Mel Tickle, Singer-songwriter, Little Scout
Success is the ability to live in the moment – and in that moment maintain an intense desire to learn and understand ...
Anyone who underestimates a lady’s ability to multi-task clearly hasn’t met Mel Tickle. Working as a graphic designer by day and masterfully crafting indie-pop tunes by night, the singer/songwriter Riverdances her way through her many obligations and interests with an unaffected ease. As one-quarter of Brisbane outfit Little Scout, Mel is joined by sister Kirsty on vocals and keyboards, Patrick Elliott on vocals, guitar and bass, and Miro Mackie on drums. Following the success of its debut album Take Your Light in 2011, the band has now released its acclaimed follow-up, Are You Life. Ahead of a hometown show at Black Bear Lodge on October 18, Mel sat down with The Weekend Edition to talk local venues and weekend essentials.
How do you like to start your weekend?
I usually spend Friday night out with friends seeing live music, theatre or films.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
I’m an absolute monster in the morning. I wake up as late as I like, roll out of bed and meet some friends for a big bowl of strong coffee and a nice afternoon breakfast.
How do you like to unwind?
Reading books, exercising, watching shows and casually browsing font websites.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Live music, pretending to have Riverdance skills on the dance floor, Campari and sodas, coffee, long walks, friends and family.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
I’d like to go to the Kelvin Grove Village Markets if I can drag myself out of bed before midday one Saturday. My friends and I have been meaning to try Brett Nolan’s new restaurant/bar Chop Chop Chang’s in West End.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
If we’re not touring I do things like cook, do laundry and go to bed early. My housemates call me ‘The Nanna’.
What are you reading at the moment?
I just bought three new books from Avid Reader: When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris, Just Kids by Patti Smith and The Family Law by Benjamin Law.
What inspires you?
Music, exceptional lyrics, science, consideration and great ideas.
What was your childhood dream?
To be a ballerina or an opera singer. Playing in a band is very fun and quite a similar career choice, except that you sleep on floors and often don’t have time to shower on tour. Very glamorous!
What has been your greatest achievement?
I feel incredibly lucky to have maintained a creative existence that I share with a beautiful group of friends. Playing at Splendour In The Grass with my very dear friends The John Steel Singers was a pretty life-changing experience.
What is success to you?
Success is the ability to live in the moment – and in that moment maintain an intense desire to learn and understand.
What are your words of wisdom?
‘Make your interactions with people transformational, not just transactional.’ – Patti Smith.
Describe a typical day for you … On weekdays I’m Clark Kent, working as a graphic designer. Of an evening, I put on my Superman suit and write music, rehearse, hang out with my housemates, read, watch stories or work on freelance jobs. There’s a lot of coffee involved and a little bit of sleep in there somewhere …
Little Scout has just released a new album, Are You Life. What was the recording process like and how do you feel about the end result?
We self-produced and self-recorded the album at Lush Recording Studios and d-Wizz Rehearsal Rooms in Brisbane. We did a lot of writing in the studio. Miro got to play with a mix of modern and vintage gear that was unfamiliar, and this process of discovery really helped us to embrace a louder, crunchier sound. Our mixer Lars Stalfors (LA) and mastering engineer Joe LaPorta (NYC) brought the record to life. Miro, Pat, Kirsty and I are extremely proud of what we’ve created together.
Which local creative folk have you got your eye on?
Holy Holy, Major Leagues, Go Violets, Violent Soho, Rolls Bayce, MKO, Bad//Dreems, Skinny Jean, Edward Guglielmino, The John Steel Singers, Josephmark, Silo Arts and Megan Cope.
What is your most beloved Brisbane suburb and why?
New Farm — it’s where a lot of my best friends live.
Only a local would know … Southside Tea Room has the best homemade lemonade. Yes, better than the lemonade that your kid made.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley.
Relax … In bed with a good book.
Dine … Depo, West End.
Indulge … Ortiga, Fortitude Valley.
Shop … Violent Green, Fortitude Valley and Boxvintage, West End.
Catch-up … Southside Tea Room, Morningside or The End, West End.
Be inspired … In our shared rehearsal space.