Connie Kis Andersen – Interview

Q: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A: I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. My parents migrated to Australia when I was very young. Interestingly, their first port of call in the great Southern Land was Fremantle, W.A., which is only 20 minutes drive from where I now live. My parents disembarked in Sydney and being ‘New Australians’ they embraced the land, its culture and its people. So suffice it to say I grew up in NSW, living in many places while my parents put their hand to several occupations searching for their place in society.

‘Kis’ was the name I was called by my family (it is the Danish derivative of the name Kirsten) until I went to school. By the time I got to grade 2, I had had enough of the unmerciful taunts of my school peers and asked my mum if I had any other names. From that time on, I called myself by my other christened name, Connie.

Q: Was there anyone in particular who played an influential part in shaping your career?

A: I guess many people have helped shaped my career. To begin with, my parents were influential because they were responsible for encouraging me to play an instrument in the first place. Then of course, it was my music teacher, Mrs Deasy. She taught me to play the Banjo Mandolin and all the old country classics like Red River Valley. My Dad loved to play records from Johnny Cash and my Mum played Jim Reeves, but one of their most favourite Aussie songs was ‘The Pub With No Beer’. I even won a fancy dress competition because of that song. (We had to go as a song title. My dad made a paper maché beer barrel and I wore it up side down. On my head I wore a waiter’s tray with a wine bottle and glasses made out of alfoil.)

But I digress … as an adult it has been the love and support of my husband who has helped me the most to believe in my music and myself; the shaping of it has just ‘evolved’ as most artists seem to do as they grow.

Q: You had “a proper job” before you really got into your musical career. Want to elaborate on that?

A: Yes … I had my haircut and then got a real job with the Department of Education in both NSW and Western Australia. I have a specialist background in Education Support and have had many strings to the educational bow. I have taught children with Cerebral Palsy, students with severe intellectual and multiple disabilities, worked as an advisory teacher to teachers of children with special needs – especially in regional Western Australia, taught Braille to blind children and supported students who were vision impaired for over eight years. I still work in the Education Support field as a relief teacher, when I am home – for that extra pocket money.

Q: How long is it since you first got started in the Industry?

A: I don’t remember … time flies when you are having fun! Does playing the lead roles in Gilbert and Sullivan theatrical productions in primary school count? Or performing on in the music teachers’ local Town Hall shows? What about on the stage with Slim when I was a kid living in Bourke, NSW? 

Music has always been my stress release and my creative outlet. I first became ‘professional’ (i.e. got paid for what I love to do most) when I moved to Perth.

Q: What year did you do your first recording?

A: Ah … another question that is a little hard to answer. I recorded 6 songs in Jakarta many years ago. We went to air on Indonesian TV. ‘The English Hour’ was the name of the program. We recorded 6 original songs, five of which I had written. We then licensed the songs for the current # 1 Indonesian pop diva and allowed them to strip my vocals and replace them with hers. I ended up with a first class songwriters demo and she ended up with the right to sing them in her country … at the time copyright acknowledgement hardly existed in Indonesia, so we thought we did well out of the arrangement since I didn’t pay anything at all for the recording or the TV exposure … that was part of the deal. 

I have also created and recorded the background ambient music to over 11 independent talking book releases here in WA., (they were relaxation and yoga tapes mainly), the background music to an independent filmography, and my own independent release with a guided relaxation on one track and ambient music on the other (another way I manage my stress). Then of course there are the country music albums. My very first Country E.P “Keeping It Simple”

Q: What age were you?

A: Well … it depends … which project and what you define as my first recording. My spirit has always been ageless (despite what the mirror tries to say) and my body has a lot more life left in it! Suffice it to say, I was much younger than I am now!!

Q: What was it that made you decide to go into the recording industry?

A: The recording artist aspect of my career was almost happenchance. I had always been a singer and loved to perform in my bands here in WA (and still do). 

I then started writing songs and pitching them overseas. As everyone is aware, Perth is pretty isolated in terms of the rest of Australia and the world for that matter. So, I decided to pursue the songwriter path, knowing that its not the recording of the songs that is hard, but the promotion of your music/album and getting it out there that is particularly difficult. I became a member of NSAI and started using their fabulous critiquing service and developed a large library of songwriting book, honing my skills as best I could in a solitary environment. 

When I became more confident, I started pitching my material to OS artists … it made very little difference to me whether the artists were based in Australia or OS, so I went for the market where there were greater opportunities. One of my tracks got the attention of Celine Dion’s management and A&R - that was very exciting. Nothing eventuated though, but the same song got the attention of others.

One in particular was a producer, Gary Buck. Gary was an inductee in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, a singer in his own right. He had begun producing artists, had offices in Canada and Nashville. Even though I had pitched the song for one of his artists, he was the one who put the invitation to me to record, based on the vocals I had put down in the demo. (I have a project recording studio at home).

We ended up doing a long distance recording with 5 songs, one of which was a duet with him. It was supposed to be released through his independent label and he would do the promotion of it but believe this or not, he passed away halfway through the project. I was left ‘holding the baby’ so to speak and decided I had to now make this work, especially since I had received funding from ArtsWA towards the recording.

Q: Having been in the industry for a while, you have seen a lot of changes, some good, some bad, are there any that stand out to you?

A: The absolute best change is the development of the Internet and World Wide Web. For me as a songwriter, artist and independent record label, it has made the world a much smaller place and leveled the playing field when it comes to the promotion and distribution of my music. The bricks and mortar distribution companies really are becoming superfluous and from my own experience, pretty ineffective.

Q: You’ve had a few songs that have done well for you, would you like to tell me about them?

A: Well right now, I have a track; Happy Day being played in the USA. At its peak, I believe it was being played on around 150 stations. It is currently charting on an Independent chart, compiled out of Nashville.

