Adalita Srsen (/ˈsɜːrsən/, born 25 February 1971), known simply as Adalita, is an Australian rock musician who is a founding member of the rock band Magic Dirt and a solo artist. She released her first solo album, Adalita in 2011 and her second solo album, All Day Venus, in September 2013.[1]
Early life
Adalita was born in Geelong, Victoria on 25 February 1971.
She told Triple J's Richard Kingsmill in 2000 that she made her first guitar out of cardboard and wool, before she bought her first acoustic guitar. "I learnt a few chord progressions from a "how to" guitar book and then started writing and recording my own compositions, using two tape decks and layering guitar parts and vocal harmonies."[2]
Adalita told Australian Guitar magazine (when she became the first female to grace the magazine's cover) in 2005 that she "was 18 or 19 when I bought my first A$90 acoustic (guitar) for whatever strange reason I bought it for, on a whim. Then I got an electric maybe six months later and started on that – what was that – in like 1989, 1990."[citation needed]
In the early 1990s, she formed a band, Deer Bubbles, with Dean Turner.[3] While, this band didn't last long, by 1992, Adalita and Turner, as well as guitarist Daniel Herring, had formed The Jim Jims.[2] Adalita and Turner then formed Magic Dirt following the addition of drummer Adam Robertson.[1]
Solo work
2006–2008: "Double Dare"
In 2006, Adalita released her first material as a solo performer. She performed on two cover versions for the Mick Harvey-produced soundtrack of the Australian film Suburban Mayhem: "Double Dare" (originally by Hoyt Axton) and "Sex Beat" (Gun Club).[4][5] along with Harvey, Dean Turner and Rowland S. Howard who also played on the tracks.[5] A promotional video was made for the single "Double Dare", featuring Adalita and Suburban Mayhem star Emily Barclay.[6] At the time, such solo work were side projects and Adalita soon resumed work with Magic Dirt.
2009–2012:Adalita
Initially, Adalita harboured no intention to release her own music as a solo artist, but was enthusiastically encouraged by her Magic Dirt bandmate and mentor, Dean Turner, to undertake the production of her debut album. Production of the solo album commenced in 2009, with Turner responsible for production duties; however, in August 2009, due to a rare form of tissue cancer, Turner passed away.[1] The album was then completed in 2010, while Magic Dirt was on hiatus following Turner's death.
To coincide with her support slot on the Blondie and Pretenders double-headline Australian tour, Adalita released the 'Hot Air' EP on 26 November 2010.
On 28 April 2013, Adalita announced on her Facebook fan page that she had started work on her second album at Birdland Studios, with long-time producer Lindsay Gravina.[7][non-primary source needed] She informed her Facebook fans on 24 May 2013 that Jim White from Dirty Three recorded drums for the album over two days.[8][non-primary source needed]
Adalita appeared on Australian television program RocKwiz in June 2013 and performed a new track, entitled 'I Want Your Love'.[9] In July 2013, she previewed the track "All Day Venus" and announced a small run of Australian east coast shows to preview the new material.[10]
On 8 August 2013, music website mess+noise announced that All Day Venus would be released on 20 September 2013, and revealed the album artwork and track listing. The website also featured a link to the album's first single, 'Warm Like You', which premiered on Triple J the same day. 'Warm Like You' was released on iTunes on 12 August 2013.[11]
In an October 2013 interview, Adalita described the experience of recording the album with Gravina and a new band:
I thought initially I should get a new producer, but in the end there were so many other new things going on—new sound, new band. I figured I needed something more stable. He knows what he can extract from me.[12]
Adalita also explained that the album is about a transformative experience in her life that resulted in a learning process.[12] During the creation process for the album, she was influenced by American academic Joseph Campbell and mythology.[13] She also revealed that she is most comfortable in "bare" aesthetic surroundings and, in relation to the writing period for 'All Day Venus': "I like a lot of space and calm."[14]
The album was voted into the third position in the 2013 readers poll of mess + noise, an Australian music website, in which readers selected their favourite albums of the year.[15]
2022: Inland
In September 2022, Adalita released "Dazzling", and announced the release of her third studio album, Inland, scheduled for release in December 2022.[16]
