Adam Halliwell + Flora Carbo at Franks Wild Years

Adam Halliwell’s ’Sono Una Pera’ - a new album of Italian folk songs inspired by a quasi-Italian upbringing.

Experimental instrument techniques, outdated midi technology, pop sensibilities, plain song bardisms are weaved between organic song forms and modal improvisations. Sung entirely in Italian, the album is a collection of stories, fantasies, tales, false experiences inspired by a quasi-Italian upbringing with Adam’s Nonni (grandparents) in Diamond Creek, Naarm.

‘Sono Una Pera’ means ‘I Am A Pear’. The idea comes from the pear trees planted on his Nonno and Nonna’s property that they bought when they moved from Italy to Australia in the 50’s. The pears are a symbol of home, and also reflect a story of assimilation from one culture to another.

Developed across five years, this sound world was crafted from a folkloric, bard-esque perspective and through centring sonic and lyrical storytelling, serves as tales and riddles for the listener.

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Adam Halliwell is a unique multi-instrumentalist and composer, recognised for his intimate and ever-evolving sound, and distinct enduring commitment to improvisation and experimentation across all his creative facets. Halliwell's musical sensitivity to form and narrative, as well as his lucidity/chaos juxtapositional-style has made for groups such as ARIA award-winning, Mildlife, and APRA Art Music nominated, I Hold The Lion’s Paw.

With numerous acclaimed collaborations to his name (Rama Parwata, Sui Zhen, Flora Carbo, Phil Stroud Band), Halliwell has spent his life devoted to music, drawing from an ever evolving pallet of sonics from outsider folk musics, to experimental pop-leaning composition and free jazz improvisation to songwriter musics. Halliwell’s bold debut album ‘Freedom Lapse’ (2023) was a culmination of several important musical aspects that are now foundational to his practice: extended technique, electronics, juxtaposition, and experimental instrument preparation.

Flora Carbo is performing a new project featuring loopy songs, drum machine and saxophone FX - optimistic, sparse, vulnerable, present and direct.

Flora Carbo’s solo sets have been described as "Folk-like tunes, wobbly electronics & drum machines in a mix that recalls Arthur Russell’s evasiveness, the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s playfulness, the moody thrill of a late-night trad session, and the intimacy of singer-songwriter performance." (Tone List)