By Luke Voogt
Kasey Chambers might be one of Australia’s most-acclaimed country performers but for her nothing beats a live crowd.
“There’s nothing I get a personal buzz out of more than being on stage playing songs to people,” she said after returning from touring Tasmania Tuesday.
“Not every song goes over but I like being out there on stage and figuring out what work best.”
The multi-ARIA winning singer songwriter will be back in Geelong next Thursday (20 April) as she tours Australia with her new album Dragonfly.
“This is a really full-on touring year for me,” she said. “We go a bit insane doing it but we love it.”
Chambers released Dragonfly on 20 January after recording it with brother Nash and music legend Paul Kelly.
Her favourite song Ain’t No Little Girl “is definitely the song that holds the album together”, she said.
“I wrote the song a few years ago and never played it. It just sat in the cupboard for a long time.”
“(It’s about) this strong powerful person in there that can override all your weaknesses.”
The album had songs for a louder gig or “an audience that listens”, Chambers said.
But she promised to return to the hits that made her a household name when she performs at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.
“We always go back to The Captain, Barricades and Brickwalls and Not Pretty Enough.”
Not Pretty Enough helped Chambers burst into the mainstream when it topped the Australian charts in 2003.
“I like how that song has helped young girls get in touch with themselves,” she said.
“And it bought me a house so that’s nice.”