Hello Jess……. welcome to the DeClunk universe.
Please could you describe your surroundings so that we can all get cosy.
I’ lying on my bed naked wearing a gold chain around my neck. We are having a heatwave in Melbourne so clothes are not important today. Next to my bed is a big window that looks out to an old tree whose leaves are turning slightly yellow despite the heat as we are nearing Summers end.
At what age did you realise that you wanted a music career? Did you get lots of support and encouragement?
I always sang and made up songs. I wrote jingles, pop songs, poetry and short stories. My dad encouraged me when I was young or maybe he just thought I was funny. Other than that no one encouraged me but they supported my wishes. My mum bought me an acoustic guitar when I was 12 and she paid for my classical guitar lessons .My friend’s older sister taught me how to play chords.
Can you remember the title of the first song that you wrote? What was it about? How old were you?
I was 9 when I wrote a song to the demo on a casio keyboard that belonged to my neighbour. The song was called “ want you, I need you”. I’ pretty sure the demo was a Stock Aitken Waterman rip off. The song was pure pop. “ want you, I need you, I really want to hold you, my life is dependent on you”.
When you write a song is it the words first then you put the music to them or the other way round? Or something of a mixture?
It depends. I write a lot of lyrics then play around with instruments but if I’ doing something collaboratively in a studio or in a rehearsal room it might start with a beat or an instrumental jam.
Your new album is due out in April. We are really looking forward to getting our hands on the vinyl. Can you tell us about the songs? Is there a thread that runs through them? What inspired the album?
There’ ten songs on the album. They were written in different locations around Victoria including Melbourne, and other regional areas outside the city during the pandemic lockdown in 2020-2022. The recording took place at a beach side studio with producer musician Nick Huggins which sounds nice but it was a bleak and sparse time.
But I wanted the record to be sparse. I also wanted to play piano even though I don’t know how to play it. The recording process was piecemeal. I prefer to immerse myself in a recording and do it everyday until it’s done with a rehearsed group but this didn’t happen due to the restrictions in place at the time. There is a thread weaving the songs together throughout the album.
Really loving the single Everything is now and the accompanying video. Where did the idea for the video come from?
There’ a Chinese restaurant out of town that is reminiscent of the restaurants I grew up in as a child. The food is watered down to suit Australian people , it’ not authentic but the decor is splendid. I wanted to film the decor. We also enlisted Tony Yap, a contemporary Malaysian dance and Shaman. He was wonderful to work with.
Will there be any more dates added to the UK leg of the tour? We would love to get to see you.
Yes. There is an extra show on May 9th at The Waiting Room and hopefully I can come back to the UK in October.
I’ wondering…. perhaps your next video could be filmed over here. I see an old man sitting in a field, smoking a pipe, swigging a beer surrounded by rabbits. I am available for the part for no fee!!
If you could provide funding for that music video I’ sure we can make something happen, although it does sound like a scene from the Beatrix Potter story of Peter Rabbit.
If we were to visit your hometown, say for a weekend, where would you take us? You are the entertainment committee!
I’ take you to the Blue Hole for a walk and a picnic. The Blue Hole is a nature reserve made up of granite boulders, dangerous swimming holes, koalas and snakes. I’ not sure of it’ original Indigenous name but I’ sure the Koori people would have had an abundant life living there before white settlers arrived.
Which bands/ artists would you recommend we give a listen to.
Michael Beach, Leah Senior , RVG, Tropical Fuck Storm and Kee’ More than a few Australian artists and good friends.
Thank you so much, Jess, for taking the time with us. Look forward to seeing you soon
DeClunk 