INTERVIEW: We Caught Up With Carla Wehbe For A Yarn At Big Sound 2022
Interview by Ciaran ‘Nixy’ Nix
Photo: Ash Lim
Eora singer, songwriter extraordinaire Carla Wehbe has been continually building momentum since the start of her career, recently culminating in the success of the massive single ‘is forever off the table?’ In a short period of time Carla has found her voice and established herself at the top of Australian pop music.
This was Carla’s first trip to Meanjin as a performing artist, her debut EP was just being released last time Big Sound was on two years ago.
Ungrained jumped at the opportunity to catch up with Carla at Ric’s Bar during the craziness of Big Sound 2022 for a little chat about the festival, her music and what’s to come.
You’ve got a gig at The Outpost tonight, what have you got lined up for the fans?
I’ll be playing a couple of songs that have been released. I’ll also be playing an unreleased song which will be really cool. I’ve never played that one before so we’ll see how it goes.
What’s the feeling like when you play an unreleased song?
Yeah there’s definitely some nerves because you haven’t had an audience's reaction before so you don’t know if it’s gonna hit or miss. But I love the song so I’m hoping people do as well.
What does it mean to be playing at Big Sound? What’s the feeling like for an artist?
It’s really cool to have been asked to do Big Sound. I’ve never been to Big Sound before so this is my first experience. It’s cool to be thought of and cool to be a part of something that showcases so many amazing artists and Australian music.
Have you met many artists while you’ve been here? What are you keen to see tonight?
I haven’t yet. We just flew in but I’m planning to see what’s happening tonight after my set, a couple of friends are playing so I’ll go support them and just see where I end up.
Your newest single ‘is forever off the table?’ came out in July how did it feel to release that and what has the response been like?
It was really cool to release that one. It was something I wrote with some of my best friends over a year ago so it’s been there for a while and I’ve been so excited to release it. You know how it is, you have to wait for the right time, so now it’s out it’s been getting a really good response which is all I could ask for. I’m so glad I was able to finally share it with everyone.
Your songs have a very big and cinematic sound, they feel like watching a movie for me personally, how do you go about building a song like that?
I think it’s just something that’s a part of me. They’re the kinds of songs that I’m drawn to as a listener, so when I make music I want people to feel that feeling as well, that kind of grand feeling. I guess that’s always at the back of my mind when I’m making music or choosing the sound, or deciding where a song ends up.
Where did the inspiration for ‘is forever off the table?’ come from?
I held a writing camp in March last year and in the session I was in we were just playing some chords, and I looked in my phone and I had a note and it said ‘is forever off the table?’ I thought that’s kind of cool, and I didn’t remember writing it. I sent it to the guys and I had recently gone through some stuff so it felt like the right title for the song. It kind of snowballed from there.
Have you noticed anything unique about Brisbane crowds?
This will be my first time playing. I actually haven’t played for a Brisbane crowd before, so I’m very excited to experience it for the first time.
Where is your favourite crowd around Australia, who goes off the most?
I’ve only really played in Sydney or Melbourne. Melbourne did go very hard I have to admit, but you know Sydney, the hometown, is always super supportive.
You mentioned you’d visited Brissy when you were younger did anything stand out?
I actually don’t remember much to be honest, I feel like I came once with my dad for a work trip that he had, and that’s my only memory of Brisbane.
Did you do a lot of travelling when you were younger?
My family travelled a lot so I have been fortunate enough to see many places in my time.
Do you think that travelling experience influences your music?
Yeah I definitely think it has a massive influence, experiencing different people from different parts of the world, having different kinds of interactions, it all opens up what I can draw inspiration from.
Where would your dream gig destination be?
One of the American venues would be sick, to sell out something like that would be really cool.
What’s your advice to any young artists out there trying to make it in the scene?
I would say always remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. It’s very easy to get caught up in everything else that goes on. It’s easy to get disheartened, but if you do something because you love it, it will never feel as hard. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to other artists and I know I’ve been guilty of that before, but it doesn’t really help you in any way. So focus on your own thing and do it because you love it and you will enjoy it.
When did you first realise you wanted to be a musician and do something with it?
Well I was late to the music scene. I started singing in general at the end of high school. I released my first song at the start of COVID, so kind of still getting into it, but definitely once I left high school I realised this is what I want to do but I didn’t know how to do it yet. So it’s been a couple of years now.
Well If you’re still getting into it I honestly can’t wait to see where you go, the sky’s the limit for you. Any messages you have for the fans out there?
Thank you for the support, thank you for listening to my music and keep supporting everyone, thank you.
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