Larissa McKay

THE grime of East London is clearly on show through Larissa McKay’s bedroom window. We look out over Bethnal Green Road, perched above a kebab shop, as sirens sound and suspicious looking groups of hooded teens roam the street. But Larissa could not be happier. Her smile is broad and she is proud of her surroundings.

“I walk through East London everyday and I think, I f****** love this place. I am really going to miss it when I leave, just the pace and there is a real buzz around.”

Two years ago, the Australian singer/songwriter, who has been described as a ‘soulful piano balladeer’, packed her bags and made the bold decision to move from her Manly home in Sydney to London, one of the world’s largest and most competitive music scenes. At the tender age of twenty two, with no label backing and no friends or family to lean on, Larissa was about to embark on a tough journey.

Having completed her university degree, Larissa felt the itch that so many young Australians do – she wanted to travel. Her mind was set on America.

“I kind of wanted to do it as an excuse to go to New York and pretend like I was studying. But then a musical mentor of mine said, ‘why would you go there to do that? If you just want to do it for yourself you should just do it’.”

Larissa heeded this advice and went about booking seven shows for herself in New York and Los Angeles. The venues included the infamous Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard in LA and New York City’s best known and longest-running live rock venue, The Bitter End.

While in New York, Larissa met an English talent manager, who liked what he heard.

“He sort of stayed in touch, emailed me and said, ‘have you ever thought about moving to London? All of my networks and contacts are here’.

“I thought I would see what happened. Even if it didn’t work out I would have the chance to write some songs and have some fun.”

Larissa arrived in London in February 2010 and literally hit the ground running. A successful run of shows included gigs at the famous Troubadour, an old stomping ground of the likes of Jimmy Hendrix and Paul Simon; Camden Barfly; The Garage in Islington; and two shows at Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival, the largest showcase of unsigned talent in Europe. Larissa also enjoyed prestigious support slots for the likes of Sarah Blasko, Bertie Blackman, Eskimo Joe and Bluejuice. All of this occurred within a matter of weeks of arriving in the UK. Influential UK industry figure, Robert Horsfall, was so impressed he went as far as to describe her as “the hardest working unsigned artist in London”.

Larissa managed to stay level headed and continued to concentrate on the basics.

“I really wanted to develop my song writing more. I think [moving to London] has done that. I have been writing heaps and that has been really good. I have become more confident on stage. I think that I have also made my profile bigger since being over here.”



Figuring out how things worked in the UK was a huge learning curve for Larissa, especially in the elitist East London scene.

“I think it is quite different (to the music scene back home). Here people will listen to shit music if they reckon it is trendy. Australian’s don’t seem to tap into that bullshit.”

A few months into her London stay, Larissa fell out with her manager.

“I got to the point where I thought – I can do this myself. This is what I was doing in Sydney and I can book myself gigs. It was hard to begin with, carrying that bloody keyboard on the tube, thinking this is so tough.”

Despite the setback, Larissa stayed amazingly positive. She attributes much of this to her tight knit group of ‘London friends’.

“The Aussies over here have been so good. All my friends are just so encouraging and never say a bad word. They never make me doubt anything.”

She doubts she could have done it without her mates.

“Aussies are so positive, they just say ‘yes’. Like you invite them to a gig, they just want to do it. The glass is always half full with them.”

Unfortunately Larissa’s “amazing” time in London has come to an end. She’s admitted that she is “ready for home”.

“London has just been so good. Everything about it I have enjoyed, I have learnt a lot about myself”.

After so many positive reviews in the UK the right people Down Under have noticed Larissa. She has been signed to play the Festival of the Sun this December in Port Macquarie, sharing the bill with acts such as Art Vs Science, Dan Sultan and Ladyhawke. Having spent her final few days in London holed up in a studio, Larissa will also be arriving back in Oz armed with her latest EP, aptly titled The Songs That London Built.

Having experienced so much in London, Larissa was eager to encourage any young artist from Australia to follow in her footsteps.

