For the best part of two decades, Roz Pappalardo has been shaking things up, challenging perceptions and forging her own direction through the music landscape. There have been rock records, folk tunes, country and more recently a successful move into musical theatre. In total, she has released more than 10 records in various guises, perhaps the best known though with her much loved duo Women in Docs. It was ‘The Docs’ that brought Pappalardo’s incredible voice and songwriting smarts into the spotlight and a band that has seen her tour the country and the globe more times than she can remember.
Based in Cairns, the one constant through Roz’s career has been a drive to do her own thing and consequences be damned. Nowhere is that more apparent on her striking new solo album Sound The Alarm, with fans getting their first taste with the release of the first single ‘Let It Go‘. Roz Pappalardo will be celebrating the new single with special launch shows in March stopping at Brisbane (with Rob Hirst & Sean Sennett), Cairns and Townsville (with The Black Sorrows).
Produced by Jeff Lovejoy at Blackbox Studios, Pappalardo explains that “Let It Go is about wanting to be the change. It’s about a desire to do things differently in my life with bravery and passion. I wrote this song in less than an hour and I feel a like a frickin’ roaring lion when I sing it. Love it. This was the first vocal take on the first song we put down and it pretty much stayed. It just felt right.”
Over the past couple of years Roz Pappalardo has continued to perform solo shows and with Women In Docs, but much of her attention has been grabbed by the stage. Recently she has performed professional acting roles in numerous new works including The Impossible Dream (Paronella Park) along with JUTE Theatre Company new works – What are the Odds? (Angela Murphy), Paradise is Singing (Kathryn Ash) and her own production Rosa. Meanwhile she has also performed her powerful one-woman show “Banging on the Door” both nationally and overseas.
The new solo album is a return of sorts for Roz to the kind of music that launched her career. Pappalardo explains “I hope there’s a sense of strength, independence, power and hope threaded throughout the album. I’ve tried to convey that with the songs, the arrangements, the production and the artwork, as well as the upcoming film clip for Let It Go”.
The album also featured a number of guests which Pappalardo has described as the “dream team”, including long time collaborator Rob Sherwood on guitar, Damon Joelon drums and percussion, and Enzo Russo on bass. Salliana Campbell plays strings on the new album, Silas Palmer on keys, Anthony Dettori on mandolin and vocals, and Danny Widdicombe on pedal steel and vocals. Brisbane’s Bullhorn have also brought their intoxicating sounds and energy to appear on a few tracks on the new album. Pappalardo’s honesty shines through in the upcoming single and is sure to connect with fans, with Roz stating that “writing and recording the album has been a deeply personal process driven by a simple desire to hold nothing back.”
“Let It Go” is out now.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Saturday March 7 What’s Golden (W/ Sennett and Hirst) Brisbane, QLD
Friday March 20 Tanks Arts Centre (W/ The Black Sorrows) Cairns, QLD
Saturday March 21 Dalrymple Tavern (W/ The Black Sorrows) Townsville, QLD