Your new album Lessons In Love dives deep into themes of courage, conflict, and connection. Can you share how your personal experiences influenced the storytelling on this record?
This album is a journal for me. Everything I’ve written about is something I’ve experienced or have put someone through. Listening back with new ears as I’d moved out of the situation I was writing about gave me the kind of perspective of how to be better. It was quite cathartic and yes, there were moments I crashed out during the sessions (bawling uncontrollably after recording Holding On) It’s been incredible gaining the courage to love again after everything I had been through, and this record is evidence of that.
The album features the voices of the HALO Vocal Ensemble on several tracks. What did their contribution bring to the overall sound and feel of the album?
Who doesn’t love an angelic choir to set the tone for vulnerability? I was so lucky to work with HALO on this record because they added the very thing this record needed to feel real. Every singer in that session resonated with the music in a personal way and you can feel it when you’re listening to it. It’s Truth.
You’ve spoken about the risk and mystery of love, especially in tracks like “Ocean Floor Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.” How did you approach writing these songs, and how do they reflect your own experiences with love?
I likened the risk of falling in love to that of wading out too deep in the ocean. It’s terrifying navigating uncharted waters, especially if you’re not sure of your capacity to survive it. It’s about trusting the process, listening to your intuition and being hopeful it will be a beautiful experience, no matter how it ends.
I sat at the piano and expressed what I was feeling at the time. I was freshly out of a decade-long relationship which I thought was my be all and end all, developed a crush but shied away from my feelings. Until I wrote them down and realized as long as it felt safe for my heart to do so, I could go further into the deep.
With tracks like “Along The Way” and “Holding On,” there seems to be a lot of reflection on life’s challenges. How do you stay motivated to create music during tough times?
My authenticity has always kept me inspired creatively. My audiences have come to know me as a no nonsense straight no chaser kind of artist. I’m not scared to bare the ugliest parts of myself for public consumption because I believe they can see some of themselves in me. It humanizes them and helps them feel seen. As long as I remain brave enough to bare those parts of myself in my music instead of trying to be a perfectly manufactured politically correct artist, I feel I’ll never fall short in my process.
Your vocals have a unique way of conveying both strength and vulnerability. What’s your process for ensuring your vocal performance matches the emotional depth of each song?
I never go to the studio with a deadline. I allow myself the space to really connect with what I’m singing about. I have had a hard time with some of the content as it’s not relevant to my current circumstances but it’s something I lived so I have to put those shoes on again and tell the story.
You’ve been performing at some of Australia’s most iconic festivals and supported artists like Leon Bridges and Odette. How have these experiences shaped your music and performance style?
I’ve been really lucky in my career to have had those opportunities. It’s incredibly special to know there are other artists with a platform that believe in what I’m doing enough to bring me into their space in that way. More than anything, those experiences solidify what I’ve always believed. If you have a story to tell, and you tell the whole truth, people will listen. It’s not important what stages I’m on to do it, what matters is that I mean what I’m singing.
The album’s title suggests there are lessons to be learned in love. What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from both the highs and lows of love?
The greatest love of your life is you.
You’ll be celebrating the album release with a special Valentine’s Day show at Melbourne’s JazzLab. How are you preparing for such an intimate performance, and what can fans expect from the night?
I’m very excited for this show. I think people should expect to be serenaded with love ballads, reflect on heartbreak and if they’re on a date…whatever comes after.
In your track “Another Day,” you reflect on the challenges of balancing motherhood, work, and relationships. How do you navigate these responsibilities, and how do they inform your creative process?
I have to set aside time for me. It would be irresponsible to say my child is the primary priority in my day-to-day life because that’s simply not the case for me. She didn’t ask to come into this world, and everything I do is for her. But part of that is pouring into my own cup so I can nurture her. I would be pretty useless as a mother if I wasn’t inspired by the world around me to be a better person and lead by example. I want her to have happy parents, however, that looks for us and right now it’s running two households on the foundation of respect, respite and love for our daughter.
You’ve recently performed at some exciting events, including the National Multicultural Festival and Midsumma Pride Party. What does performing in these spaces mean to you, and how do you connect with your audience at these events?
Coming back to my hometown for the NMF is incredibly special because it reminds me of where I’ve come from and how much I’ve grown. And the Midsumma Pride Party is incredibly special because I get to celebrate with Melbourne’s Queer community and share the kindness and acceptance I’ve been welcomed into since coming out publically.
And the way I connect is very simple. I’m just real.
Thndo Upcoming Shows:
Saturday 22 February
Under the Stars
Carnegie, VIC
Tickets
Wednesday 16 April
Supporting BJ: The Chicago Kidd
Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets
Thursday 17 April
Supporting BJ: The Chicago Kidd
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets
Friday 27 June
Karralyka Theatre
Ringwood, VIC
Tickets
Lessons in Love out Friday 14 February
via Ditto: https://ditto.fm/lessons-in-love-thndo + Bandcamp: https://thndo.bandcamp.com/