“You just have to stay positive. It is going to be hard sometimes, but just think, every hard time you have you can write a song about it, so every experience becomes - Australian Times

LARISSA SAYS THANK YOU

SONGSTRESS DIGS OUR SUPPORT

BALGOWLAH’S Larissa McKay is launching a five­song EP, In The
Clouds, on November 16. The recording comes after much toil on the part of McKay and has
involved her travelling to the other side of the planet.
She lived in London for 18 months and travelled around Europe.
The former Mackellar Girls student had some incredible experiences there including performing at
the famous Ronnie Scott’s nightclub, playing at the Brighton Festival, and jamming with INXS.
“I was invited by a music lawyer friend and we ended up jamming, working out one of my songs,
and playing it,” she said. “What an experience.” As exciting as it was over there she said the northern
beaches would always be her home and the time came when she was ready to return.
She said the northern beaches provided a great platform for her music due to the network of friends
and supporters who lived on the peninsula.
“There is a strong sense of community on the northern beaches and it’s very supportive,” she said.
“Fortunately, people seem to likemy music— and I love to share it with them.”
McKay said she had had a lot of support in bringing her style of indie pop to the people and this EP
was largely produced with the assistance of crowd funding.
“I wanted to be able to say thanks to those who’ve helped me,” she said.
She chose the Williams St Studio (where Fairlight Folk operates) because she could decorate it
herself giving the room a personal touch.
“So the people who have supported me, especially, can come and have a good time,” she said. - Manly Daily

I had the pleasure of recently viewing Larissa at the prestigious Troubadour Club on her final show in London. Having travelled 17,000 kms from Australia, Larissa has spent the past 18 months on a musical journey of self discovery and ingenuity. A bit of a risk to take, some may say, but the rewards are evident with the upcoming release of her EP ‘Songs That London Built’. Building a reputation around London on her dedication and gorgeously delivered vocals, her new EP is no different.
Her time spent in London has allowed her the opportunities to play at The Great Escape, one of Europe’s biggest emerging festivals and events like The Aussie BBQ at Cargo with Eskimo Joe, Blue Juice and Hungry Kids of Hungary. She has also been fortunate enough to learn from the experience of two fellow singer/songwriters supporting both Bertie Blackman and Sarah Blasko. Larissa described her time in London as the best experience of her life.
”I’ve met so many lovely, talented and special people, written so many songs, struggled through the troughs and felt unreal happiness in the highs. I’ve made more of a name for myself and explored more of the world. It’s going to be so sad saying goodbye to the life I’ve created here, but it won’t be forever. I hope to be back next Summer to play some more shows. “
She will be returning back down under for a string of shows with Festival of The Sun in Port Macquarie, NSW on Dec 9 & 10 and The Beach Rd Hotel in Bondi, Sydney on Jan 31st. We wish her all the best and look forward to a return to London in the next few years. The EP ‘Songs That London Built’ will be out in December and be available on iTunes and all gigs.
We wish her all the best and look forward to her visit in the near future. Support here and purchase her music here - The Grapevine

Larissa McKay is the Sydney singer/songwriter taking the world by storm. She has spent the last year ascending the London live music scene. BWA had the pleasure of chatting to Larissa about her inspirations, her return to Australia for Festival of The Sun in December and her top tips for festival fashion. Stay tuned for more on all things FOTSUN on BWA!

What inspires you creatively?
I’ve been living in East London for the past year and a half and I love that everyone’s a bit quirky and likes to experiment with fashion and image. In terms of songwriting – I’m inspired by everyday life. My friends, relationships, the music I listen to, the books I read.

Where did your love of music come from?
My Nan was a dancer, my great Aunt a pianist and my Dad has an almost obsessive love for rock n roll & managed a band when he was younger. Thankfully it’s in my blood.

How would you describe your musical aesthetic?

People say it’s like Adele, Coldplay, SIA – indie/piano pop

How would you describe your personal style?

Mum told me I used to dress myself in weird outfits but she used to let me wear them out and about “because that was my personality”. I still don’t like to dress like everyone else but it depends on my environment and my mood really. I love that fashion is expressive and often reflects what you are like on the inside. I guess my style is kinda Sydney/grunge. I love my high-waisted denim shorts, bikerboots and brothel creepers.

Favourite designers?

Maske & Silence and Noise. I look at The Satorialist blog for little trend and style ideas too.

