When siblings Philippa and Bettina Cassar first took part in an international song competition, little did they imagine that it would help take their music to a new level. Ramona Depares interviews Philippa about the band’s upcoming performance at Earth Garden festival.
What started out as a sister duo playing music just for fun has today grown into a six-piece band that has just seen the launch of its debut album, Seeker Seeker.
The New Victorians are here to stay and the Cassar sisters, together with Kurt Vella, Sean Borg, Ryan Paul Abela and Pete Farrugia, will this year be headlining the Earth Garden festival.
The band will be joined by Ira Losco and Gianluca Bezzina, together with some other special guests who will help make the performance even more memorable. I caught up with Philippa to find out more.
How do you describe the music of The New Victorians?
Sisters share stories, clothes, tears and wine. They have conversations, silly and honest and deep and enlightening.
Our music is all that and more. It incorporates our classical background and the influence of electronic music with deep lyrics and folk roots.
How did you decide to start the band ?
We played at a cousin’s wedding as a favour and then took part in a couple of songwriting competitions and thought “Hey, we could do this for real!”
Would you say you are very alike as sisters or is it a case of opposites getting on well together?
Our personalities are definitely opposite, but we’re quite similar in our ways of thinking. Except, maybe, Bettina is much wiser and more creative. That’s why we manage to work with each other.
Sibling relationships can be very lively. So, do you ever have any disagreements?
We are always arguing, but it’s part of the fun and is bound to happen with two opinionated women working together. The band finds it hilarious when we fight but we forgive and move on in five minutes.
How did the decision to expand the band come about?
When writing our songs we always imagined them having a bigger sound and being played by a band. So, when we came to actually thinking about performing and recording what we had written, it was very natural for us to bring a band together. We were extremely lucky to know and work with some amazing musicians who have brought our songs to life.
When did work on your debut album start?
About two or three years ago. The album plays on the duality between sisters. The musical journey from acoustic folk to something a bit more electronic represents our different traits, which complement each other.
What was the creative process like?
A classical background and the influence of electronic music, with deep lyrics and folk roots
Bettina usually brings a song to the band and we’d change it up and fix it up, then record a demo oursevles. We’d continue to challenge every song even in the studio, untill it’s the best it can be.
Do you guys enjoy studio time most or live performances?
Tough choice. Studio time is more creative but the rush of live performances is one that cannot be replaced.
Do you have a favourite work on the album?
We are so proud of all our songs – they have all come a long way and we love them.
I think the last song we put on the album and the title track Seeker Seeker is my current favourite, but probably that’s because it’s the newest one.
How do you describe your participation in the Alchemy Songwriting Competition? How would you say the experience helped you?
It was a very unexpected experience and it all started when Bettina stumbled upon the competition on Twitter.
We applied with a home recording and got through to the final.
It was great meeting other songwriters from around the world and being received so well there was definitely encouraging.
Would you say that winning the competition proved to be a turning point in your career?
It probably was since when we got back to Malta we got in contact with Howard Keith from Jagged House Studios and began discussing the possibility of an album and starting a professional band.
It was definitely a kick-starter for us and that was the point when we realised we could do this more professionally.
The New Victorians perform at Earth Garden Festival on Friday at 8.30pm at Ta’ Qali National Park.
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