About
Rachael Dease’s artistic practice encompasses the realms of pop culture and art music. Graduating with honours from WAAPA in composition, Dease is known as front woman and songwriter for the critically acclaimed band Schvendes, receiving twelve West Australian Music Industry Award nominations, and as the composer and chanteuse in Matt Lutton’s Antigone. Proof of her diversity came in 2010, when Dease won the WAM Song of the Year in both the Pop and Experimental category. In 2012 Dease won the inaugural top tier Western Power Martin Sims Award for Best Overall Performance for Best Musical Work at Fringe World for her haunting contemporary song cycle City of Shadows. This show was invited to New York Fringe Festival in August in which it wowed audiences and critics alike. In September City of Shadows will premiere it's first full theatre season at the The Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne.
Dease has written the original score for Perth Theatre Company's "It's Dark Outside", which recently received critical acclaim at Sydney Festival. Currently Dease is working on her first solo record, collaborating with dub producer YLEM, and keeping a hand in her art music roots by working on a commission for new music ensemble Decibel.
Her solo work has been likened to Beach House, PJ Harvey, Patti Smith and Nick Cave
February 2013 - Encore Presentation of City of Shadows at FringeWorld 2013
January 2013 - It's Dark Outside season at Sydney Festival 2013
August 2012 - City of Shadows season at New York Fringe receives critical acclaim
July 2012 - Collaboration with YLEM
June 2012 - Composer for Perth Theatre Company's It's Dark Outside. Directed by Tim Watts
Feb 2012 - City of Shadows premieres at FringeWorld. Winner of "Best Music Performance" and top tier award "The Martin Sims Award for Best Fringe Performance"
Feb/Mar 2011 – String Quartet Installation for Dialogues with Landscape for Perth International Arts Festival
Sept 2010 – Winner of the WA Pop Song of the Year and Experimental Song of the Year
March 2009 – Composer and performer in Antigone (Dir Matthew Lutton, Perth International Arts Festival)
Sept 2008 – Finalist in the Qantas “Spirit of Youth Awards”