All the tracks I have released in Australia have charted on the Hot 100 Country Tracks out of Mildura and I am hoping the same will happen for my new Australian single: What People Say which is out to radio now.

Kiss My Cheek, another track from my first album, Gone Wishin’ made it into the Australian Top 30, but what’s more interesting was that it made it into the APRA song of the Year list for voting in 2007. This is an industry voting list of around 200 most played songs in Australia across all genres. 

From my APRA returns, I can see too that there are some songs that haven’t been released that are getting great airplay. I have also had songs chart in Denmark and Austria.

My current album: Once Again recently won ‘The Best Independent Country Music Album’ for WA in 2008.

Q: Did you have any idea they would do so well for you?

A: Musical taste is an individual thing and quite subjective. While I have a strong conviction in my own music, I am aware that not all listeners or radio programmers feel the same about it as I do. So to answer your question, its probably no.

Q: You’ve travelled a fair part of the world promoting your music. Any highlights that you’d like to share with me?

A: Honestly … there are too many to list here. Each trip has many highlights and I pinch myself a lot, wondering if this is all real. I certainly believe that I have been blessed and I am most grateful for the experiences that come my way.

Q: Your most memorable occasion? 

Every day is a memorable day. Some days are just more memorable than others.

One of the best days ever was the day I finally got to Nashville and was in the studio located on Music Row and recording my own songs.

I had always thought it was beyond reach and then in June 2005, there I was, working with people that I had held in so much esteem. I remember standing in the vocalist’s room singing the scratch tracks with the session musos and having to pinch myself to know it was real.

The fact that these guys then expressed a desire to work with me again was an affirmation to me that I could do this and be up there with the best.

Q: Your most embarrassing moment

A: I have had many ‘character building’ days … some that I am still too embarrassed to mention. One of my worst and best days all wrapped in one was the day I performed as support for Don McLean.

I had a very bad case of the ‘flu and was seriously ill. My fear of playing solo to a full house at the Burswood Theatre was over-shadowed by my head and body aches, coupled with coughing fits. 

My vocals didn’t sound too bad if my name was Janis Joplin, but it was all too late to pull out or find a replacement.

I faced my fear, stood out there and performed all my own songs, coughing between musical phrases. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a disaster … and I only hit about three bum notes.

The audience was wonderful. You could hear a pin drop and the applause was more than polite. I am so glad I did that gig … it gave me the confidence to say that even at my worst, I could still manage to deliver.

Q: In all that you have accomplished you have been listed in some pretty important lists, would you like to tell me about those?

A: Are you referring to some of the people I have worked with?

Tom K. Pick, my producer won his 17th Grammy this year. Actually, I am singing backing vocals on the title track of the album that won the Grammy. 

I have recorded on the same sessions as the Jordanaires and the Calhoun Brothers, been a special guest three times for Joanne Cash and Pastor Yates, been on the same bill as Barbara Fairchild and as her guest on the Midnight Jamboree. Played at CMA Fan Fest gigs, the Bluebird, Tootsies etc.

On the home front though, it has been an absolute privilege to work with all the great Independent Aussie artists at Mildura and Tamworth … too many talents to mention here … all extremely worthy and wonderful.

Q: You’ve kept yourself pretty busy within the industry apart from singing & recording. Would you like to elaborate?

A: I believe in giving service to your industry before taking, and so in Perth I have done a few things that involve music outside singing and recording. I have listed them in dot form.

Established Kismana Music, a co-operative of independent artists with music for promotion and sale through the Kismana Ko-Op on the World Wide Web.

Served as Board member, Vice President and President of WAM, the West Australian Music Industry Association 1999 - 2001.

Served as a panellist on the Arts Development Panel for the Arts Council of Western Australia (ArtsWA) 2001 - 2007.

Appointed recently by the WA Minister for the Arts for a third consecutive term as a panellist on the Contemporary Music Panel for the Department of Culture and the Arts. 

Taught voice at Tertiary and Further Education Institutions (TAFE) and workshops at University of Western Australia Extension 1999 -2006.

Held the position of General Manager of KULCHA - Multicultural Arts of WA Inc whilst the organisation re-structured in 2004.

Q: Regarding your last CD “Once Again” I have placed the titles of the tracks below, and you may add a comment to any or all of them if you wish?

A: See below for comments ….

Q: Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t already mentioned?

A: Please request and listen out for What People Say … my current Australian single!

Also … look forward to catching up with folks in Tamworth… yes I am back there in 2009 as a host on the Country Music Express … really looking forward to it!!

Thanks Connie Kis for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Once Again

01) Mere Male … ah … about my darling hubby’s habits!
02) Lounge Lizard … inspired by all the suave gentlemen I have met in my life.
03) You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ … a classic song that was a challenge to sing … always wanted to do it.
04) Once Again … the ultimate cheating song … inspired by my friend’s experience.
05) You’re So Hot … just a fun song about staying cool in the company of someone you think is real hot!
06) Honky Blues … who can go past Hank Williams?
07) Happy Day … another fun, summer song … about being on holidays
08) Wicked Game … a sultry moody song … something I wish I had written!
09) Blue River Of Tears … about my own relationship with my partner
10) Trust In Me … this was a songwriting exercise. Mark Donohoe was running a songwriting workshop here in Perth and challenged us to write. His critique, believe it or not was … ‘Has hit written all over it’.
11) So Tired … all about music and the challenges we face daily
12) What People Say … my anthem … out to radio now
13) Bitter … a story about our friend’s relationship.
14) Love In The Makin’ … My Producer, Tom Pick’s song …
15) Let’s Work Together … a message that I believe in …

Available from: