KATIE Noonan has always gone her own way.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
She recently criticised the federal government for being out of touch after the budget 2015 website showing a guitarist earning $300,000 a year was exposed as fictional.
The Treasurer's office said the case study of the guitarist, who is simply named Stephanie, is based on real data that musicians have reported on their tax returns.
"I don't know any musicians who are earning $300,000 a year, and I know a lot of musicians. It's insane," Noonan said. "Even the top orchestral players in the symphony orchestras I would doubt are anywhere near that so I don't know who this person is."
The singer has just released her new album, Transmutant - her sixth as an independent artist - and for the first time she relied on pledges from her fans to help fund her record.
Noonan asked fans to "take a punt" on her next record, offering rewards in return which have varied from copies of the album to private performances, including several commitment ceremonies.
It's the first time Noonan has used crowdfunding to make a record, by way of website Pledge, and she took her lead from other independent artists she admired.
"Really serious artists I look up to, like Paul Kelly, are doing Pledge," she said.
"So it's a legitimate thing now for independent artists to continue to make their art.
"In the current climate of glorified karaoke, it's tricky to get true artistry in the process."
Noonan is of the belief that reality TV talent shows, like The Voice, which are one of the dominating forces in the music industry at the moment, wouldn't even recognise an artist such as her.
"Artists with great integrity would never go on a show like that, but also they probably wouldn't win because they'd be too weird," she said.
"The artists I love... I mean can you imagine Tom Waits on The Voice, or Jeff Buckley or Bjork?
"Making great art needs to come by taking great risks - that's when the great things happen."
Noonan says relying on her fans for support has been a positive experience, resulting in a record she had complete creative control over and even produced.
Transmutant also coincides with a new look for the singer, who has ditched her long, red hair for an edgy, short blonde haircut.
The new image has a deep meaning for the singer.
"To transmute is basically to transform and I felt that I've really done that on this album," she says.
"I've dug deep and I feel that the last few years have been intense.
"There has been a lot of change that hasn't been particularly easy but I've come through it stronger ... and I wanted to reflect that physically as well.
"This is a new me, a new journey and I'm feeling really empowered."
Catch Katie Noonan’s Vanguard tour at Spicers Vineyards Estate on November 8. Tickets at bigtix.com.au. Event packages at spicersretreats.com.
