ARETHA Franklin sang a song about it and Perth singer Mel Kay regards it as the secret to her successful collaboration with band Liberte.
“I think that respect would be the key,” Kay said.
“I respect them and they have always been supportive with my music and career.
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READ NOW“I think honesty and respect when working with other musicians is probably the highest valued things to me and these performers definitely have both those things.
“They are also incredible at their instruments and they really add a new life to the songs I write; without them that would not be possible.”
Liberte formed in 2015 during Kay’s last year studying a Bachelor of Music Performance at WAAPA.
The core band were members of her ensemble group; all members have studied or are studying at WAAPA.
“Throughout the year, we became friends,” 22-year-old Kay said.
“They all played with me at my recital at The Ellington Jazz Club and we decided to keep on performing together and things progressed from there.”
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Kay and Liberte have recorded singles Upside Down Town and Feel Alright with producer Brodie Stewart and both will be launched at Jimmy’s Den in Northbridge on October 7.
“We recorded both these songs together and we just felt like the themes in the tunes complemented each other well,” she said.
“One is more politically focused and broad in subject matter, while the other focuses more on personal relationships and what it means to be human in today’s society.
“Both were based on my favourite phrase ‘Know your worth’ and are about standing up for yourself in spite of what other people might think of you.”
Kay, who regards Lorde, Regina Spektor, Kate Miller Heidke and Jarryd James among her inspirations, said the single launch would be a night of indie, pop and funk music.
Support acts Jake of Spades and Elephant Isle will perform before headliner Liberte.
“It will be a jam-packed set of music from the heart,” Kay said.
“We will be performing most of our favourite tracks alongside some new and never-before-heard material that we are pretty excited about.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Upside Down Town and Feel Alright launch
Where: Jimmy’s Den, 69 James Street, Northbridge
When: October 7
Tickets: events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/mel-kay-ft-liberte-single-launch