The one thing you don’t leave the house without?

Lucas paw paw ointment.

Favourite city?

Geez, this is hard. Sydney – there really is no place like home.

If you could have breakfast with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be and why?

The Dali Lama. I think he would have some pretty wise words to pass on.

What brings you to Festival Of The Sun and home to Australia?

It is such a great festival and when I got asked to play, it was something I couldn’t pass up. So I am coming home a little early in time to play and I’ll be straight back in to playing gigs with my band.

Will you be catching any of the other performances at FOTSUN?

Yeah definitely. I saw Ladyhawke a few years ago and she was awesome. I can’t wait to hear her new stuff. And my mates Hungry Kids of Hungary always put on a hell of a show so I’ll be front row centre for that one.

Will we be hearing anything new from you at FOTSUN?

Yes. I just went into the studio this weekend to record an EP, so I’ll be playing some songs off that. It’ll be out in December.

Top tips for festival style?

Have fun with your outfit. A festival is an excuse to get crazy.

Do you have your outfit planned for your performance at FOTSUN?

My friend Josie has a great label called Maske. She’s lovely and makes me something special for big gigs, so we’ll sit down and brainstorm some ideas and she’ll work her magic!

Listen to her below or visit here soundcloud.com/larissa-mckay - Breakfast With Audrey

Larissa McKay is an Aussie singer/songwriter currently based in London, who is heading back to Sydney in December for a few shows. Jennifer Peterson-Ward caught up with Larissa as she celebrated the launch of her new music video "Ricocheted", which you can view at the end of the interview!
Firstly, tell us your story thus far, how you got to where you are now?
How much time do we have?
Growing up I guess I was more a dancer than a singer, but I always remember music being a big part of my life. When I was 13 I started singing lessons and then at about 16 I started playing the family piano and taught myself by ear and wrote my first song (it was rubbish). A few years later I joined a jazz funk band and then later formed my own band, and we began playing my originals around Sydney. We recorded an EP called Soldier and I still play some of those songs live. I did a degree at Uni and met some great people and reconnected with an amazing friend, Mr Percival, who then produced my second EP called Just the Wind. I booked a small tour round The States and played seven shows in LA and NY including the Viper Room- I didn't overdose. I met a guy in NY who's now my manager and he suggested I move over to London. I thought why not - and in January this year and packed up my things and began gigging around the city and learned how to use a washing machine. I've played some festivals, heaps of gigs and made a film clip for my song, Ricocheted. It airs on RAGE this Saturday morning.
You've previously played as part of groups (including the Groove Syndicate) - do you feel you have more control over your career as an independent singer/songwriter?
Definately. Everything is so much easier to plan and I've found I've achieved more since I've been playing solo. But there is something really magical about playing with other musicians - those people become your closest friends. Creating music and sharing those moments on stage is really special. And of course there's so much more to play with dynamically and there's more ideas to bounce around. Can you tell I haven't played with my band in a while?
How would you choose to describe your music to someone who was unfamiliar with it?
I'd say it's piano pop rock.
What have been the major influences (musical or otherwise) on the crafting of your sound?
I can't really hear my influences in my music but if I only had an ipod mini to take to jail it'd put these on it. John Mayer, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Amos Lee, Band of Horses, Hot Chip, John Farnham, Yeasayer, Paramore, Gomez, Jamie Cullum, Sara Bareilles, SIA, Kings of Leon, Queen, Robyn and some dubstep. I write about my experiences, so my friends, relationships and where I'm living affect what I write about.
You've toured extensively around both the US and UK - how does playing on the international scene compare to Australia? Which do you prefer?
I guess the main differences are the amount of noise the audience makes. In the USA everyone was real keen. They'd come up after I played and chat and audiences were really receptive and vocal. Over here in London on my first big note I'll have the audience and they won't talk again till I finish my set. Then at home, Australian's just "wooooo" the whole time. It's hilarious.
You've played alongside some pretty big Australian names on the local music scene (including Hungry Kids Of Hungary, Dappled Cities, Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe) and Bluejuice) - do you ever feel like you’re in a hurry to compete with other emerging artists and to improve on what you do?
I guess I'm always wary of where everyone's at, but everyone moves at a different pace. Some of my friends have had great success in the past few years and I'm real happy for them. If I'd been offered a record deal a few years ago I wouldn't have been ready. When I make my first record I want to know that it's the best I could've done. There's no hurry, but in saying that, you have to be hungry for it and work your arse off.
What has been the major highlight or highpoint in your musical career thus far?
I played at The Great Escape Festival in England in May and I saw a young girl and guy at both my shows and they were singing along and that blew me away.
When a fan goes to one of your shows, what can they expect?
I'd hope that they'd feel something. Familiarity? Sadness? Happiness? Tingles? Any of those will do.
What are your hopes for the future? What are your plans from here?
I'm coming back to Sydney to play a few shows over Summer. I haven't been submerged in water for over nine months so I'm getting a bit edgey. I'll do some recording with my band, then do a tour in both Aus and the UK on the back of that. Ultimately I'd love to land a record deal and record something I'm really proud of and play shows across the world where the audien - AU Review

