Katie Noonan and her brother Tyrone join forces when they bring the 20th anniversary tour of the George album, Polyserena, to Canberra Theatre on Saturday 24 September.
CW had a chat with Katie ahead of the tour to discuss 20 years since the breakout album, talented musical families, and going solo.
1. It’s been 20 years since the release of Polyserena, which you have said is the soundtrack of you becoming a woman. How has that woman changed in the last 20 years?
She’s changed a lot; she is also still benefiting from the lessons those songs taught me. It’s interesting playing them at 45, not 25 or when I wrote some of the songs, I was 21. It was a young girl becoming a woman; they still have something to teach me, it feels like coming home really, it’s a nice place to be.
The biggest change is that I am a mum and a wife. It was the main reason I stopped with George in 2005, our last gig was in January 2005, and I was six months pregnant with my son Dexter. I realised being in a band is a serious commitment, the only commitment I wanted was being a mum and wife. Then going out as a solo artist meant I can set my terms. It was scary going solo; I’d been in a band with my brother and brothers from another mother for over a decade.
I also moved out of the city when I had kids. We ended up living in the mountains, off the grid, solar power, rainwater, no trash pickup. It was a beautiful way of bringing up kids.
2. Your son is playing the drums on the tour. How did that come about?
My husband Zac and I are the opposite of pushy music parents, we’ve seen the effects it can have. As much as we love music, we would never force our agenda on our children, they are both profoundly musical.
Dexter found the drums when he went to high school; he has focused and practised very hard.
We brought up our kids without a TV, there was still screen time, and we watched movies but no advertising. The house was full of music all of the time; we pretty much toured as a family until they started school.
3. It is a family affair. Do you ever struggle to be in a band with relatives?
No, the history of family members making music goes back centuries; Bach and his brothers and many other classical musicians had composers in the family.
Then in the pop world, you have Karen and the Carpenters; Neil and Tim Finn; Killing Heidi has Ella and Jesse Hooper; Tegan and Sara – there’s a whole range of amazing bands that feature siblings.
Music-making comes from a place of honesty, so music and family make perfect sense to me. I even made an album with my mum.
4. Do you think your younger son will follow the same path?
Jonah is a beautiful, incredible singer. He is also bass player, but he wants to be an actor. I think he will be in the creative arts in some way.
5. What is next for you?
Pretty much getting ready for this tour. I’m also finally getting my vocal ensemble in Sydney; we haven’t played there yet.
Then it is into George mode, which is a pretty extensive tour, then back into the busy life of being a mum to two teenage boys.
Some of Katie Noonan’s answers have been shortened for publication.
Catch Katie Noonan and the band in Polyserena 20th Anniversary Tour at Canberra Theatre, Saturday 24 September 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
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