Brisbane act george are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark debut album Polyserena with a national tour. Debuting at #1 on the ARIA charts in 2002, Polyserena launched george onto the national stage, earning them six ARIA nominations that year. Ahead of a rare WA show at Perth Concert Hall this Friday, December 9, BRAYDEN EDWARDS spoke to Katie Noonan to reflect on the album’s legacy, and how it feels to be taking it on the road 20 years later.
Congrats on celebrating 20 Years of this landmark album! How has it been getting out on the road and back on stage again?
Thank you! It has been incredibly special to return to the songs and work them up with an awesome new multi-generational band. The band has always been a family band, we started with two sets of siblings and in this new iteration we have my 17 year old son Dexter Hurren on drums. Alongside him are two fabulous young musicians – Brandon Mamata on guitars and Lachie Symonds on bass. This will be the first time Brandon and Lachlan have ever been to Perth!
It’s been super special to explore the songs and stories that we shared 20 years ago and perform them now with 20 years of living in between. My last gig with george was at the Sydney Opera House forecourt in Jan 2005. I was six months pregnant with Dexter in utero, so it feels like a super special full circle moment to be making music with him now almost 18 years later.
When was the last time george performed in WA? And what’s the biggest difference between the band now and when you were last here?
We did a special one off show at Kings Park for our 20th anniversary as a band a few years back with the original five-piece line up. It was a beautiful balmy summers day on beautiful Noongar Country. We have lots of amazing memories of special gigs on Noongar Country.
There wasn’t too much on the radio like Polyserena at the time it came out, but what were you listening to at the time that you felt shaped the sound of the record?
I would say the major influences at the time were Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos, Portishead, Massive Attack and Radiohead.
Your background in music, and particularly within your own family, must have played a big part of that too?
Oh yeah – my family was all about music and writing. My father was an ABC journalist and producer and my mum a professional opera singer and educator. Our home was full of music and the news 24/7 basically!
And how about the lyrics on the album? Do you feel you still connect with how you were feeling at the time of writing the album, and has that changed over time?
I am still super proud of the young woman who wrote these songs, and interestingly they still have something to teach me again 20 years later.
Looking back at 20 years, what has been the highlight of making music since 2002?
Ohhh that’s a very tricky question. I would say touring with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, creating Les Illuminations with Rafael Bonachela and the Sydney Dance Company and The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and recording and touring my album With Love and Fury with the Brodsky String Quartet. I am also fiercely proud of my album Emperor’s Box with my band The Captains and my last all originals album Transmutant.
What’s next for you musically, and otherwise? Anything exciting coming up in 2023 and beyond?
I am super excited to be recording my new album of all originals with my new band – featuring my son Dexter On drums and brilliant bassist Steele Chabau next year. I am currently composing a choral cycle with Iranian/Kurdish writer Behrouz Boochani for a new production of Women of Troy in Hobart in March, I am also writing my new album with my trio Elixir, featuring my hubby Zac Hurren on saxophones and Ben Hauptmann on guitars.
