In the Green Room: effie isobel

Congrats on the release of your EP Libra Rising! What thoughts and feelings are coming up for you, this being your debut?

It feels so surreal! The making of this EP has unfolded very naturally over the last year and a half. It feels absolutely wild to have a physical CD with so many hours of love poured in. I feel excited and also very vulnerable; it feels like handing out a copy of my diary. There are songs on this EP that are deeply personal, as well as just expressions of joy. I think sharing your joy can feel vulnerable too.

Why was Libra Rising the perfect title for it?
In astrology, your rising sign is your outward facing identity, it's how you move through the world. The sign of Libra is typically very dreamy, idealistic and romantic. In a nutshell, these songs are about desire and identity and the name Libra Rising felt like it encapsulates that well. Myself, my lover and my two best friends all have a Libra rising; it just fell into place one night while discussing astrological placements and I thought. "Oh, yeah that's what the EP is called'."

The project features ‘Honey Drunk’ as the lead single. Take us through this track.

This song is the most recently written on the EP and it feels the most vulnerable by far. I wanted the production on this one to be very simple, with light, ethereal synth pads carrying the song. The lyrics speak to the transformative experience of queer love after a period of suppression or performance. The verses of this song were written with a sense of lightness, reminiscing on what it feels like to kiss your lover, tipsy after the bar. When I sat down the night after to write the chorus, I felt a layer unfurl. Suddenly the song was about the confronting intensity of loving someone in a way that isn’t performative. This might be my favourite song I've written; I really love how it turned out. 

Your sound is punctuated by such an airy, confessional dream-pop theme. What do you think pulls you towards creating music in this space? 

I'm a very aesthetically focused person, I love soft textures, shimmer, iridescence, and I really like finding the way that translates into sound. I am also just a very sensitive human, perhaps to a fault. Finding a soft place for my confessional lyrics to rest on top of feels soothing to me.

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If you could recommend the perfect listening environment for audiences to enjoy the EP in, where would that be?

It's gotta be late evening, headphones on, candles burning, journal writing, dancing around your bedroom, trying on your favourite clothes.

You're about to jump on your first headline tour! What are you most looking forward to?

Bringing my band with me interstate for the first time! I've played solo interstate shows, but I've never played a dedicated, headline show with my full band. There is something really special about writing a song on the floor of my bedroom late at night, for it to end up being played somewhere across the country. I'm also really looking forward to meeting people who have connected with my music interstate, that feels like such a privilege.

You'll be gracing Adelaide on September 19 at Nexus Arts for an all-ages show! What does an effie isobel show look, sound and feel like?

I am SO excited for the Adelaide show. I love finding opportunities to add little interactive elements for attendees at my shows, on and off stage. Each of my openers are hand-picked by me, so make sure to come down early. We've been developing my set to maximise the magic and whimsy, hehe, having a lot of fun making the atmospheric sound design elements for the set. I’m also designing lots of brand-new merch that I can’t wait to share! It’s a massive priority to me that effie shows are a warm and welcoming space, hearing about people making friends at my shows means everything to me. 

What track are you most looking forward to singing out to your audience? 

I think it's got to be 'Hidden Treasure'. I love an anthemic pop track and this song feels very cathartic to sing. I will also always love playing 'Moon Made', I feel like I'm casting a spell every time.

Catch effie isobel performing at Nexus Arts on Saturday 19 September. Tickets on sale now at oztix.com.au.