Turning Arrows into Flowers

Walking a tightrope of swirling narratives with raw, poetic grace and emotional vulnerability. Her journey enters the inside of life’s experiences, weaving everyday objects and feelings into a voyage of cinematic surrealism. Sparse instrumentation belies intricate arrangements and intuitive performances, as Nadene’s voice delicately careens between almost-broken tenderness, sensuality and unshakable force.Turning Arrows into Flowers quotes Pema Chödrön’s classic contemporary Buddhist writing from When Things Fall Apart, with it’s themes of duality, transformation and transcendence.

The collaboration, with producer and multi-instrumentalist Tony Dupé (Saddleback/Holly Throsby/Jack Ladder) and musicians including master-drummer Hamish Stewart, Alex Hewetson bass, Brendan St Leger piano, Rick Falkiner guitar, Kate Adams cello, Claire Herbert laptop, formed the basis for the album. Analog recordings in a Kangaroo Valley country wooden cottage and a seaside apartment at Bondi Beach, were taken to Berlin, mixed into a long night's dream sometimes softened and sewn, sometimes released with the energy bound and bowed.

Her training as a vocalist and viola player in classical and jazz is strongly evident in her compositions. Then there is South Pacific harmonies, a Maori chant, and a duet with her young daughter. Her voice also carries us through chamber pieces, a tango, mutated funk and free electro-acoustic improvisations. Reflective perhaps of her mixed heritage as a New Zealander growing up in Southport, Queensland, Maori and Irish, with a splash of Cape Verde, thought to be a Portuguese sailor who jumped ship and married a Maori woman way back at the beginning of her father’s line.

Turning Arrows into Flowers is a concept written of by Pema Chödrön in her book, "When Things Fall Apart"
credits
released April 3, 2020

Songs by Nadene Pita
except Revolution written by Nadene and Matt McMahon & Māori Chant by Merenia.

Recorded, mixed and produced by Tony Dupé
in Kangaroo Valley and Berlin except vocals and viola on Burn, viola and backing vocals on Parachute Man, viola on Tango, Māori Chant on Revolution, recorded by Nadene Pita at Bondi Beach.

Arrangements by Nadene Pita and Tony Dupé.

Mastered by Casey Rice at Classicx, Melbourne.

Vocals and Viola - Nadene
Piano, Bass Clarinet, Double Bass, String Wash, Percussion, Baby Cello - Tony Dupé
Electric and Acoustic Guitar - Rick Falkiner
Drums and Percussion - Hamish Stuart
Cello - Kate Adams
Piano - Brendan St Leger
Double Bass and Electric Bass - Alex Hewetson
Vocals - Nanaia Maloney on Ferris Wheel, Bodhi Pita on Newborn and Merenia on Māori Chant in Revolution
Laptop MaxMSP - Claire Herbert

Artwork: Damon Locks
Cover Photo: Matt Sutton
Graphic Design: Michelle Bennett

all rights reserved