Remember Frente? That band with that ‘Kelly Street’ song that was so damned catchy that it was ingrained in the nation’s psyche in the summer of ‘92? After a quick survey of friends each reaction was similar, in that their faces would curl up into a big smile as they recalled how that song, with its sun kissed harmonies and mood of deep optimism, sound tracked a particular moment of their lives. “That song reminds of me of grade 4” said one friend while another declared that “Angie Hart was my first rock crush!”
Don’t mention that to Angie Hart though, as the singer and co-writer of that song still looks at her former band’s albatross with a hint of disdain and self loathing. “I still have a lot of trouble with that song” she confesses on the phone as she is out babysitting her nephews. “And you know, I never thought I would be like that ‘cause I look at other artists and I think that it’s terrible to do a live show and not play the songs that fans would like to hear. And now I’m completely about faced because I never play that song. I’ve got a little learning and growing up to do and some forgiveness of myself for that to happen.”
Hart is in a reflective mood as she details where she has been for the best part of last decade. After the collapse of Frente and of her relationship with boyfriend and fellow band member Simon Austin, Hart decided to pack up her bags and disappear from the nation’s conscious to live in LA with US session guitarist Jess Tobias. Together they established not only a new musical group called Splendid but a deeper union as they also married in 1996.
Unfortunately events took a familiar turn for Hart as her marriage ended in divorce and she decided to remain alone in LA to make sense of it all. “After my husband and I split up, I wanted to stay in LA for a little bit longer and just kind of experience it on my own and understand why I wanted to be there”. To compound the distress, Splendid failed to capitalize on fan anticipation by failing to release their debut album, ‘Have You Got a Name for It?’, internationally due to the record company they were releasing upon folding. The disappointment proved to be too much for Hart as she withdrew from music to enter a world that was quite unusual to her: A 9-5 job at a jewelry store.
Hart characteristically gives a nervous laugh when questioned about this decision. She counters the view that everyone has dreams of being in a band or on tour by stating that as a muso “you dream of having a regular wage and dream of having someone telling you what to do with your day instead of having to be self motivated every single minute of your life”. But Hart quickly adds that her experience in the work force rekindled her love for music and gave her an understanding on why most people are too afraid to enter the financially and emotionally unpredictable world of a musician. “It’s a very frightening thing to do, to just quit your job and put your faith in the fact that your craft is gonna provide.”
Hart is now experiencing a struggle of not whether her craft can sustain her, she is questioning her craft itself. A marked contrast to the last time she spoke to the media about recording her debut solo album. “I remember the last set of press that I did, when I was talking about how it was full of ease and how everything was happening for a reason. Since then it’s been difficult… I think I’m just really being forced into a place of not compromising. Part of me just thinks that I should just hurry up and get it done and I think that’s not gonna happen until everything is the way its supposed to be. So there have been a few hold ups and it has been trying and I think it’s gonna be great as a result!”
While the album is not set to hit the stores until next year, people can still catch a glimpse of Hart and hear some of the new material as she is about to embark on a series of intimate solo gigs. Hart is looking forward to these introductory shows despite this being her fourth time around the block touring as a new artist. She admits that the nerves are still there but it is now tempered with a sense of wisdom. “You start with two people and you work up to 200 again. It’s been fun and I totally get it now. You know, its more rewarding instead of turning up and having a ready made audience.”
With that comment Hart alludes that she was not particularly comfortable performing in front of Frente fans. When the band reformed for a rare series of shows last year the crowds left an uneasy impression upon the lead singer. “When we did the Frente shows it was a totally different audience. It was the Frente audience and I find them scary.” Hart is asked to elaborate on this. “There is just a bit more of an excitement that is not so grounded.”
Despite all the personal and musical setbacks that she has experienced Hart remains resilient and believes that although she harbors some regrets, she believes things are now taking shape at precisely the right time. “I do feel sad that I have not being able to be more open with myself and to just get out and give it a shot. But I am now and it’s the right time. It was exactly the path that it had to be and I’ve killed so many demons with getting so many opportunities to go in and see what it’s all about.”
With shows slated for Melbourne and Sydney this month, its now our turn to see what Angie Hart is all about.
Tour dates:
Melbourne
Thursday July 13 – with special guest d.rogers
Northcote Social Club
Sydney
Thursday July 20 – With special guest Ned Collette
The Vanguard, Newtown
