Allie Hughes Likened to a 'Counterculture Katy Perry or a Literate Lady Gaga' - Spinner

Courtesy of Allie Hughes

Having recently put on two elaboratewedding-themedshows which saw her belt out tunes in a wedding gown as a cast of characters played along,Allie Hugheshas proved she knows how to produce a spectacle. But while the Toronto frontwoman doesn't mind being considered gimmick-y, she takes issue with those who describe her act as a musical.

"That's the thing I sort of fought against for a while,"Hughes tells Spinner."I didn't want people to think of my songs as musicals or musical theatre. It's theatrical, but in terms of the compositions themselves, that's where I get a little defensive.

"I'm not ashamed to admit that it is sort of a gimmick because I think everyone needs a gimmick to get the attention at the beginning. But it's a gimmick that I really enjoy, and it comes from a real place."

Another misconception Hughes battles is the image one might conjure up when reading her name. Allie Hughes is, in fact, a band ranging anywhere between six to eight members at a time, including past collaborators Jim Guthrie,Owen PallettandGentleman Reg.

Hughes argues that"if you're a female artist and you go by your name, people think you're a singer-songwriter who plays folk music,"something she's miles away from."I really don't want to be thought of that way."

A name change was an idea at one point ("like pulling aKatie Stelmanisand changing to Austra") but Hughes doubts that will happen anymore."There are artists that I admire that weren't thought of that way; I think it'll get better with time, and it's not like it's that much of a hardship!"

Watch Allie Hughes Perform 'The Mistake'
In one of Hughes' favourite quotes written by a music critic about her, she was described as"a countercultureKaty Perryor a literateLady Gaga,"a description that Hughes quite likes and agrees with.

"I don't really like what she's doing so I'd like to counter it,"Hughes says of Perry."I just don't get what the big deal is with her."

Whereas with Lady Gaga, Hughes gushes over her and admires her for being a true performance artist, adding,"she's so interesting and aspiring."But that said, Hughes does admit that she, like many, is not a fan of the superstar's latest single 'Born This Way.'

"I feel like it was just a wrong move,"Hughes says."I felt like that song was vaguely insulting, it's like, 'Okay, I'm going to take my fan base and write a song for them in a really obvious sort of way.' There's no subtlety to it."

So what's the next move for Hughes? Well, she's currently finishing up her debut full-length which she reveals will be"all over the place, genre-wise."

"I've worked with five different producers now and all these different production styles are in there, that's the main challenge.

"But it's still pretty theatrical. I mean, it starts with an overture!"

Allie Hughes plays atLive Near Bellwoods: the CMW Daytime Living Room SessionsThursday, March 10.

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