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Artist Watch: Globalize Interviews Claire Knight

Adelaide born indie pop artist Claire Knight is now making waves in the East Coast under the moniker FINGERTIPS. Globalize got in touch with the hypercolour lady to talk hometown pride, fashion and uhh….MOOSIK! 

CHECK OUT HER LATEST SINGLE SCISSOR KICK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ocEQMZyho

In a nutshell, what is FINGERTPS? 

FINGERTIPS is me! ...and the darling friends I rope in to be a part of this crazy project... musicians, producers, film makers, photogs, babin' model btchz, the usual ;)

So you’re originally an Adelaide girl, how long have you been living in Sydney? 

Yuh huh! I was born in Henley Beach baby. Well, not on the actual beach, that'd be weird... or actually super cool. Imagine a beach birth!? My mum was a bit of a hippy, but not to that extent.

I've been in Sydney for 2 years now. Wow. That's a while huh?

Do you feel Sydney is a good place to be as an unsigned artist? 

Being in Sydney puts you in front of the industry a lot more, so you'll have more of a chance of being seen/heard. But I really do miss the Adelaide music scene, it's so supportive and happening. Almost every venue is within walking distance, so there'd be nights where we'd go uni bar > jive > ed castle > rocket > supermild… Lather, rinse, repeat. Always great music, always a great crew. Being a musician and DJ in Adelaide was pretty damn fun.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m writing/recording the follow up to Scissor Kick, my first single. Well, I should say re-writing and re-recording. It was done, but I got a bit perfectionist about it and decided to change a bunch of things. I’ve also got about a kazillion other tracks/demos/random ideas on the go, obviously in various stages of completion. I have a short attention span, which isn’t helpful when trying to start and finish individual projects.

Where are you recording and who with?

I’m lucky enough to be working out of Savage Garden’s studio, smack bang in the middle of Sydney city. It’s the original Studio 301. It’s like something straight outta the 60s, but with plasma screens and walls full of ARIAs/APRAs/platinum plaques. It’s a little daunting to be honest, but really inspiring!! My producer is the very talented Craig Wilson. He used to front the band A Streetlight Song and is a touring member of iconic Aussie outfit The Church.

Who are your idols and do they influence your music? 

Awww… man… I don’t have enough room to list them all!! Growing up, my favourite artists were Madonna and The Shins. Polar opposites right? I really dig James Mercer… he is the most amazing lyricist alive and has such a knack for pop melodies. I’m a huge Jack White fan, I believe everything he touches turns to gold, same with Dangermouse and also Diplo. I’d die if I ever got to work with any of the above. I’m a music programmer and writer by day so am constantly discovering amazing new artists that rock my world and end up shaping whatever music I’m making at the time. Lately I seem to be gravitating towards strong, empowering and totally badass broads that are doing their own thing and doing it right. I’m totally into fierce femmes like Santigold, M.I.A., Little Dragon, Lykke Li, Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Iggy Azalea, Dominique Young Unique, Nikkiya, ESG, Azealia Banks, Roses Gabor, Twincest …. If you haven’t heard of my sisters, go stalk them immediately on my blog www.dirty-word.com

6. Your hair and the way you dress could be described as iconic. Talk us through your style.

Hah! Thankyou. I just get bored very easily, so my hair is always changing. Right now I’m rocking a bit of a tequila sunrise look; orange on top, pink at the tips. Last year I drunkenly let DCup shave half of it off and I got a pyramid tattoo on my skull!!

I like colourful, shiny things… kinda like a magpie, so the more colourful and shiny things I can wear, the better! I’m also really into the irony of adorning myself with pop-culture imagery. I have the most amazingly tacky William & Kate tee that a dear friend bought me in LDN, a sad but brilliant RIP MJ shirt that I got on the streets of NY, countless 90s band shirts which come in handy when I DJ at Teen Spirit (a 90s club in Sydney/Melb). I spend WAY too much money online through mad hustlers like Globalize (duh!) Black Milk, Lime Crime and DI$COUNT. I have a favourite shop in Brooklyn, NY where I order all my chunky gold hoops from, and a store in Katy, Texas that ship killer hologram shades my way. I tend to order in bulk and sell whatever I don’t keep on ebay or at Bondi Markets. When I have time I make things too. Although I’m currently without a sewing machine. Anyone got a spare you wanna send my way???

7. Do you guys have any other hobbies besides, obviously, making music? 

I’ve just started directed music videos! That’s pretty fun. I also DJ a lot, I go to fuckloads of gigs (totally saw Portishead on the weekend…ZOMG!!), I blog (www.dirty-word.com), I interview bands for Music Feeds and The AU Review, I tweet stupid things to celebrities, I git my nailz and my hair did, I skulk around Newtown and Surry Hills looking for the best sushi and coffee and I watch my housemate’s Gilmore Girls DVDs. That Lorelai, what a witty bitch!

8. Are there any live shows on the agenda? 

The last live show I did was Fringe Festival 2010 with my old A-town band consisting of City Riots/Mad Shapes members. Sigh. I miss those guys!

BUT… I’m putting together a new live show right now so 2012 is gonna be all about the Fingertips live extravaganza :)))))) soooooon child, soooooon.

9. What advice would you give to a young unsigned artist from a small town? 

Make friends with your fellow bands!! Local and interstate… you can help eachuzzah out in a big way. Put your tracks anywhere and everywhere online – triple j unearthed, soundcloud, bandcamp, faceblorg, even myspace as defunct as it may seem! READ BLOGS and write to those who you think will dig your tunes. When you think you’ve written a good song, don’t be afraid to scrap it and write a GREAT one.

Like FINGERTIPS on facebook – www.facebook.com/itsfingertips

Tweet Claire your favourite nail polish colour - @fingertipsHUH

And download Scissor Kick for FREE  -www.fingertipstunes.bandcamp.com