It’s no surprise that “Not For Love Or Money”, the debut album by Aussie roots/rock powerhouse Dallas Frasca has a sense of exhilaration and dynamics throughout. That’s because Frasca and her partner in crime, Jeff Curran (guitarist) wrote the tracks during a heavy-duty bout of touring.
“It was recorded in five studios around the country over an 18 month period — and was basically written to have an empowering impact on the listener,” reveals Frasca.
“Not For Love Or Money” lives up to that promise. It cuts a blue line through rock, roots, blues, soul and pop, while allowing Frasca to put a stamp on proceedings and add a sparkle to what goes down during her live shows. Frasca co- produced it with Forrester Savell (Helmet, Karnivool, Cog), and brought on board
guest appearances by Xavier Rudd, Adam Weston (Birds of Tokyo), Jacob Mann (Marshall & the Fro), and Liz Stringer, to provide greater depth and flavours. Frasca is more than a performer with fire in her belly. She is also a story-teller.
For instance, “I Like You Better When You’re Straight” (the first single) is about “those friends, usually cool and together, who suddenly morph into idiots when they’re out of it – and we all know someone like that!”
“Loaded Silence” was inspired by the time Midnight Oil invited her to play with them last year. “It allowed me to mingle with the activist minds of great songwriters such as Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie. The song reflects my realization there is a lack of documented truth about this country.”
The pop-tinged singalong “Til The End I’ll Walk Proudly” touches an issue that strikes a chord with her audience — “ The overwhelming contentment you feel when you are with someone right. It doesn’t matter what happens next….this is the right time, right place, right person.”
Frasca was born in Adelaide but grew up in Wangaratta, the daughter of a truck driver and hairdresser who loved music. Records played constantly in the Frasca household. Then came that moment when it all kicked in.
She recalls, “When I was 12 years old, I watched a film called ‘Crossroads’, based on the myth of Robert Johnson – music by Ry Cooder – and was blown away by the love, emotion and expression in the soundtrack of this film. I remember wagging school the next day and watching the film over and over again…that music is embedded in me. And it was from there that I got into heavy rock, metal and soul.”
By 18 she was on the road, displaying a sass and irreverence onstage reminiscent of Chrissie Amphlett or Suze Demarchi. Always an outlandish dresser, her bright red dreadlocks made her stand out (although they’ve also been purple, black and rainbow). The grunt in her voice was inspired by Aretha Franklin and Betty Davis. Then tragedy struck. She developed nodules on her throat and told not to sing for 18 months. “But it was actually a blessing,” she insists. It forced her to spend more time listening to great records, and also teach herself how to play guitar. The players who inspired her guitaring — Duane Allman, Bob Brozman & Mississippi Fred McDowell — were those who had a penchant to break the rules.
In 2006, she won triple j’s “Light Your Fuse” competition from over 500 entries. Her career exploded from there. Two songs hit the top position on MP3.com, she released an EP, major festivals invited her to play (such as Big Day Out, Falls, Bluesfest, Pyramid, Festival of the Sun, Queenscliff, Southbound, and massive European festival – Blues Passion Cognac). At every festival, Dallas is always amongst the highest CD sellers.
In early 2009 Dallas was invited to perform as one of seven artists from seven continents of the planet for International Earth Day in Montreal. It not only allowed her the thrill of holding a dialogue with fellow-artists about social and environmental issues, but she caught the ear of Canadian promoters who have invited her to come back and tour there.
“Not For Love Or Money” is the sort of record on which each listener will find a highpoint moment. But it creates a solidarity with its audience because is made by a performer who quite clearly lives and breathes music. It marks an exciting new career milestone for Dallas Frasca.
AWARDS
• Artist Of The Year – MUSICOZ AWARDS 2010
• Best Blues/Roots song for Thank You For Making Me Who I Am – MUSICOZ AWARDS 2010
• JJJ’s Top Ten Roots Album of 2009
• Adelaide Fringe “Best Live Music Act”, 2009
• Winner of JJJ “Light your Fuse”, 2006
• Twice Nominated for Independent Artist “Roots Song of the Year” award.
FESTIVALS PLAYED JAN 2010:
• Big Day Out
• Woodford Folk Festival
• Pyramid Rock Festival
• Australia Rocks, the Rocks, Sydney
RADIO SUPPORT and SINGLE/ALBUM SUCCESS
• Number 20, AIR Charts, September 2009; and number 9 on monthly Blues AIR chart.
• Airplay on Fox FM, Melbourne
• Airplay on NOVA (South Australia)
• Cover Story: Rip It Up, Adelaide, Oct 2009; X-Press Magazine, Perth, Oct 2009; Tsunami, Queensland, Feb 2010; Sauce, Tasmania, February 2010.
• “Indie Album of the Week” – Brag, Sydney, September 2009.
• “Album of the Week” – Tom Magazine, online, September 2009
• #1 on www.australianinternetradio.com, Oct 2009
• 4ZZZ in Brisbane – “I Like You Better When You’re Straight” – single of the week Sept, 2009
• Extensive community radio station support nationally.
• The Edge Radio, Hobart, Album of the Week, Sept, 2009.
