I volunteer with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre here in Melbourne. It keeps me sane and out of the seductive pull of the social media machine that tries to force artists to constantly create, post and perform. It feels great, it keeps me honest and grounded about what actually matters and it makes me a better person which makes me a better artist.  

I have a strong belief that if I am persistent AND consistent in my art practice of song writing, success is inevitable. It may not look like what I imagined, but it’s happening. This year I’ve landed syncs on Love Island USA, Summer House and Germany’s Next Top Model. Having my music played all around the world is what persistence compounds into. It’s affirming for me, it encourages me to keep going and work hard because I must be doing something right. 

It’s a bit random but I used to be an electrical engineer. I loved my work but it left my heart sore, and I knew what my life was going to look like if I stayed at my firm. But no matter how exhausted I was, I would always make time to write a song on the piano. I wanted to find out what would happen if I just believed in myself. And so I quit. I’m so glad I did. My music is the love of my life, it has taken me on so many adventures. It has been challenging doing a lot of it on my own but it has been so rewarding seeing what my talent and hard work can do.

I’m so glad I bet on myself before anyone else did.

I want the room to disappear. No phones, no baggage, just bodies and pumping bass. My show is curated to be a full body experience, that’s how I live inside my music and that’s what I will be pulling you into. I’m bringing my dancers and creating choreography that moves just like my songs do. I want people to forget about their problems, their phones, step into the energy of my show, and remember what it feels like to be on a natural high. That’s the show I’m building. Come feel it.

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. The pressure to appear relevant on social media is strong and it is incredibly difficult to hold your centre when the algorithm is constantly reminding you that you have to participate in game. I try to do my best to talk to my community and share with them. In my opinion, people want authenticity.

But,  I also really value disconnecting from the machine and reminding myself that it isn’t a true reflection of the value of my work and artistry.

The most exciting thing to me is creating music and making the art that helps share it with my community. I would also say that playing my own sold out show at Carnegie Hall and going to the Grammys to see my dad win two awards was pretty magnificent.

I want people to be reminded to feel. To not detach from this world and from others, even though it’s painful and difficult. I want people to connect to each other and feel like for 30 minutes, I held their hearts safely in my hands.

Working in the community sector alongside my artistry has allowed me to keep focused on the reality my community faces everyday. Living in Lutruwita keeps me connected to the land, the important slowness and wildness of life which reflects in my work. To me, art is not about being perfect, it’s about being authentic and raw, making choices with intention and aligning them with values. 

I believe in organic growth that has meaningful connections with people, the profound impact of hearing and seeing yourself in an artist and being able to connect with the most alienated of humans. The integrity of this kind of connection overcomes a viral moment for me.

I think once I decided to make art in whatever form/genre that felt right to me at the time, I was creatively revived in my process. The most exciting decision is the one where you choose to truly back yourself even when the path is unclear or unpaved.

It’s a scary place to be at times when there’s formulas out there that might seem easier to reach certain milestones, but the artists I love and the times I feel most myself are ones where you follow your heart and your gut and that’s let me to some incredible places so far.

My music is about igniting the parts within ourselves we doubt the most: inner strength, quiet dreams, owning your shit. I hope people walk away feeling connected to the stranger next to them in a way only music evokes. 

There’s a ferocity and rawness in each track woven with introspective thinking and call to action. It’s music to feel boss in the moment and stay up late thinking about afterwards.

I want people to leave my show feeling powerful as hell! And knowing that their voice is important, so they might as well use it for good.

I feel incredibly grateful to have a community of strong women in my life- my mum, my friends and my Grandma who are with me every step of the way. They remind me every day of what matters most and I am so thankful to have them by my side.

Releasing my debut album has been such an exciting process for me and my most memorable to date. Collating songs from the past few years has made me reflect on my own experiences and this body of work represents personal growth and stepping into adulthood.

Each and every song in my set for BIGSOUND is an extension of who I am. It’s raw and unfiltered and I hope people watching my performance can feel a sense of connection through my stories and experiences.

My family, as they are my biggest influences, having there knowledge to guide my journey is a must when learning to adapt to the digital world!! As spending a lot of time together travelling all over, the connection between me and my family has shown me the importance of being together. The pressure to grow and succeed digitally for me is dampened by the influence of my parents. As an artist I still indulge in online activities, but try to remember what is most important.the music!!

