For musician and activist Marie Claire Gatt, artistic output and activism are closely linked.
“What marries the scientific, activist and artistic minds is a will to explore, to question. Very often these things have come together,” said Gatt.
“If you’re observing and questioning and you want to use that energy, then you’re going to also be active in the community.”
“Artivism” – referencing the use of art in activism – could “shine a light on issues, and perhaps to galvanise public opinion”, she said.
“Art is a medium to send a message.”
The arts have been welded effectively in the hands of activist movements for decades, something Gatt, who was among the team spearheading the Ġustizzja ghal Artna campaign, knows all too well.
And it resonates with her personally.
“A shared experience through music is something I really seek when I’m dealing with a big emotion,” she explained.
Gatt was speaking to Times2 ahead of Saturday’s debut performance of her Storm Petrelle trio project, also featuring Ĝużè Camilleri on drums and Noah Fabri on bass and piano.
The gig marks the singer-songwriter’s first trio outing, following solo performances in Malta over the past six years.
It features new and reworked material dealing with insecurities, unrequited love and existential crises.
Explaining that her past songs never felt like the “final product”, Gatt noted the extra power given to the music by playing with more musicians.
But “fleshing out” the music was not the only reason Gatt chose to pursue a trio project.
“I wanted to work with people who are artists in their own rights and who I can build the songs with together,” she said
“I want to have our all our characters finding their way into the music… when we meet up and I bring an idea, it’s a bit of an open canvas. And I like to see what they bring to it.”
Camilleri is a well-known drummer and percussionist in Malta, known in particular for his work in jazz, in which he has also contributed as a documentary film-maker.
Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Fabri, meanwhile, has developed a strong reputation in Malta’s alternative scene through solo and ensemble projects.
Gatt developed her own musical voice by performing at underground poetry evenings while living in Lisbon. Since returning to Malta, she has continued performing as a solo artist.
“I’m also really lucky, because the chemistry between the three of us is really good,” Gatt added.
“We have a really good time rehearsing together and working on the songs.
It’s a very easy atmosphere.”
At Saturday’s Storeroom performance, audiences can expect a “transportative” experience with a strong emphasis on the music’s lyrical aspect, she said.
“I hope to create that bridge between myself and the listener, to create something they can hold on to and make their own”
“I enjoy writing relatable experiences; I find that quite powerful. So, I hope that the stories that we’ll be telling are moving to the audience.”
Gatt added that the indie rock performance − the trio’s launch – was envisaged as “more than just a set list”.
“It’s more of an all-round performance. I think it’s a matter of coming along and enjoying the ride.”
Asked about the trio’s name, Gatt explained how it was a nod to her work as an ornithologist, with storm petrels strongly associated with Malta; around half the Mediterranean’s population of the small sea bird live on the protected Filfla islet, she said.
What does she hope audiences will take away from Saturday’s gig?
“I hope to create that bridge between myself and the listener, to create something they can hold on to and make their own.”
Marie Claire Gatt’s Storm Petrel trio will perform at Storeroom in Ta’ Xbiex on Saturday, May 9. The performance starts at 9.30pm.