Ahead of her appearance at Festival of the Sun this weekend, the lovely Sydney-bred, London-based songstress, Larissa McKay, had a chat to Lip about moving across the world, playing festivals, and writing.

How are you feeling ahead of your set at Festival of the Sun in Port Macquarie next week?
It feels kinda surreal to be honest. I can’t wait to hit the stage at an Aussie Festival and to see all the other bands play and hang out with my friends. It’s going to be a cool chilled out weekend.

Have you ever played a camping festival before?
No, this is the first time.

Is there a different atmosphere between playing a camping festival compared to a one day festival?
Definitely, there’s a sense that you’re all locked away together for a few days and magic can happen. The best weekend of my life was at Bestival – a camping festival in the UK.

What can we expect from your set?
Hopefully you feel something, whether it’s a sense of fun, or you relate to my stories or you like the way I sing. I always try to connect with my audience.

Is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing?
I can’t wait to hear Ladyhawke’s new stuff as I really enjoyed her first record, and my mates Hungry Kids of Hungary always put on a hell of a show. But there’s heaps of bands I haven’t seen play and I love that about a festival – you discover artists you didn’t know about before.

You’ve finished a uni degree, what was it? What career would you be pursuing if music fell through? Does that influence your music at all?
I studied Journalism and music. I still do a little motoring and music journalism on the side. I really like writing, I guess it’s in the same realm as songwriting which definitely helps me be more judgemental of lyrics and I really try and get the best out of each line.

You moved from your home in Sydney to try and set up your career in London a few years ago, why did you choose the UK? Would you go about it differently now in hindsight?
I played a show in New York a few years ago and met a guy who became my manager. He was based in London so I thought I’d give it a shot. I wouldn’t change a thing, I enjoyed myself and grew so much as a singer and a songwriter. I met some of the nicest and craziest people and got to travel round Europe in between shows.

You’ve toured in the UK, America and Australia, do you find the audience differ at all? Were there any memorable experiences?
Yeah, it’s funny, Australians “woo” a lot, the English listen attentively and applaud, and the Yanks love to come up after and have a chat. It’s all been great – playing the Aussie BBQ in London was pretty awesome. The sound was great and everything sort of fell in to place.

You switch between playing solo and playing with a band quite a bit, do you prefer either over the other? What are the dynamics like?
I love the intensity of playing solo, there’s nothing like silencing a noisy audience all by yourself. But I really love playing with my band. They’re great guys and we can do so much more with a song in regards to groove, dynamics and energy. I try to do a bit of both and have the best of both worlds.

You’ve just finished your EP Songs that London Built, what are you expecting the reception to be like?
I try not to think too much about that and just enjoy the process of recording and releasing new material. I’ve played all the songs live and know my fans like the tunes, so I just let the songs speak for themselves.

Now that you’re back in the country, can we expect a tour or an album in the near future?
Yeah, I’m planning some interstate shows with the band over the next six months, then I’d really like to record with them after we’ve been on the road. I’m not sure whether that’ll be a record or a follow up EP.

In an ideal world, who would you like to collaborate with?
Geeez, I would love to write and play with John Mayer, Dallas Green, Sia, Chris Martin, John Lennon, Subfocus.. Maybe we could form a supergroup?

