Diving Into Jem Cassar-Daley

Congratulations on the release of your debut album tattoos used to come off in the pool. Could you take us through the meaning behind this title?

I spent so many weekends and holidays in the water. I've always had a very strong connection to it. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood were swimming with my brother, putting temporary tattoos on our arms and getting mad when they'd come off in the pool after a few hours. When my nan passed, I felt it was the right moment to get my first real tattoo. Someone had anonymously left a beautiful bunch of wattle on her fence, so bordered by a postage stamp, I had it tattooed on my forearm. At 21, I was sitting in the shallow end of my childhood pool and reflecting on all of the washed-off tats I'd had over the years, but this one is on me for good.

After years of releasing such stellar music, why was now the right time for your debut full-length, and what does it mean for it to be out?

It felt right to release this project now. The songs and stories all represent a very poignant time in my life and I’m glad it's all wrapped up in one bundle to then move onto the next chapter. Like journaling, once it’s down on paper, it’s free. That’s how I feel about each song on the record.

What were some defining moments for you building the album?

I found some songs a little more difficult to produce while making this record. When I was working with Garrett Kato on 'Into Sunsets', we re-recorded it a few times and even made alternate versions until it felt good. I’m so thankful for Garrett's patience and persistence with bringing my vision for this song to life!

You've shared that some of the vocals on the album were lifted from early demos. What tracks can we hear this in and why was this the choice made?

Actually, most of my songs have demo vocals on them for this album. I am a big believer in the energy and vibe you capture when you first write a song, and sometimes re-doing vocals can make you lose a little bit of magic along the way. I am such a perfectionist and an overthinker, so the more I re-record something, the more I get in my head about how I sound and my delivery. I’m such a fan of artists who leave small imperfections and idiosyncrasies in their music! It makes it interesting and feels real.

There's a thread of storytelling, growth, self-discovery, and relationship turbulence through these tracks. Was crafting the record a conscious piecing together of themes or did it build itself naturally?

There are many throughlines that showed themselves as I started piecing together the album. It definitely wasn’t intentional, but more so a reflection of my experiences at the time. The oldest song was written in 2023 and the newest a few months ago (it snuck on just in time!). I hope that whoever listens to this album can find comfort in knowing their experiences are valid, seen, and universal.

READ MORE: Holly Throsby Finds Magic in the Mundane

Do any of the tracks stand out as favourites for you?

I personally love 'Into Sunsets' because everything I write with Brendon Boney automatically becomes my favourite. He is such a talented storyteller and songwriter! 'Growing' has a special place in my heart because of the place I was in when I wrote it. I set aside two months alone in London. I wrote, I cried, and I wrote and I cried again. It was a low time, but I did a lot of self-reflecting and learned so much about myself in this short period of time.

The record spans beautifully from soft, stripped-back acoustic moments to upbeat '80s synth pop. What were you listening to at the time of writing?

When I was writing for this record, I was listening to a lot of Alex G, Joni Mitchell, ML Buch, The Japanese House and The War on Drugs. Once I discover an artist that I love, I deep dive and listen to their entire discography. Some of these artists heavily influenced the songs on my project.

You're jumping on a headline tour across the country in September in celebration! What can audiences expect?

I've always loved when artists play an entire album in full, so I plan to play most of the songs on the new record. This album has big themes of nostalgia, growth and coming of age. I love sharing stories, having a yarn and all-round good time. One of the reasons I love making music is connection. A listener in the crowd relating to my story heals me!

Are there any tracks you're particularly excited to play live?

Yes! I can’t wait to play 'I Take It' live because there’s a massive jam at the end of it. I can’t wait to rock out with the band.

If you could sum up the album in three words, what would they be?

Honest, vulnerable, authentic!

Catch Jem Cassar-Daley performing at Jive on Friday 18 September. Tickets on sale at moshtix.com.au.