• And in France: # 9 in the top 100 releases in France in the past year, on the Radio Baker Street chart.
FESTIVALS PLAYED IN LAST 3 YEARS:
• Pyramid Rock
• One Movement
• East Coast Blues and Roots
• Falls Festival
• St Kilda Fest
• Apollo Bay
• Southbound
• Festival of the Sun
• Queenscliff
• Point Nepean Festival
• Narooma Blues and Rockabilly Fest
• Down by the Damn
• Australian Blues
• Quicksilver Pro
• A Day on the Green
• Cairns Blues
• Adelaide Blues
Internationally:
• One of 7 artists from 7 continents of the world at International Earth Day in Montreal (April 2009);
• Blues Passions, Cognac, France (July 2009).
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Dallas Frasca has been crowned the Queen of Australian roots for good reason. ….. Frasca is a powerhouse of rock and her snarling husky vocals and chunky guitar riffs force anyone still sitting to their feet…. when heard live these down and dirty roots-rock tunes take the listener to another place.” Emma Heard, Time Off, September 2009
“If you like your rock molten, monolithic and propelled by passion and authenticity, it’s time to tune into Dallas Frasca.” Graham Blackley, Beat Magazine, September 2009.
“The modern day Janis Joplin” TRIPLE J
OF DALLAS FRASCA BIG DAY OUT SHOW (JAN 2010), TIME OFF WROTE: “With a clutch of direct songs roots dynamo Dallas Frasca plays a fiery set with gutsy, mean blues vocals and dual slide guitars for a primal performance. Lightening things up Frasca introduces ‘Leave Me Alone’ as a song about a stalker before musically tearing him a new one. After a stomping ‘I Like You Better When You’re Straight’ Dallas doesn’t go easy on her audience and converts any doubters through epic closer ‘Take A Look’.”
“Frasca’s voice seems to be getting more versatile and refined – she has the makings of a superstar.” Martin Jones, Inpress Magazine.
“Ok, so Dallas sounds a lot like Janis (Joplin). But wait, there’s more. This is a voice that’s getting better with age. On this album she exercises an enthralling, determined vocal control and demonstrates real finesse…… No matter what Dallas does in the recording studio, her briar patch is the roots festival circuit. You’ve never seen anything as extraordinary as a guy and a girl with a tambourine and a mandolin lashing out in an explosive electronic overkill to rival Jimi at Woodstock.” Bruce Hardy, Tom Magazine, August 2009
“Dallas’ music has barbs so rich that she turns her roots background into a dangerous new rock all her own. ” Mojo’s, Fremantle
Press
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It’s no surprise that “Not For Love Or Money”, the debut album by Aussie roots/rock powerhouse Dallas Frasca has a sense of exhilaration and dynamics throughout. That’s because Frasca and her partner in crime, Jeff Curran (guitarist) wrote the tracks during a heavy-duty bout of touring.
“It was recorded in five studios around the country over an 18 month period — and was basically written to have an empowering impact on the listener,” reveals Frasca.
“Not For Love Or Money” lives up to that promise. It cuts a blue line through rock, roots, blues, soul and pop, while allowing Frasca to put a stamp on proceedings and add a sparkle to what goes down during her live shows. Frasca co- produced it with Forrester Savell (Helmet, Karnivool, Cog), and brought on board
guest appearances by Xavier Rudd, Adam Weston (Birds of Tokyo), Jacob Mann (Marshall & the Fro), and Liz Stringer, to provide greater depth and flavours. Frasca is more than a performer with fire in her belly. She is also a story-teller.
For instance, “I Like You Better When You’re Straight” (the first single) is about “those friends, usually cool and together, who suddenly morph into idiots when they’re out of it – and we all know someone like that!”
“Loaded Silence” was inspired by the time Midnight Oil invited her to play with them last year. “It allowed me to mingle with the activist minds of great songwriters such as Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie. The song reflects my realization there is a lack of documented truth about this country.”
The pop-tinged singalong “Til The End I’ll Walk Proudly” touches an issue that strikes a chord with her audience — “ The overwhelming contentment you feel when you are with someone right. It doesn’t matter what happens next….this is the right time, right place, right person.”
Frasca was born in Adelaide but grew up in Wangaratta, the daughter of a truck driver and hairdresser who loved music. Records played constantly in the Frasca household. Then came that moment when it all kicked in.
She recalls, “When I was 12 years old, I watched a film called ‘Crossroads’, based on the myth of Robert Johnson – music by Ry Cooder – and was blown away by the love, emotion and expression in the soundtrack of this film. I remember wagging school the next day and watching the film over and over again…that music is embedded in me. And it was from there that I got into heavy rock, metal and soul.”
By 18 she was on the road, displaying a sass and irreverence onstage reminiscent of Chrissie Amphlett or Suze Demarchi. Always an outlandish dresser, her bright red dreadlocks made her stand out (although they’ve also been purple, black and rainbow). The grunt in her voice was inspired by Aretha Franklin and Betty Davis. Then tragedy struck. She developed nodules on her throat and told not to sing for 18 months. “But it was actually a blessing,” she insists. It forced her to spend more time listening to great records, and also teach herself how to play guitar. The players who inspired her guitaring — Duane Allman, Bob Brozman & Mississippi Fred McDowell — were those who had a penchant to break the rules.
