Where are you currently based?
Living in Sydney at the moment.
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve been singing all my life, and my mother is a piano teacher. I’d have the occasional lesson, but I didn’t take it too seriously. I liked learning things by ear, rather than reading music. I learned Oboe for 9 years at school, played for my HSC. Towards high school, I was introduced to Logic, where I started producing and recording covers (some of which might be available on Youtube – I warn you, it’s a cringefest.)
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
As a result of the lack of gigs and events, I’ve been scheduling writing sessions with new friends! I haven’t done much collaboration in writing and production, I find the process of creating a very personal thing, and I was too afraid to share that with anyone else. What I realize now is how beautiful it is to share that creative energy with someone else, and I love it.
Other than that, the quiet period before this upcoming release has ended, and now the responsibilities have snowballed! I was planning for months, so it’s really quite exciting to finally catch up on all that I had planned for bl!nk!
Your new single BL!NK is on the way, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I kid you not, my reference track for this song was all I listened to for months. In the week I found this song, I think I’d already listened to it 100 times on day 3 (Spotify literally told me so). I’m A Kid by Jadu Heart was my sole inspiration for bl!nk. I was OBSESSED with its sound and the way it made me feel. I think bl!nk takes a slightly harder turn throughout, a little more of an edge to the lyrics and sound. I’m pretty bitter in this song. Lyrics tell all.
How did you go about writing BL!NK?
I was meeting with Alistair (Alistair Hayes, Sydney drummer, co-writer + producer) to write our first song. After discussing for a while, we decided to write something rebellious and sexy, very self-assuring and assertive. As I mentioned before, I was pretty bitter at this point in my life, so a storyline wasn’t hard to find. We took inspiration in sound and feel from Jadu Heart, Ainslie Wills and Lucky Daye, to name a few.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
We recorded bl!nk in Alistair’s home studio, a.k.a, his bedroom. Started in November 2020 and finished soon after. We enlisted the help of our friend Oscar to mix the final demos, and I sent the final off to 301Studios for mastering.
What does BL!NK mean to you?
Bl!nk’s purpose actually changed for me, once we’d finished the song. I think that change results in the bridge, it hits pretty hard. It makes me feel alive and fierce and wicked! Originally I think I wanted to write something a little sly and witty. Something polite, but still truthful and a little bit sexy. As we kept writing, a darker attitude formed. The bridge turns into this rude, grungy therapy session. I basically let out everything I know I shouldn’t say, and I don’t care.
You’ll be filming a music video soon, for which track?
The music video coming up is for bl!nk!
How did the concept for the music video come about?
The concept is based very much on the cover for bl!nk. The story of the song also tells itself really, it’s easy to find inspiration in something that actually happened to you. I love dark colours, eerie photos. Picture black and white ghost documentaries… mixed with cute 90’s girls… that’s my aesthetic. OR I just like flash photography in the dark, that’s a safer angle. Let’s stick with that.
Where will you film and who with?
We’re hoping to go back to where I shot the cover artwork, on the way to North Head Lookout, Manly. I’ve asked Sydney Director + Photographer Maya Luana to help me with the project.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love cooking! And I have a problem with buying too many indoor plants.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’m eagerly awaiting Snoh Aalegra’s next album! By the time this interview is released, her album will be out! So I’m going to strongly bet that’s what I’ll be listening to. Lost You is a single Aalegra has released in anticipation of the album – it’s a blessing. Remi Wolf’s recent single Liz, Ocean Grove’s 2020 album Flip Phone Fantasy, Easy Life’s latest release skeletons, Mel Blue’s recent album Sanctuary Point, Pt.1 – I could go on! Those are current favourites.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Usually, I try to eat pretty well… but my favourite cheat meal is at a friends place in Crows Nest, Plan B. They have loaded fries and savage burgers. Hangout locations change according to where the next gig is, as most of my friends are all independent artists.
The bl!nk video is yet to be released! And #spoiler another single is coming! Ending the year with a pretty fun dance track. I’m tying up loose ends for next years releases… stay tuned.
