-By Kim Parnell-
Australian rock band, Killing Heidi was formed by siblings Ella and Jesse Hooper in Violet Town, Victoria in 1996. Jesse would strum on his guitar while Ella sang, they also experimented with various instruments, including violins. This natural synergy led them to start writing songs together. By the ages of thirteen or fourteen, they began taking their music more seriously.
The name “Killing Heidi” initially sparked some contention due to its seemingly violent connotation. However, the inspiration came from the storybook character Heidi, who represented an image of sweet perfection. Ella explained that “killing Heidi” symbolised the idea of embracing imperfections and being real, rather than striving for an unrealistic ideal of flawlessness.”
Ella’s musical influences are rooted in the singer-songwriter genre, particularly the classics from the 60s and 70s, such as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Linda Ronstadt. She likes the Americano West Coast sound. As a teenager, she was also drawn to rock bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Hole and The Pixies. These diverse influences are reflected in her musical style.
Growing up in Violet Town, had a massive influence on Ella and helped shape her career. She describes the place as beautiful and inspiring. The town and its surroundings fueled her creativity and provided a sense of grounding amidst the chaos of her career.
Ella is inspired by the bush and by the freedom she experienced there. This has stood her in good stead considering how crazy and far-flung her life can be sometimes.
Killing Heidi’s debut album, “Reflector,” was a massive success. Reflecting on this period, Ella acknowledges the uniqueness of their experience and the challenges of navigating fame at a young age. She was only thirteen when the band started, sixteen when “Reflector” was released, and seventeen when the album’s success skyrocketed.
Recording “Reflector” was a learning experience for Ella, who had never been in a professional studio before. She recalls the excitement of travelling to Melbourne to work on the album and feeling a sense of maturity as she ventured into the city from her small town. Killing Heidi’s success was recognised with multiple ARIA Awards, Ella says, “It’s wonderful to be recognised and very flattering but it’s about so much more than the awards and accolades.”
Ella has had a successful solo career too, releasing a new album in January 2023 called “Small Town Temple.” This album marks a fresh beginning for her, showcasing a more personal and authentic sound that she feels truly represents her. The album’s success, including topping the country charts, has been a gratifying surprise for Ella.
The musician has a long list of desired collaborators and finds the experience enriching. Currently, she is obsessed with Sierra Ferrell, a talented multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter in the Americana space. Ella admires her work and wouldn’t hesitate to collaborate with her.
As for her backstage preferences, Ella’s rider includes white wine (Chardonnay), healthy snacks like hummus and vegetables, some cheeses and maybe a few practical items like socks, pens, and hair ties, because you can never have enough.
She humorously recalls their younger years, at the height of their career, mucking around and requesting a partridge in a pear tree as a playful addition to their rider list, which someone surprisingly fulfilled with a little tree in a pot and a fake partridge. Ella remembers that she thought it was an amazing effort that someone had gone to.
Ella looks forward to the Sounds of Rock Music Festival and hopes that we will all reconnect with bands from the past as they bring nostalgic hits to the audience, hoping to evoke simpler times and shared musical memories.
Sounds of Rock Music Festival
Saturday, November 2
1pm – 10pm
Seafront Oval, Hervey Bay
Tickets – www.oztix.com.au
