1.Growing Up
My dad was obsessed with Frank Sinatra, so we listened to the standards by Cole Porter, Gershwin, Irving Berlin. My mum loved Patsy Cline, Fleetwood Mac and The Beach Boys. My folks were a bit older and I am an only child so I wasn’t exposed to popular music till I got to high school. I was a mad dork. I remember listening to Ella Fitzgerald on the back of the bus on the way to school – on my Discman [laughs].
2.Inspirations
I love Cat Power. I love her vulnerability. The first time I heard her was singing ‘Sea Of Love’ on the Juno soundtrack and I immediately went out and bought her record Jukebox. I saw her play at The Forum in 2008 and she was electric. It was at a time when I was dipping my toes back into music after a long break and I hadn’t been inspired by anything for years, until I found her. ‘Metal Heart’ (Moon Pix version) is my favourite song. I also love Father John Misty, Land Of Talk and Warpaint.
3.Your Band
I work with Oscar Dawson, a producer, composer, songwriter from Melbourne. We met around the traps a few years ago and started working together at the beginning of 2013. We write and produce all our music together.
4.The Music You Make
We are recording at the moment and the references we always come back to are Radiohead, Sharon Van Etten, Fleetwood Mac, Chairlift… We are tracking at The Aviary in Melbourne and Oscar’s family holiday house in Lavers Hill. When people come to a live show, they can expect big hooky guitar riffs, rock drums, lots of sweet effects and great songs!
5.Music, Right Here,Right Now
I think managing money can be tough… I’m lucky because I have access to a studio and gear, which makes recording easy. The ability to create work is really important. I would hate to have to wait around until someone gave me money to record. I like being an independent artist for this reason. It’s important to be surrounded by passionate people. All my friends inspire me! My mate Matik (Steve Mowat) is an incredible producer and songwriter (he produced my first EP, Trip), and Ben Wright Smith who writes millions of rambling, crazy, country man tunes, and Steve Clifford who has a voice like a chocolate fudge sundae.
Community out now independently. Catch her atGoodgod Small Club onFriday January 16, tickets online.