Entering into the triple j Unearthed high competition.At first I was hesitant of the idea as I am a country artist, but then I was announced the winner of the triple j unearthed high indigenous initiative competition I was over the moon. The triple j Unearthed high competition is a chance for all high schoolers to show there musical talents, as living in a rural area this helped achieve my goals. triple j have been one of my biggest supporters of the last couple of months, inviting me to experience there studios and connect with so many other amazing artists. With there help I also scored my first collab with nooky, an indigenous artist with so much experience and knowledge within the music industry. By entering my single “Myself”  which is a song about my uncertainty about the future, it has created a strong path for me and my musical journey.

Getting to express my emotions through music are a privilege, having others connect to my music is the biggest reward. Leaving a lingering impression of yourself upon the crowd is something all artists long for, by being a musician I have the creative freedom to channel those feelings. The crowd within live performances supply’s the energy when on stage, feeding off the audience and creating an atmosphere where they feel a deep understanding of my songs are the key moments of being an artist. Positive effects on the audience display how as people we connect to shared experiences. Leaving the crowd wanting more is something I aim for!!

There is a lot of need to grow and build a community as an artist. That’s the foundation of having people support the music, shows and me as an artist. I realised pretty early on that I couldn’t be inauthentic for the sake of anything. It’s tiring and even if it was convincing-people wouldn’t be supporting the authentic part of me. The cool thing about authenticity is that it requires less effort and means I stay grounded. It’s pretty cool that no one one else can be me. I can dig deeper into everything it means to be me and exist within the communities I belong to. I think that’s pretty cool.

I try to look at my career from day to day and not dwell on moments in the past or things I hope to achieve. I feel like a lot of things that have happened in the past were a result of day to day progress on certain things and what will come in the future is the same. It is a way I convince myself that everyday has potential and everyday is exciting. Having said that-I have moved cities quite a bit in my career so far. I’ve lived in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Moving to Auckland in 2024 genuinely changed my life and continues to in so many ways. There is so much opportunity in Auckland and so many inspiring people and places and events to be around.

The compliment I get the most often from my performances is that people felt uplifted from watching the show. The band and I are always rehearsing to make sure the performance has this energy. My songs contain lyrics covering a bunch of different topics and most of the time a lot of the songs are unreleased. I also most often get complimented that people feel like I am telling their stories in a way that they couldn’t articulate and they appreciate that about my music. I guess that makes me hope that people can relate to the music at BIGSOUND as well. I hope people ask me to release the songs that are unreleased. It’ll be my first time performing in BIGSOUND but I hope I can execute that.

Remembering my core values has been pivotal to staying real with myself and to stay accountable to others who see me for me.  It is very easy to get swept up by demand of technology, people, industry.  At the end of the day, I’m truly making music to just make music. To help me move through the world. I know that even if I didn’t become ‘successful’ that I will be very content in my life, as nothing defines my worth, not success or even music!

This weird detachment actually helps me from falling into the perils of becoming someone inauthentic. It’s what keeps me continuously moving and reaching my music goals. This mindset is what got me this far. That, and the beautiful people who have championed me since the beginning and believed in my soul and my music. The duality is important to have in this industry so you don’t forget who you are outside of your career, and I think it is what actually pushes you to truly succeed. 

Signing with Hopestreet was probably the most exciting decision for my career. It felt like just the perfect amount of support that I needed for that stage in time, and has helped progress my career in a great way. I’m looking forward continuing on and seeing how things develop for us!

The whole point of this solo project is to make people feel something. I want them to be immersed In the colours of my sound and my stories. I want them to feel wrapped up in the warmth of my vocal tone, the sultry drip of the bass lines, the deep pocket in the drums. I brought the whole damn band over! Layers upon layers. Come if you wanna feel 30min of elation and dope energy. There are so many layers in my music. Deep, emotionally charged ones, but also just a PHAT groove, yanno? Again, the duality. I want people to feel that they felt related to, understood and also energised from good vibrations. Ur safe with me pookie! <3 

Choosing the right people around me. We often underestimate the importance of your circle of people. Yes, social media is now a key part of an artist’s toolbox/skillset but it’s not the be all and end all. We are more than an amount of likes and followers/numbers we see on a screen. We need to remember to value real human connection. 

Not taking no for an answer. Staying honest and true to myself. Honouring my uniqueness. These are all conscious decisions, because we all feel pressure to fit in and follow trends.

Showmanship and stage presence, the ability to transcend a stage and emotionally and physically make people FEEL something through the power of storytelling. I hope they take away a sense of the beauty of individuality and the many facets of being a woman of colour. I take pride in my instrument (my voice), and I want people to hear, see, and feel my passion and hard work, so that they can enjoy 30 minutes of a DAMN SHOW!