Larissa McKay will be playing at Festival of the Sun this weekend in Port Macquarie alongside artists including Ladyhawke, Dan Sultan, and Art Vs Science! The festival is now sold out so if you missed out on tickets, make sure you get in quick in 2012!
- Lip Magazine

Interview - see photos - The Brag Magazine

Larissa McKay featured in article on unsigned artists & bands.
Copy in IMAGES section on Sonicbids EPK - TV Hits Magazine/Pacific Magazines

See Larissa & the Wild Grey JJJ Unearthed in IMAGES in Sonicbids EPK - Manly Daily

See Opera House Article in IMAGES in Sonicbids EPK - Pennisula Living

See GIG Review in IMAGES on Sonicbids EPK - Drum Media

See Opera House Article in IMAGES in Sonicbids EPK - Pennisula Living

I chanced upon "Ricocheted" while searching Youtube for a pronunciation guide on how to pronounce 'ricocheted' because I was rehearsing a monologue which had the word and I didn't know if the 't' was silent. The music video for the song was the first video that showed up in the search list on Youtube and being the ever-so-inquisitive person that I am, I clicked on the video and fell in love with the song at first listen. The Australian songstress' mellifluous vocals add colour and depth to the beautifully-written song, seamlessly melding to become an acoustic masterpiece. - Musichel

Larissa McKay 12pm – Sat
With her infectious new single Boat getting airplay in Sydney and Melbourne – which ascended to #1 on Triple J’s Unearthed pop chart – and a forthcoming five-song EP on the launchpad, nice things are happening for Northern Beaches singer/songwriter Larissa McKay.
Now comfortably embedded back in the Sydney music scene, Larissa is enjoying the sand between her toes after three years spent performing and recording in London.

 Described as “the hardest working unsigned artist in London” Larissa played many prominent London clubs including Ronnie Scott’s and shared the bill with fellow Aussies Sarah Blasko, Eskimo Joe, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Ellie Goulding and one memorable night jammed with INXS. Festival appearances included The Great Escape UK, Festival Of The Sun, and The Aussie BBQ.

 Along the way, her song Ricocheted (a previous #1 on JJJ’s Unearthed pop chart) won her a Billboard Songwriting Award, and her UK-made music videos were shown on the ABC’s Rage, as well as being a finalist in MusicOz for 2013.
www.facebook.com/larissamckaymusic
 - Finders Keepers

Speed Date With Larissa McKay

1. What Do You Look For In A Band?
I’ve played with a diverse mix of musos over the years and now I look for personality fit over anything else. I want to share the experience with people I like to hang out and have a laugh with. Also, they have to be a great player, be reliable and like my songs. I let each player bring their own style to the song as it gives each track a new life and the player feels more invested in the project.

2. Keeping Busy
I’ve been busy planning my EP launch, from fairy lights to choosing the venue to contacting press. I’m so pleased it’s all come together and I can tie some of the loose ends up in my head and celebrate. I’ve also been working on some collaborations with DJ/producers L D R U and Yahtzel and have another collaboration going that’s more an R&B/pop vibe. I’ll be touring interstate over summer, so I’m really looking forward to playing the EP to new audiences and making a music video for the next single.

3. Best Gig Ever
One of my sets at The Great Escape Festival in the UK was pretty magical. I played in an old church and the acoustics were beautiful, the room was silent and it was a great accomplishment for me career-wise. Worst gig has got to be when I was first starting out. Larissa & The Wild Grey played at the Cat and Fiddle in Balmain on Mother’s Day and my extended family came to watch, and up the front was a drunk yelling, “Where’s ya fuckin’ guitarist?!” Kinda funny now though.

4. Current Playlist
At the moment I’m really digging downtempo electronic stuff like Safia, Chrome Sparks, Purity Ring and London Grammar. I can’t go past City and Colour and John Mayer though, they’re my favourites. I saw Daughter play at Splendour this year and they were really captivating and gave me goosebumps.

5. Your Ultimate Rider
I just discovered COYO ice cream, so if we’re playing this game, definitely a tub of that, booze, a masseuse and an array of keyboards. - The Brag Magazine