In addition to the various collaborations that were undertaken with Magic Dirt, Adalita has appeared as a guest vocalist on songs by other Australian bands. In 1992, she appeared on Velvet (Down) Underground, a tribute album for The Velvet Underground, providing vocals to The Clowns Smiling Backwards' rendition of 'The Black Angel's Death Song'.[18]
In 2002, Adalita collaborated with Bodyjar on the 'Too Drunk To Drive' single and also appeared in the song's music video.[19]
In 2003, Adalita appeared on The Calculators' song 'Cellophane' that was included on The Secret Life Of Us 3 soundtrack album. Also in 2003, she was one of many guest vocalists during an edition of Triple J's Live at the Wireless segment, in which You Am I performed 'Jewels And Bullets' and 'Damage'.[20] Also in 2003, Adalita attended the 'Mushroom Music Writers Bloc', a songwriting workshop for Australian artists—she and 78 Saab's Ben Nash penned the track, 'Too Much Is Not Enough'. The track was featured as a b-side on Magic Dirt's "Plastic Loveless Letter".[21]
During the 2006 Big Day Out tour, Adalita appeared on stage with The Beasts Of Bourbon and Magic Dirt supported the band on a 2007 Australian tour.[22] Also in 2006, she appeared in the Australian short film The Desert by Glendyn Ivin.[4]
In 2007, Adalita collaborated with Katalyst (Ashley Anderson) on the track 'Bladewalker', from the band's album What's Happening; the track was released on 25 August 2007.[23] She also joined Katalyst on a national Australian tour in November of that year.
On 24 January 2009, Adalita appeared on an episode of RocKwiz and performed a duet with Gareth Liddiard (The Drones), as the pair covered The Saints' 'Messin' with the Kid'.[4][24][25] Adalita also appeared on the 2009 RocKwiz Christmas special, which was broadcast on 19 December 2009, performing a cover of The Pretenders' '2,000 Miles'.[4][26]
During December 2011, in the period leading up to the Christmas holiday, Adalita embarked on a tour of the east coast of Australia with fellow Australian musician Kevin Mitchell[27] (the pair had also toured together with their bands, Jebediah and Magic Dirt). Entitled "Good Evans it's Xmas" (Mitchell was performing in the guise of Bob Evans), the tour featured the pair performing a rendition of 'Must Be Santa',[28] a song that had also been covered by Bob Dylan in 2009.[29]
In 2013, Adalita recorded bass for fellow Melbourne musicians Dark Fair, as well as performances with the band at live shows.[30][31][non-primary source needed]
2013 also saw her reprise as guest on Rockwiz, where she performed a duet (with J Mascis) of 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around'.
Alongside Kevin Mitchell, Adalita was selected by Australia's Double J radio station for the August 2014 "Artist in Residence" role. Adalita and Mitchell presented two Sunday episodes individually throughout August 2014, and co-presented the final episode, 'Unforgettable Opening Lines', on 31 August. Adalita's individual episodes were titled 'Heartache & Pain' and 'The Dark Side'.[32]
Personal life
Adalita is a conservationist, a keen advocate of animal rights[33] and is also a vegan.[34] Adalita adopted a vegetarian diet around the age of 18 explaining, "It was a very easy decision to make and I never went back."[35]
During the promotional period of All Day Venus in September 2013, Adalita stated that she is a keen photographer.
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award.
The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music.
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
^Jenny Valentish (14 October 2013). "Adalita: All Day Venus". Time Out Melbourne. Time Out Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
^soinmaster (21 June 2007). "Bodyjar – Too Drunk To Drive"(Video upload). Google, Inc. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2013 – via YouTube.
^yeahproductions (23 September 2007). "Magic Dirt – at the Metro, 22/9/07"(Video upload). Google, Inc. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2013 – via YouTube.
^BobDylanVEVO (24 November 2009). "Bob Dylan – It Must Be Santa"(Video upload). Google, Inc. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2013 – via YouTube.
^Dark Fair (23 October 2013). "Let Yourself Be Free". Dark Fair at Bandcamp. Bandcamp. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
^"Discography Adalita". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
^Liberation Music (2012). "Adalita". Liberation Music. Liberation Music Pty. Ltd. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
