Me and my sister thought how can we see our favourite bands – I know lets support them! We used to sneak in with the band, and have to hide in the bathroom until the concert started. – Tania Bowers

Australian via Chicago act Via Tania is gaining wide recognition and appreciation worldwide with her melodic, atmospheric, and almost hypnotic folk music. I caught up with Tania Bowers as she was preparing to come to Australia once more to wow the crowds at St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Melbourne Sydney and Brisbane.

Tania began the interview in the laidback style much like her music. “I’m just chilling on the couch here in Chicago because its winter and everyone just stays inside-it’s really boring.” She straight away shows her Australian connection as she is not used to the Fahrenheit temperature in America “I’m so not used to the weather system here still, I reckon it’s about minus 12 degrees!” I ask about her Australian connection; “I lived in Melbourne until I was 14, then moved to Sydney and lived there till I was 22. I moved to Chicago at age 22.”

Via Tania was in Australia in November touring with Claire Bowditch and the Feeding Set and is loving being back in Australia so soon after. “I have a great balance now because I come back often now and because I live in Chicago I really appreciate all the great things about Australia when I do come back and I love it more.”

Tania began her love with music at a very young age, and started performing at the age of 17; “I definitely wasn’t legal! It was in 89-91, when me and my sister thought how can we see our favourite bands – I know lets support them! We used to sneak in with the band, and have to hide in the bathroom until the concert started.” Her biggest musical influence was her older sister who educated Tania on all things music “She learnt guitar, and she used to watch Rage and tape lots of videos for me. We also went to lots of concerts even though I was underage.” So does Tania feel like a veteran on the music scene; “I feel like it’s actually the beginning even though I’ve been touring for so long!”

So what can the audiences expect to see from Via Tania in 2008? “It is going to be a much fuller sound with bass, keyboards, drums-all the ground components. It is a much more atmospheric sound where we have been experimenting with slap pedals and old drum machines so producing a very organic sound” This tour comes after the release of the new album Moon Sweet Moon in 2007, which was actually Via Tania’s first release in almost six years. So how was the album received after this break? “You know I don’t think I’ve had one negative review at all! I’m in a great spot now-everyone is super positive.”

This album was the first project for Tania and Texan producer Craig Ross, whom she actually met down in Australia. It was obvious that Tania and Craig have developed a close friendship; “We had an immediate click, we are so similar and we definitely trust each other melodically-he has actually played with me a few times in my live shows. He’s encouraged me to strip everything back in my music and working with him has been such a learning experience, which is what we want out of music.” “He’s actually in the process of moving to Australia!”

Tania was clearly excited about the chance to play St. Jerome’s Laneway in Australia, “I love the festival feel and between the Laneway shows I’m playing some shows with Okervil River as well. I also hope to be back in Australia later in the year for some more headline shows so keep watch.” Tania’s humour and love of music was shown as we chatted about the ukulele-one of my favourite instruments, which she pointed out “have you seen the flying v one?-it’s super cool!”

Make sure you don’t miss the hypnotic atmospheric melodies from Via Tania during The St. Jeromes Laneway Festival