2nd June 2021
Interview by Gwen van Montfort
Question: How would you describe your music?
Miriam Lieberman: My trio combines kora (West African harp), guitar, violins and lush vocal harmonies. They are songs journeying on my own perspective of things with a sound that seeks to be luscious, vivid and uplifting. The genre of this music sits somewhere between indie pop, contemporary folk and world.
Question: What inspired your latest single "Infinite We Are"?
Miriam Lieberman: Thinking on the power of imagination, particularly collective imagination and the sharing of our creative ideas as a way to transcend our own limitations, lighten our burdens and find new answers.
Question: Can you tell us about your upcoming album "Just Transforming"?
Miriam Lieberman: In this crazy past year of uncertainty, I've come back to my songwriting after a hiatus of having a child. The result is an album of new songs about our incredible and fragile planet, about becoming a mum, about imagination and about our need for each other. It's my intention to empower and uplift people with this music.
Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?
Miriam Lieberman: We can find solutions yet unimagined to the problems we face as a planet if we work as a collective and we need each other to get there.
Question: What can we expect from your upcoming shows?
Miriam Lieberman: I adore playing with my trio members Lara Goodridge (Fourplay/ Baby et Lulu) and Susie Bishop ( Chaika). Expect songs that will take you on a journey as well as a few stories told in between luscious vocal harmonies, soaring strings and sounds that seek to uplift and connect us.
Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?
Miriam Lieberman: I believe we all need music and that music has an incredible power to enhance and enrich the human emotions we feel. I don't have a wish for anyone in particular to attend the show just anyone that resonates with the music.
Question: What motivates you most when writing music?
Miriam Lieberman: A beautiful melody that I've chanced upon in my improvisations that seems to carry a story and lyrics waiting to be written.
Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?
Miriam Lieberman: Dolly Parton - My toddler, the trio and I frequently sing along to Jolene when in the car together on tour :) and we keep coming back to good old Joni Mitchell whose moody and picturesque songs carry a feeling and nostalgia of their own.
Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
Miriam Lieberman: Since as long I can remember I have harboured a deep love of music. This naturally evolved into performing, songwriting, recording and performing. My family wanted me to go into a more traditionally solid career. It wasn't until doing a contemporary music intensive course The Bondi Wave which was led by industry professionals that I had the guts to really believe I could make music my full-time gig. This led me to dropping out of a law degree and committing to creating a career in the music industry.
Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?
Miriam Lieberman: I've never wanted to stop doing my music and I've always found a way to keep going though at times I've had other jobs on the side. The motivation comes from a will to create and the thrill I get from creating.
Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?
Miriam Lieberman: Getting to work and collaborate with some wonderful artists as well as getting to travel to so many places with my music - I've met so many interesting people and got to experience places through music like living in West Africa studying traditional music.
Question: What's a typical day like?
Miriam Lieberman: I wake up early - I have a toddler as an alarm clock :) We usually read a book and play some ukulele in bed before getting up. I make time in my morning to do a bit of yoga and swim in the ocean (even in winter) as it switches on my brain and gets me connected to nature. Later I get on my laptop with a coffee for a few hours to follow the myriad of admin tasks I have as a self-managed artist. Later in the arvo I would typically rehearse for my next gig or my choir or teach one or two private music students. On a gig day I get to sound check early before the concert and catch up with my trio before we get to play together which for me is always a high. On an evening without a concert I pick up my toddler from daycare, eat dinner and run a bubble bath before more books in bed then practice kora or guitar into the evening before sleep calls me...
Question: What's next, for you?
Miriam Lieberman: Touring the new album in Sydney, Melbourne and far Nth QLD