Profile:
Paul Capsis

Corny musical comedy clichés aside, performer par excellence Paul Capsis is “reconnecting” with Mardi Gras the best way he knows how – through a month-long residency at Newtown's Vanguard in February.

Paul Capsis' weekly Sunday slot at the Vanguard presents Capsis stripped back and pared down to the bare essentials. It's about the pure and simple aspects of performing, especially the power of voice.

“Sure there'll be costumes and a bit of makeup,” explains Paul, “but that won't be the focus of the shows. If anything, the shows are about bringing the voice to the fore and exploring the power inherent in different forms and styles of singing.”

For Paul Capsis, the Vanguard residency is a chance to work from a broad palette of material, with a particular focus on songs by Australian singer/songwriters such as Paul Kelly, as well as material from his debut studio album proper, due out later this year.

“I'll sing a few ballads but that won't be the focus of the show – it's about mixing it up a little, having fun and presenting material the audience will hopefully relate to and connect with.

“Ultimately, I'm singing songs I feel I have to sing… songs I need to sing,” he says.

Having said this, don't expect Capsis to dip too deeply into the jar marked ‘self-indulgent'. Talk quickly turns to Debra Byrne.

“I remember Debra Byrne did an RSL gig once and she only sang country, nothing else – some of it quite obscure country as well. Anyway, it was obvious the audience was all there to hear her belt out the hits from Cats and Les Mis.

“Debra got right to the end of her set, stared blankly into the audience and quipped ‘So I suppose you want me to sing something from Les Mis?', before belting out one of her trademark Les Mis numbers,” says Paul.

Debra's country digression at the RSL that night was perfectly understandable but also a little risky from an audience point of view.

“Unless you're intentionally setting out to alienate an audience then the goal of performance is to engage and connect the audience with an experience that moves them in some way,” Paul says.

Paul Capsis plays the Vanguard 18 & 25 of February. For show times and ticket information visit thevanguard.com.au or call (02) 9557 7992.