In 2006, she won triple j’s “Light Your Fuse” competition from over 500 entries. Her career exploded from there. Two songs hit the top position on MP3.com, she released an EP, major festivals invited her to play (such as Big Day Out, Falls, Bluesfest, Pyramid, Festival of the Sun, Queenscliff, Southbound, and massive European festival – Blues Passion Cognac). At every festival, Dallas is always amongst the highest CD sellers.
In early 2009 Dallas was invited to perform as one of seven artists from seven continents of the planet for International Earth Day in Montreal. It not only allowed her the thrill of holding a dialogue with fellow-artists about social and environmental issues, but she caught the ear of Canadian promoters who have invited her to come back and tour there.
“Not For Love Or Money” is the sort of record on which each listener will find a highpoint moment. But it creates a solidarity with its audience because is made by a performer who quite clearly lives and breathes music. It marks an exciting new career milestone for Dallas Frasca.
SIZZLE SHEET
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AWARDS
• Artist Of The Year – MUSICOZ AWARDS 2010
• Best Blues/Roots song for Thank You For Making Me Who I Am – MUSICOZ AWARDS 2010
• JJJ’s Top Ten Roots Album of 2009
• Adelaide Fringe “Best Live Music Act”, 2009
• Winner of JJJ “Light your Fuse”, 2006
• Twice Nominated for Independent Artist “Roots Song of the Year” award.
FESTIVALS PLAYED JAN 2010:
• Big Day Out
• Woodford Folk Festival
• Pyramid Rock Festival
• Australia Rocks, the Rocks, Sydney
RADIO SUPPORT and SINGLE/ALBUM SUCCESS
• Number 20, AIR Charts, September 2009; and number 9 on monthly Blues AIR chart.
• Airplay on Fox FM, Melbourne
• Airplay on NOVA (South Australia)
• Cover Story: Rip It Up, Adelaide, Oct 2009; X-Press Magazine, Perth, Oct 2009; Tsunami, Queensland, Feb 2010; Sauce, Tasmania, February 2010.
• “Indie Album of the Week” – Brag, Sydney, September 2009.
• “Album of the Week” – Tom Magazine, online, September 2009
• #1 on www.australianinternetradio.com, Oct 2009
• 4ZZZ in Brisbane – “I Like You Better When You’re Straight” – single of the week Sept, 2009
• Extensive community radio station support nationally.
• The Edge Radio, Hobart, Album of the Week, Sept, 2009.
• And in France: # 9 in the top 100 releases in France in the past year, on the Radio Baker Street chart.
FESTIVALS PLAYED IN LAST 3 YEARS:
• Pyramid Rock
• One Movement
• East Coast Blues and Roots
• Falls Festival
• St Kilda Fest
• Apollo Bay
• Southbound
• Festival of the Sun
• Queenscliff
• Point Nepean Festival
• Narooma Blues and Rockabilly Fest
• Down by the Damn
• Australian Blues
• Quicksilver Pro
• A Day on the Green
• Cairns Blues
• Adelaide Blues
Internationally:
• One of 7 artists from 7 continents of the world at International Earth Day in Montreal (April 2009);
• Blues Passions, Cognac, France (July 2009).
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Dallas Frasca has been crowned the Queen of Australian roots for good reason. ….. Frasca is a powerhouse of rock and her snarling husky vocals and chunky guitar riffs force anyone still sitting to their feet…. when heard live these down and dirty roots-rock tunes take the listener to another place.” Emma Heard, Time Off, September 2009
“If you like your rock molten, monolithic and propelled by passion and authenticity, it’s time to tune into Dallas Frasca.” Graham Blackley, Beat Magazine, September 2009.
“The modern day Janis Joplin” TRIPLE J
OF DALLAS FRASCA BIG DAY OUT SHOW (JAN 2010), TIME OFF WROTE: “With a clutch of direct songs roots dynamo Dallas Frasca plays a fiery set with gutsy, mean blues vocals and dual slide guitars for a primal performance. Lightening things up Frasca introduces ‘Leave Me Alone’ as a song about a stalker before musically tearing him a new one. After a stomping ‘I Like You Better When You’re Straight’ Dallas doesn’t go easy on her audience and converts any doubters through epic closer ‘Take A Look’.”
“Frasca’s voice seems to be getting more versatile and refined – she has the makings of a superstar.” Martin Jones, Inpress Magazine.
“Ok, so Dallas sounds a lot like Janis (Joplin). But wait, there’s more. This is a voice that’s getting better with age. On this album she exercises an enthralling, determined vocal control and demonstrates real finesse…… No matter what Dallas does in the recording studio, her briar patch is the roots festival circuit. You’ve never seen anything as extraordinary as a guy and a girl with a tambourine and a mandolin lashing out in an explosive electronic overkill to rival Jimi at Woodstock.” Bruce Hardy, Tom Magazine, August 2009
“Dallas’ music has barbs so rich that she turns her roots background into a dangerous new rock all her own. ” Mojo’s, Fremantle