies.
I’m not looking for a solo career, that’s not my thing, I enjoy the collaboration of working with other musicians and when it came to the “Stone house Stories concert”, it was all the musicians of Ellas Holiday who played with me. I continue to write songs and Stew continues to produce them with me. I love playing with Ella’s Holiday but it makes me wonder whether I am a singer of Jazz standards … or am I a singer/songwriter? I still don’t know- can I be both? What I know is -I am a musician who loves singing songs and turns out, telling stories
Our popularity soared on the Gold Coast and we were asked to open for Glen Campbell, Tommy & Phil Emmanuel and Mick Fleetwood.
And then reality kicked in, along with Cupid’s help, and I married and started raising a family.
Music took a backward step for 9 or so years and we relocated to The Highlands.
It was here that I met the local maestro, Geoff Harvey.
Geoff was the reason that I started performing again and I discovered my love of singing Jazz standards with him. We had a two year, twice a week show at Parmys woodshed in Medway. I felt privileged to play with such an accomplished musician and be part of a really fun team of people.
It was shortly after this time that another musician friend of mine wanted to put together a “Jazz” style band and this is how “Ella’s Holiday” began.
I have been singing and gigging for the last twenty (OMG) years with this fabulous band. Ella’ fellas are fun to work with and we all have a great working musical friendship that I am very grateful for. In the last several years however, I picked up my guitar and started writing songs. I recorded these tracks with guitar and vocals only, they then languished on my laptop for the next few years. I decided to share them with my muso/co-worker friend/Ellas Holiday pianist, Stewart Harrison. With Stews production and multi instrumental contribution and other guest artists featuring on a few tracks, Stone House Stories came to life. These songs are a collection of intimate stories of my friends and family and my own life experience.
I’m not looking for a solo career, that’s not my thing, I enjoy the collaboration of working with other musicians and when it came to the “Stone house Stories concert”, it was all the musicians of Ellas Holiday who played with me. I continue to write songs and Stew continues to produce them with me. I love playing with Ella’s Holiday but it makes me wonder whether I am a singer of Jazz standards … or am I a singer/songwriter? I still don’t know- can I be both? What I know is -I am a musician who loves singing songs and turns out, telling stories.
Fully explore Louise and the band at ellasholiday.com.au
