ARIA-nominated virtuosic violinist, composer and vocalist Véronique Serret announces February concerts in NSW, QLD and WA: feat. William Barton as special guest
She plays a six-string electric violin like a boss, has a haunting voice for the ages, is an orchestral concertmaster with the swagger of a Mauritian gypsy, and in May last year she released her first solo album called Migrating Bird - which was immediately ARIA-nominated. Now, virtuosic violinist, composer and vocalist Véronique Serret, an artist who defies classical stereotypes and forges unique musical pathways, has announced three concerts in February. Imagery: https://tinyurl.com/Imagery-here
Her album Migrating Bird is completely unique and has been described as a musical conversation with nature that bridges the gap between contemporary and classical music. It’s special.
It features field recordings from Véronique’s time spent around Mt Coo-tha in Meanjin/Brisbane, where she walked every day listening and learning from mother nature. Layers of violin are immersed in reverb, looped and delayed along with her distinct and minimal vocals. The violin is recontextualised by using the wood and hair of the bow as percussion, and Kim Moyes’ (The Presets) ethereal electronic production enhances the contemporary sound. Acclaimed Indigenous Didgeridoo player William Barton is featured on the album singing and playing electric guitar, as well as traditional language and her reflections on her homeland of Mauritius.
The three concerts just announced will see Véronique perform the full album with a band, and as a special guest, William Barton on didgeridoo and vocals.
While Migrating Bird is her first solo album where she has written and performed all the tracks, she has two other albums under her insanely talented wings – a solo Bach classical as part of a project with Sydney Dance Company and a solo electric violin of works composers wrote for her on Brisbane label Corella Recordings. There’s also a duo release and co-write with William Barton called Heartland, which was nominated for an ARIA (world music) in 2022 and won at Best Album at the AIR Awards 2023. Migrating Bird is now available on digital and physical platforms. To listen or learn more about the artist, visit her website.
Véronique Serret in concert feat. William Barton as special guest:
- Feb 14 at The Citadel – Murwillumbah: Veronique Serret Migrating Bird Album Launch
- Sunday Feb 16 in Brisbane at It’s Still A Secret, 48 Montague Road South Brisbane: Véronique Serret presents Migrating Bird — It's Still A Secret
- Wednesday Feb 19 at the Perth Festival: Perth Festival - Migrating Bird
Imagery: https://tinyurl.com/Imagery-here
ABOUT Véronique Serret and Migrating Bird
ARIA-nominated Véronique began learning the violin at three years of age, growing up in Sydney’s western suburb of Guildford. She has worked extensively with revered companies such as Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and as concertmaster of the Darwin Symphony.
A highlight was being invited to tour in Joanna Newsom’s band of which she played in for 10 years, and her skills directing string sections have been taken up by accomplished acts such as Damon Albarn, Mike Patton, Gurrumul, Neil Finn and Sarah Blasko. Most recently she toured Australia as soloist in Omega Ensemble’s Max Richter’s ‘Four Seasons Recomposed’.
Migrating Bird is Véronique’s first album in which she has written and performed all the parts herself. During the process she was mentored by Anne Bourne, an immediate disciple of Pauline Oliveros and the ‘Deep Listening’ movement. Migrating Bird sees Véronique using her voice for the first time throughout her compositions, with side A dedicated to the land and sky, and side B to water.
‘Topsy Turvy World’ embodies cyclical pulsating movements to reflect nature using a 6 string violin. ‘Carbon Footprint’ was directly influenced by Australian expressionist landscape painter William Robinson, and features haunting textural Didgeridoo from revered Australian musician William Barton. ‘Pelican Song’ features Véronique singing traditional lyrics sung originally by Warrane women who sighted a Pelican in Sydney Harbour, and ‘Dodo (In Memory)’ is dedicated to the extinct bird from her homeland of Mauritius, and also translates to ‘go to sleep’ in French, intended for children and babies as a lullaby.
In Véronique’s words, which also feature on the back of the LP, the album’s story can be surmised, “When the world stood still and our cities took pause, I turned to mother nature. I walked and walked and listened deeply. This is what she said to me.”
Contact details:
For media opportunities, please contact Kath Rose on [email protected] or 0416 291 493
