BROAD has set a standard for, well, not just broads, but contemporary music as a whole. The idea of taking five women of oft disparate sound and skill - with the common thread that they are all profoundly talented singer-songwriters - and putting them all on a stage together and seeing what happens is not just exciting entertainment, it’s also quite mysterious. Stories are told, foibles and fabs are laid bare, love is released - the good and bad, and the audience and entertainers interact. Helmed by near legendary ‘rock chick’, Deborah Conway, whose own body of work is as impressive as it is, dare I say, broad, the festival enters its third year with yet another stellar line-up joining Conway: Jade Macrae, Anne McCue, Sally Seltman (new Buffalo) and Abbe May. As always with BROAD, Conway does her interviews by email so here’s the transcript of the electronic conversation.

1. The first BROADs have set a very high standard – what do you think this mix of women will bring to the table?
Deborah Conway (DC): I‘m really excited about this year, possibly the best year yet. The potential in the combinations is particularly delicious, the voices are all so different and so beautiful in their own spheres. Sally’s subtle and delicate songs that flower into glorious multi-layered pieces of contemporary pop; Jade’s urban R&B grooves and incredible vocals; Anne who writes songs like Tom Petty and plays guitar like Jimi Hendrix and Abbe who sounds like KD Lang just swallowed a pint of Jim Bean and picked up a ukelele with a fuzz box – who wouldn’t be excited!

2. How do you go about selecting the women to appear in BROAD? Do you have along shortlist? What are you looking for in the performers?
DC: I’m looking for the differences in the whole group, voices that contrast and complement each other. I start with one person and if they say yes, that suggests the next kind of voice I could find and so on. I do have a long and getting longer short list, so much great talent out there.

3. How do you see your own position within the Australian music industry? You are doing some unique and vital work.
DC: I’ve always thought of myself as restless and Broad is probably the latest incarnation of that restlessness; I’m always looking for new ways to think about presenting myself and my music, I guess I don’t see myself as part of any industry as such. And one of the delightful aspects of these shows is for me to sit back and watch what happens in the next stage of everyone’s career too. Clare Bowditch’s ARIA; Kate’s (Miller-Heidke) and Katie’s (Noonan) gorgeous new albums, Mia (Dyson) touring with Eric Clapton and Melinda Schneider’s impressive finalist nomination at this year’s US Country Music Awards for Sometimes It Take’s Balls To Be A Woman. I know that this year’s line-up are also going on to become household names and I can’t wait for audiences to embrace them.

4. Looking back on the first BROADs what was the standout for you in each of them?
DC: The contrast between Ruby Hunter’s voice and Katie Noonan’s is still a source of goose bumps when I remember it; Clare’s banter with me; Sara’s (Storer) hilarious stories coming from somebody who appears so shy; Mia (Dyson) captivating audiences night after night with her amazing voice/guitar double act; Ella (Hooper) blossoming amongst us all; Kate Miller- Heidke’s Australian Idol eliciting great hoots and roars of appreciation from audiences around the country; and Melinda Schneider with her mother Mary doing an impromptu yodel at the Enmore Theatre while Mia and I looking on gob-smacked.

5. What would you like to think BROAD is doing?
DC: I’d like to think that Broad is a unique experience, it’s not a normal concert. It’s an event based around serendipity and I think audiences and performers alike are getting a concert unlike any they’ve previously attended.

6. It must be exciting moving to the Opera House this year? Do you think the environment will give the celebration a different edge?
DC: It’s always a bit special playing in such an iconic venue and yes I do think that it will add an extra frisson to the performance.

7. As a self-confessed rocker, did Abbe May’s potential excite you?
DC: Abbe May is a thrilling discovery; she is quite an awesome talent and potential is unlimited. I’m very much looking forward to strumming along on her songs. What a great job I’ve got.

8. Jade McCrae brings an r’n’b/funk edge to BROAD that should be interesting?
DC: Absolutely, but the beauty of Broad is that it brings out people’s hidden talents. As well as her groove she has another side to her – she studied violin for many years & I believe she is going to pull it out.

9. What drew you to Sally Seltmann and her beautiful atmospheres?
DC: Sally writes songs like no other. There are a lot of singer/songwriters in this world but few are as original as Sally. Her songs go to unusual places & hang in the air long after they are finished.

10. You seem to like to have a gritty country performer in each BROAD? What appealed to you about Anne McCue’s work?
DC: Firstly her awesome guitar playing and then her attitude. She writes and sings with great power.

11. How do you see the position of women in the music industry? Is it improving?
DC: Obviously there are many female performers finding audiences these days and climbing to the top of the charts, but strangely it is still reasonably rare to find more than one woman on stage at a time. Bands are still male dominated. A chick band or a mixed band is something to remark upon.

12. When’s the next Deborah Conway solo album due? What else have you got up your sleeve?
DC: Getting Broad up into a yearly event has taken so much of my time, it has been hard to find space to write, but I am determined to get a new record out next year.

13. What are your professional ambitions these days? How have they changed over the years.
DC: To be as interesting and unpredictable as ever and primarily to be a better songwriter with every song I write. Broadly speaking, you’d be mad to miss this wonderful celebration of women in music. It is always quite a night.