I joined Sunas in 2001 when I was 19 years old. I came from a classically trained background in flute, having done all of my grades and smashing a 92% mark on Grade 8 (no apologies for bragging there, it is still one of my biggest achievements!). As much as I loved (and still love) classical music, I was so burnt out by the rigidity of it. There is no room for improvisation, no 'funky version' you can practice for exams, and I began to resent it. My flute was an extension of myself, but I began to think that surely there must be more than just classical music.
Oh yes, there was. Musical theatre!
I enrolled in a Bachelor of Music Theatre uni course & spent a year in Mackay learning the ropes of singing, dancing, tech work, lighting, costuming, workshops & major performances from some of the most incredible teachers in Australia. I loved that year of uni. Unfortunately the dancing was valued very highly, and I have two left feet. My version of dancing makes me look like a frog in a blender. So after a year of music theatre, I came home to Brisbane and started wondering what else was in store for me. One night in February, my Mum & Dad went out to the local Dooleys at Meadowbrook (now known as the Meadowbrook Hotel) with some friends of theirs. My Dad came home raving about this band that was playing, called Sunas. My parents knew I missed music desperately, so after having a look at the line-up (guitar, fiddle, bouzouki & keyboards), Dad enquired as to whether they were looking for a flute player. The bald guy in the band promptly replied, 'Are you sh*tting me?!' Apparently Sunas had been advertising for a flute player who could sing harmonies for months.
WELL. Dad gave me their card and told me they wanted me to send them an email listing my experience. I'd had NO experience in Irish music, but I loved the music from Riverdance & Lord of the Dance (I know - I literally was 'green!'), and I knew just enough to know that I wasn't keen on Foster & Allen. My Mum told me that I should really sell myself and make them think that I would be perfect for the job. Keen on impressing all of Sunas, I sent off a ten page email (I kid you not!) to Paul & Helen telling them how qualified I was.
Paul later told me that everyone killed themselves laughing at my email, because I sounded completely wet & eager. Oh well :) But they loved my enthusiasm enough to want to meet me. We all met up for the very first time at Gilhooleys Chermside, which was Sunas's next gig. That night I met Mannie McAllister (bouzouki & mandolin), Rachel Witney (vocals & fiddle), Helen McDiarmid (keyboards & vocals) & Paul Brandon (guitar).The first song I heard them play was 'Ride On' by Jimmy McCarthy. I completely fell in love with this type of music after watching Sunas play. Their songs & tunes were tight, their sound was so full! And they laughed a lot. I REALLY wanted to be in this band.
I had two auditions (neither of which were known to me!). The first one was simply having a chat over a coffee. They wanted to know about my musical background, but they also wanted to know if my personality would fit in with their peculiar brand of humour. I took the piss out of Mannie & Paul in the first 15 minutes & passed Round One. Round Two was my ability to pick up tunes quickly. Apart from a crash course in jigs & reels from Mannie & Helen, I was on my own. But I love to improvise, and the very first tune I learnt was Charlie Harriss's on my brand new Clarke D whistle. I passed. I was a member of Sunas! Sarah Calderwood (flutes, whistles, vocals). Mannie & I bonded immediately. He's such a naughty boy, we'd giggle and talk utter bollocks for hours. Not to mention rehearsing like demons - it was so lovely to find someone who was as obsessed with music as I was. I love Mannie to pieces, he's my best friend and like a brother to me. Helen & I bonded over crap songs & our dirty, cracked humour. She was my second Mum and a wonderful musical mentor. I miss her every day. Paul & I, well, we bonded in a different way - we argued & traded outrageous insults a lot - we were best friends, but each other's wit-sharpening post (and still are). Paul & Mannie challenge me to be the best musician I can be – they have certainly kept me on my toes. Early on I began to view Sunas not as a band & business, but as family. That’s how we roll, yo.
Here's a pic of my very first rehearsal with Sunas (Rachel Witney took these pics - Helen was away on holiday at the time). Please don't rib me TOO much about my awful hair - not to mention the fact that I was blonde (Paul said I looked like a camel had chewed my head).
I threw myself into my new band - it was wonderful, and I LOVED the music! Rachel left Sunas 18 months later to focus on her family, and I became the lead vocalist. I was awful to begin with! But Helen & Mannie were wonderful support & really helped me to 'find' my voice. I remember Sharon Shannon coming to Brisbane in 2004 with Irish singer Pauline Scanlon supporting her. Watching Pauline sing and the way she used the mic was a tremendous 'clanger' moment for me. I 'got' it, took the ball and ran with it, although I firmly believe that there is always something to learn, so am still developing my vocal technique to this day.
My musical heroes are Kevin Crawford, Flook, Matt Molloy, Kate Rusby, Pauline Scanlon & Karan Casey. My flute & whistle collection is still in its young years. I have exchanged my silver classical flute Max for a gorgeous blackwood Sweetheart flute, called Jeremy (Jem for short). In recent years I collected a cherry red aluminium MK low D called Ruben and a Benedict Stewart rosewood low F called Henry, and I'm STILL not finished (a Grinter is on order…). I name all of my instruments. Yes, they are boys names for obvious reasons.
Gigs are always the number one highlight for me. I cannot ever remember a time when I didn’t want to perform. There are days where I feel physically & mentally exhausted, but the second I step up on stage, everything changes. I’m home & comfortable, and there’s an audience to connect with.
I remember playing at my first ever folk festival - Woodford 02/03. I saw Kavisha Mazzella, Trouble in the Kitchen and Jigzag for the first time and became an instant fan for life. Not to mention aspiring to become as accomplished in performing as they are! To me, Woodford is the type of festival that truly shows what humanity is capable of -for six days and six nights, our crazy world aligns, and we really do see a privileged glimpse of what world peace could be like. I adore everything about it. Yes, even the weather!
Wow, I just re-read this post. It’s rather epic! Ten years of crazy Paddy's Day gigs, of playing in the weirdest places imaginable, of line-up changes, of album set-backs and finish lines, of strength and heartbreak and success. But most importantly, ten years of making and sharing amazing music with amazing people, meeting the absolute love of my life, and the greatest amount of hysterical laughter I have ever been a part of. It's quite surreal looking back at all of this, because for me, Sunas is an ongoing journey. I'm not foolish enough to believe that Sunas will last forever, but I do hope that our musical journeys continue together for a long time. There is so much more I could have written, but I think I’ll save that for the next recap. Who knows where we'll be in another ten years?
1 comment:
Sarah, I know many and Paul held you at knife-point and dictated this blog to you. No worries, we all know the real story.
Post a Comment