Understanding Pop Icon Tina Arena

By Dan Hutton on September 12, 2017 in Other

Tina Arena really needs no introduction, so I’m not going to bother with one. We could up with the Aussie pop icon during the month…

My first memory of music is… Italian tunes coming from our kitchen as my mother cooked.

Growing up my parents listened to… all kinds of music. Lots of old Italian songs and European music. And my big sister influenced the more contemporary music that I listed to growing up.

Taking to the stage at Splendour in the Grass with the boys from Client Liaison was… electric. It was so much fun. I love everything about Client Liaison – their sound, their fashion, their sense of humour. They have such a great brand and they’re fantastic live, just infectious. Splendour is a great festival – open-minded music lovers out to have a good time.

My dream gig would have to be… Royal Albert Hall again. I love it there. I played the Herod Atticus in Athens last year, an outdoor theatre that was completed in 161 AD! It was wild. I also played my first pub gig in 25 years recently at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne and it was so much fun. I play in all kinds of venues and I love that.

My greatest hits album, Innocence To Understanding, is… a celebration of 40 years of work. I don’t like the traditional ‘greatest hits’ albums, so having other musicians collaborate on the album was awesome. It features everyone from Jess Mauboy to Jimmy Barnes, Dannii Minogue, Kate Miller-Heidke, the Veronicas, Katie Noonan and Clare Bowen (from hit TV series Nashville). I’m very happy with it.

If you come to see my Innocence To Understanding Greatest Hits Tour, you can expect… a great night out. I want people to escape and have some fun. It’s all the hits, a few surprises, a great band, interesting sets and lighting, and some great fashion.

If I could have chosen one song to have written it would have to be… I can’t think of one particular song, but as songwriters I love Fleetwood Mac, Prince, the Bee Gees, ABBA – there are so many great writers.

The best thing about the local music scene is… how eclectic it is. I’ve travelled a lot over the past 40 years and I genuinely believe that Australian music has never been better than it is now.

One person I’d still really like to record with is… Chris Martin from Coldplay.

My biggest fan has got be… my son and my husband, hopefully. They are my world.

People still listen to my music because… it makes them feel good.

My career highlight is… singing in other languages and having success in other languages. That has been very fulfilling. Also performing at the opening of the Sydney Olympic Games, and being recognised with an Order of Merit in both Australia and France was pretty special.

To find out more about Tina Arena, please visit… tinaarena.com.

Tickets for Tina’s Innocence To Understanding Greatest Hits Tour are available now from www.tinaarena.com/tours.