Where are you from and where are you currently based? Born and raised Australian, from Western Sydney. Sacrificed the sun and moved to East London, 8 years ago!
How did you first start playing music?
From a young age I was given a “thing” by my parents, something to keep me preoccupied and out of trouble. Some get sports, others dancing, it was singing for me.
What’s been happening recently for you and how has your Covid experience been so far? I managed to put out a record through the pandemic, so most of 2020 was based around that. Kinda think it was a good thing, kept me busy in what was a really difficult year. Always trying to see the silver lining, I learnt a lot last year and was forced to think outside the box creatively.
Your new single ‘Revolution’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Revolution was written in 2019 about the person who brings out the best in you, encourages a change within. I love the Woodstock era, empowered female singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin. I suppose they inspired the sound in many ways. Some songs go on to have more depth as they exist in the world, the more I lived with Revolution the more meaning it had. In light of 2020 and the shift in global conversation about equality across race, gender, environmental justice – Revolution was that song I put out to help face the days with.
How did you go about writing Revolution?
I took in the concept, I’d seen a street sign in capitals saying “Revolution” on the way to write. Small things sometimes funnily inspire songs. I wrote it with Paro Westerlund and Professor P in Sweden. Professor P specialises in lyrics predominantly, I was working on my storytelling at the time and it really helped to have those two to bounce ideas off. To take such a grand concept and make it into something relatable and close to home – that was tough. So happy with how we managed to make it work though!
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
Revolution was written in Sweden, but produced over in LA. I’ve always been really lucky to have people believe in my songs and get on board because they’re excited by it and wanna see me win. Onree Gill produced the track and got the gospel choir Ella + Q to record over it. Onree’s worked with Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Gwen Stefani and Ella + Q with Prince and Whitney. I mean, I’m just a small town girl from Western Sydney so pretty mind blowing! We then had additional production done by a Maestro The Baker, a Grammy award winning producer here in the UK.
How did you approach the recording process and what did you find most challenging and rewarding?
I executive produced my album “Hunger” alongside Joe Garrett and my managers, I think getting 12 songs and bringing them into the same sonic world proved to be our biggest challenge. Even now there are a few different sounds across the album, but we managed to get them all sounding like they lived in the same world. No one ever prepared me for listening to 7+ mixes per song, but it was so important for me to be a part of that process.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve started to rehash some 2000’s power pop women Robyn, Gossip, Florence. Also I’m always listening to Bon Iver, James Blake, Ólafur Arnalds.
What do you like to do away from music?
I spend a lot of time away from music walking in nature, which helps me to clear my mind.
What’s planned for 2021, what other projects / releases do you currently have in the pipeline?
I’m taking this new found down time to focus on writing songs for other artists, I have a few features I’m excited about coming up! I’m also working on a side project in the dance world which is nothing like anyone’s heard from me before called AR/CO, so watch this space.
