Ziggy Alberts, the Australian-born folk-pop singer-songwriter, has made a much-anticipated return to the UK this summer as part of his New Love World Tour. This follows the tremendous success of his 2023 Rewind World Tour, which further solidified his place in the global music scene. During his time in London, he sat down with Rockshot Magazine’s Catherine Beltramini ahead of playing North London’s O2 Forum, Kentish Town.
Ziggy Alberts
Over the course of his career, Alberts has released five studio albums: Made of Water, Land & Sea, Laps Around the Sun, Searching For Freedom, and this year’s Dancing In The Dark. Additionally, he’s put out several EPs, including Feels Like Home, Four Feet In The Forest, A Postcard From An Australian Summer, I Won’t Give You Up, and Truly Acoustic. These works showcase his signature blend of heartfelt lyrics, soothing melodies, and the authentic vibe that resonates with fans.
Starting out as a busker, the Sunshine Coast-hailing musician’s journey from street performances to sold-out tours around the world is a testament to his talent and the strong connection he builds with his audience. At 30 years old, he continues to make waves in the music industry, captivating listeners with his relatable storytelling and soulful tunes.
Ziggy Alberts
The artist is known for his free-spirited approach to life and music, often performing barefoot and staying true to himself. When asked how he manages to maintain this authenticity, Ziggy credits his supportive team who help keep him grounded. He emphasises the importance of practices like meditation before shows, which helps him stay centred.
“I like to do meditation before a show so that helps you know, and I think that because that is what I bring to the table, people also perceive me like that and want more of that as well, so it is like a symbiosis” He shares. “The more you are true to yourself, the more people want you to be true to yourself because that is how they identify with you so yeah, it is very nice. If people could just be encouraged unearth themselves then I feel like the people I largely meet from shows are people I admire very much and often people that want you to know them and have great stories so I think I am as much inspired by them, for sure and if they are inspired by me, that it wonderful.”
As an independent artist in today’s music industry, he acknowledges the challenges, particularly the financial risks and the responsibility of managing his own career. Despite having a great team, the burden of being independent means there is no major label to fall back on. However, Ziggy takes pride in this independence, co-founding his own label – Commonfolk Records – and finding satisfaction in proving that it’s possible to succeed on your own terms.
“The biggest challenge is the risk and the responsibility you know, I think that having being responsible I guess for your own career, although I am surrounded by a home team and a label of about twelve people and on the road we are close to about two dozen people so I can’t take a lot of credit for the size of things as they are now. You take big risks and there is no one else fronting the bills and you can have your own label but well, you are more or less in a major label but just with a different tag whereas we are independent, family and friends run and owned, and that makes me happy because I think we are doing something on a relatively big scale geographically and we are talking about touring whereas lots of the big risk that you take is financial, because no one else is fronting your loan or what you have got to do. That responsibility also makes you proud and happy that you are managing to pull it off and setting at least a freedom of example that it is possible. It is not better, its not worse, but it is possible. Lots of people have told me that it is not possible, and I would say that it has driven me to be like well, I will show you it is possible and we can talk about it after.
“You would not believe the chokehold that the industry can have on an artist and that is why I have tried to steer clear of it and have my own industry and crew and just do our own thing quietly off the side and leave that nonsense for the industry kind of thing.”
Touring is a significant aspect of Alberts’ career, and his recent tours have been particularly rewarding. Over the past 24 months, he has expanded his world tour to include places like South Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, and Japan, in addition to the usual stops in North America, Europe, and the UK. Of the tour he shares:
“It has been really fun, and I guess the focus now is to do as well as we can in each territory but I mean, in the last 24 months we did South Africa twice, Brazil for the first time last year, Japan for the first time later this year. Lots of people can do a world tour and it is still a world tour but I think trying to take the breadth to Indonesia and South Africa and Brazil and Japan for the first time, that is all something that I am very pleased about alongside pulling off North America and Europe and UK continent.”
Ziggy fondly recalls surfing at Kommetjie in Cape Town during his South Africa tour, a special experience despite the small waves that day. For him, successfully reaching these areas less-travelled by western musicians, despite the barriers and safety concerns, clearly brings immense satisfaction.
Ziggy Alberts
One of Ziggy’s recent songs, New Love, came about during a tour in Birmingham. It marked a shift in his songwriting, as he focused on writing about the present moment rather than future aspirations or the past. The song’s opening lines reflect this introspective approach, influenced by Buddhist teachings about being present and accepting life as it is. “Feels like I’ve been running for most of my life, then I’ve looked up seen what has passed me by” he sings. This mindset has inspired other songs, such as Outlaw, and continues to shape his creative process.
In addition to his music and poetry, the artist has recently started creating long-form videos again, where he shares his thoughts and feelings about his life and career. These videos provide a more intimate connection with his fans, allowing them to see a different side of him that isn’t always visible during live performances. “It’s mainly just so fans can get a more personal connection,” Ziggy explains. This new project is a continuation of his commitment to authenticity and connection, offering his audience a deeper insight into his life and creative journey. Whether through his music, poetry, or videos, Ziggy Alberts continues to cultivate a genuine relationship with his audience, staying true to himself every step of the way.
Interview and photography of Ziggy Alberts @ Kentish Town, London on 10th August 2024 by Catherine Beltramini.
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