Hat Fitz & Cara
Renowned blues duo Hat Fitz and Cara have built their reputation over the years on the base of their dynamic, stomping live shows. These shows have always been complimented by their records, however recently they began to feel themselves drifting away from these foundations so decided to refresh everything.
“We began to realise that the Do Tell album felt like it was moving away a little too much from what we actually were as a live act,” explained Cara Robinson. “The record [Do Tell] sounded great but when we went to perform it live it just didn’t feel as powerful, so we found ourselves dropping a lot of those songs from the set lists.”
With these thoughts floating around in the back of their minds the pair both thought it was time to try a new direction, so when they were referred to engineer Govinda Doyle, the man behind Angus & Julia Stone’s Big Jet Plane, they had to at least consider him.
“We really enjoyed our first meeting with Govinda and clicked right away, which is always good. Plus he had an old concrete water tank, that we would go on to record in, which appealed to me,” said Fitz.
With Govinda guiding them, the duo chose to strip everything back, which they both said “made it easier and let the music flow more naturally and fluently”. Obviously by doing this the music has changed quite significantly, but Cara reassures fans “they’re our ears and their feedback is very important to us, but this feels so right to both of us”.
As part of their extensive national tour the duo arrive in Sydney this weekend and we’re in for a special treat as fans have the opportunity to catch them performing live twice on the same day in very different settings.
The first show will see them take to the water as part of Blues On The Water, which Cara explained will be a very “stripped back show”. Then later that night fans can head to The Basement to see the duo take to the stage with two choirs accompanying them to play all of the new originals.
Fitz credited his partner for her efforts in pulling together all of the aspects of this evening show, saying: “Cara has done all of the organising to get these choirs together, teaching them the songs and what not, so its been a hell of a lot of time invested.” To which Cara added, with an excited laugh: “It’s been wild but we’re all very excited and looking forward to it.”
Jan 28.
Show One: Blues On The Water, departing No.6 King St Wharf at 11:45am. $60. Tickets & info: www.bluescruise.com.au
Show Two: The Basement, 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney. $25-$85. Tickets & info: www.thebasement.com.au
