Photo credit: Jake Smith
Tell us about your tour vehicle.
I’ve been very lucky to have the use of my drummer Scotty’s van. He’s one of the most generous guys in the local industry and lends it out (amongst other equipment) to touring musicians so he keeps the van in good knick!! I think many would say his support is invaluable, I for one would not have been able to do the touring I have without his help! Plus, he’s a great drummer.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
I’ve never been great at this. As we all know it can be so difficult to come across healthy options when you’re only passing by gas stations and fast food joints, I always just try and choose the lesser evil, most places will have some kind of fruit smoothie. I keep a trusty bunch of bananas close by as well. I’ve experienced a few great venues that have provided really wholesome and nutritious meals, that’s always a real treat!
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I’m terrible at remembering to restring my guitar before a tour, but even so I don’t tend to break too many strings. My strumming style is pretty non-aggressive so that could have something to do with it! I feel like I spend most on batteries and that definitely adds up. I used to lose guitar leads a fair bit but my solution has been purchasing bright yellow ones. Somehow you never leave a bright yellow lead behind.
Where do you rehearse?
I again bring up the legend that is Scotty P!! He has a rehearsal space that I’ve always had the freedom to use. It’s tucked in the back of his warehouse. A cozy, low lit space that’s always set up and ready to go.
Before I started traveling to Nashville, me and my sister had a girl band we were practicing with. It was a much more complicated setup compared to what I’m used to, synths, drum machines, so many layers but somehow we pulled it together. Scotty lived just upstairs so he would definitely yell out the encouragement we needed when we were onto a good groove! Again without access to Scotty’s space, so many of my shows probably just wouldn’t have even happened.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
First full structured song – “Stay With Me”. “Stay with me, pretend I never let you down, cause as life goes on and things get hard, you’ll need me around, stay with me.”
Describe your first gig.
I was one of those record label stories. A young girl that got signed to a major label but hadn’t really had much gigging experience. My first gig opportunities were quite massive. I can’t quite remember which came first but one of my earliest shows was actually a stadium opening slot for Ronan Keating. I got on stage, geared up to get into the first song and went to strum my guitar and realised I hadn’t even plugged it in. I plug it in and go for one big strum which was so forceful that it actually caused my strap to break and send my guitar plummeting to the ground. I had enough of an ego to laugh it off.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I studied Graphic Design at University so I’ve always tried to maintain some kind of part-time work in that industry which has definitely been helpful in providing some stability.
Other than that I’ve done some nannying jobs here and there and actually found those really fulfilling. With the last family I worked for, their daughter was interested in learning guitar so it was really nice being able to share that with her.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
I believe because of my more commercial start on the music scene, my income has definitely declined over the years the more I’ve reached for a more authentic (to me) and less radio-friendly sound. My move into a more independent setup has also created more peaks and troughs but that’s really the nature of this industry no matter what your setup is. I’m always aiming towards a more sustainable music career, I hope that as I find my sound I also find a loyal audience.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
People may act like they know what is best for you but no one really knows what they’re doing, just trust yourself.