Local artist profile: Rose Norton

THIS week we chat with another self-styled emerging local artist whose practice spans signing and visual art.

What motivated you to become a singer and artist?

I have been singing for as long as I can remember. Though, I decided to start pursuing it as my main instrument after I quit playing the violin. I found I no longer enjoyed playing the violin and it had become mostly a chore, whereas I still very much enjoyed singing.

As I improved I noticed there was very little for me in Bendigo in terms of classical music so I branched out into some other genres so that I could learn different songs and hopefully start being paid to sing them. Hence, I now not only sing classical music, but also jazz and folk.

How would you describe your style and how did you develop it?

My style varies between the genres I sing. For jazz I like to try to create a fun sound which matches the feeling of the song along with emphasising certain words with different tones in my voice. I love using vibrato and adding little embellishments to songs to make them my own.

For folk I use a slightly more laid-back tone, though will still belt in choruses when appropriate.

And, for classical, my voice is still maturing and I have a long way to go. I am a soprano singer as my voice sits in a higher range of notes. The highest and most difficult song I perform is Doll Song from the Tales of Hoffmann which goes up to an E flat 6.

As an artist, I love working with lots of colours that mix and blend together, which has led me to mainly using paint pouring and watercolours for works I use colour in. I also like to use oil pastel and soft pastel. For portraits and drawings I generally use pen.

Which other bands or musicians inspire you and why?

While I don’t actually follow any bands, I do have a few favourite composers such as Fauré and Sibelius. Fauré because I love the sound of French classical music, especially “Après un rêve”, and Sibelius as I am half Finnish and (he) is a famous composer from Finland who wrote some beautiful Finnish and Swedish songs.

Earlier in the year I got to hear the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra play Finlandia by Sibelius. It was wonderful. In jazz I love listening to singers such as Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, and in folk I love Vashti Bunyan’s voice as she is also a soprano and has a lovely style.

How can people check out your music online?

Instagram: @roseknorton, Facebook: Rose K Norton and SoundCloud: roseknorton

Do you have any gigs coming up?

I will probably be at the Golden Vine at most open mics to sing jazz and folk, and for classical I will be singing at Langley Estate as part of their concert The Next Generation on 3 of September.

What would you say to young regional aspiring musicians who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

As a young regional aspiring musician myself, I am taking this advice as well. Apply for everything you can. Look out for grants and council opportunities. Perform in open mics, talk to people in the industry. As they say, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.