Local gem Nat Ripepi is all set to release her second full length album in the next month, and naturally the chanteuse is quite excited about the prospect.
‘After quite a few choices I went with Piece By Piece,’ Ripepi recently told OUTinPerth, ‘which is also the name of one of the songs on the album. It seemed to represent how the album came together… piece by painstaking piece.’
After the release of her debut album, Universe, Ripepi packed up her life and headed to Melbourne. Things didn’t work out as planned, so Ripepi jetted off to England and started from scratch.
‘I went back to doing open mic nights, which I’d actually never done before, so It was a very grounding experience to have gone from being well known in Perth to being a nobody on the other side of the world,’ she said.
‘Fortunately, I quickly became friends with a bunch of really talented musicians and songwriters and things started to take off. I was gigging and writing a lot, touring and having a ball.
‘By the time I came back, so much had changed that I felt like I had to start all over again here as well.’
Ripepi herself has changed somewhat, a change which is apparent throughout this new album.
‘I’ve definitely matured,’ she laughed.
‘My voice has matured, my songwriting has matured, but essentially “my sound†is pretty much the same.
‘I love music that is real. No computer trickery, just guitars, piano, strings, drums and voice. I love songs with heart and I hope people will think my music is real and has heart.’
Of course, there is a certain cost that comes with recording an album, a cost that is both emotional and financial. And while it may be easy to reimburse the emotional cost with the satisfaction of the album’s release, the monetary side is all that bit harder to gain back.
‘Before you start,’ Ripepi said of figuring out finances, ‘have a look at funding options that could help with the expenses of recording, or do what I did and spend a couple of years saving and saving.
‘Next is pre-production which is essential to get the best out of your budget. Spend time rehearsing and recording home demos and trying different approaches when you don’t have to pay for it.
‘Make sure you are 100 per cent ready to go when you hit the studio, so you don’t waste precious time (and money) mucking around figuring out parts. Then find some studios and talk to a few different producers/engineers to find the one that is right for you and the sound you want.’
Nat Ripepi’s Piece By Piece will be released nationally October 30 through Firestarter. To hear snippets from it why not head along to see Pat Benatar and The Bangles in Kings Park on October 29, for whom Nat Ripepi will be opening.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
