Sound Bites: Grace Robinson

Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter Grace Robinson's hotly anticipated debut album choppy has dropped today via AWAL Recordings.

Taking just five days to write and record with a bunch of her closest collaborators, including producer Alex Gorman (Angie McMahon) and mixer Marcus Paquin (Julia Jacklin, Arcade Fire, Saya Gray), choppy is a coming-of-age record named after Robinson's childhood nickname.

Across 11 tracks, including singles 'harder than you think', 'is it over?' and 'driving', Robinson explores ADHD, body dysmorphia, anxiety and success, wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Keen to find out more about Robinson and what makes her tick, we fired off a slew of rapid-fire questions and found out her favourite ever gig, her dream music video director, the most unexpected influence on her sound and much more.

You've just dropped your debut album, choppy. What's the one thing you hope people take away from listening to the record? 

I hope that it just makes people feel something. At this point, I honestly don't even mind what that something is! Anything. Hopefully it's not like terror or something. But I made this record because I had lots of big feelings and nowhere to put them, so hopefully they end up out there in a way that isn't too destructive, or they are absorbed by people who want to absorb them. 

choppy was recorded in just five days at a studio in Pakenham. How intense was the experience trying to get the album done in such a short time? 

It was pretty epic, actually – at the start it was actually 12 songs before we cut one, so it was a massive undertaking to track 12 songs in five days. We did end up going back and redoing a bunch of vocals, but the majority of the songs were done in just those five days! Honestly, we are all such good friends and collaborators that we kind of just locked the fuck in. We were super rehearsed, so we didn't even really need to communicate much with each other – we just played. We were there from like 8am – 8pm, and we would just go into a crazy hyperfocus zone, and then as soon as we started to lose it/get agitated, we would go stand in the sun in the paddock for a bit and have a snack. 

Alex Gorman produced the album. What was the biggest lesson you learned from him?

My gosh, so many. Me and Gormie were such a funny and great combo because we are both neurospicy AF but in kind of opposite but complementary ways. We both were chaotic about certain things, and particular about other things, and often on completely different things. It meant we always had the other person to pull the other one out of a weird pedantic hyperfocus and keep each other on the straight and narrow.

I think one of the biggest things I learnt from Gormie, which is definitely something in the indie rock scene that the jazz girl in me is still learning, is that sounds are more important than notes. Getting a good guitar tone, or a good kick drum tone, playing the right guitar (we took 16 into the studio and every single one was played), with the right strings (do we want flats or rounds?) are all examples of things that Gormie would agonise over and I would get tetchy and just want to get started. I think I still have more of a performer approach: "none of that matters because all I need to do is sing some impressive shit". But that is not Gormie's way – one note played with the right sound is far more important than 15 notes. I think the sound is really what makes a brilliant indie rock album, and I'm grateful to him for teaching me that. 

What's the one song you've written that you would recommend to people unfamiliar with Grace Robinson?

That's an interesting question! I guess 'harder than you think'? or 'driving'. Both of them feel like a good vibe check of the sound/direction. But then I'd also ask them to listen to 'before i was' or 'first call' straight after. I feel like there's lightness and there's darkness to the record/to my writing, and it can be important to hear both sides to get the full picture! 

What non-musical artist would you compare your sound to?

Georgia O'Keeffe, I think. She explores femininity and her existence in the world with this combination of realism and then abstraction. She was kind of a badass, and she made everyday things monumental and emotional. It is extremely precise, but it is also intentionally messy at times. Some of the flowers look intentionally like vagina's and she never admitted to it. 

The Rolling Stones or The Beatles?

Honestly, probably controversial, but I think it has to be the Stones. My mum and auntie are big Stones fans, so we used to listen to them in the car a lot. Particularly 'Gimme Shelter'.

What is your favourite movie one-liner?

Probably in Love Actually when the mother of the paper mache octopus says, "Eight is a lotta legs, David", to the prime minister. Deep cut.

What's your favourite junk food to eat on the road?

Servo potato cake honestly slaps (except for the one in Seymour; that shit suckssss).

Who would be your dream music video director?

I'd go local – would love to work with Bridgette Winten, Nick Mckk or Claire Guiffre.

 What artist or band is the most unexpected influence on your sound?

At the time I was finishing up the record, I got super into the Viagra Boys album viagr aboys, and I think a lot of their guitar sounds and arrangement choices were influencing me at the time more than I knew. I also had been listening to a lot of Tomberlin, whose sound is a lot more experimental than mine, but I think she definitely worked her way into a few tracks. 

Also, let's be real. I was an OG major Swiftie and loved my country music – Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Gillian Welch. You can probably hear a bit of that twang in there.

What was the last great book you read?

The Slip - Miriam Webster (read it, you must).

Do you believe in UFOs?

No, I have anxiety, and I honestly can't even handle that as a prospect.

READ MORE: Sound Bites: Radio Free Alice

What Australian band is on the cusp of superstardom?

Public Figures!

Guilty pleasure album?

Taking The Long Way - Dixie Chicks (The Chicks).

Have you ever cried at a gig? If so, what gig and why?

Honestly, on the reg, I cry at a lot of Ruby Gill's shows, especially when she sings 'Emmagen Creek' or 'Touch Me There'. I cried at the Palestine Fundraiser show at Angie McMahon and Julia Jacklin's sets because I just couldn't believe it was real that they had both of them playing BACK TO BACK; it was truly insane and will probably never happen to me again.

What’s the best hangover cure?

Bed rotting for seven hours and then a Diet Coke.

If a movie were made about your life, who would play you?

Growing up, I always really resonated with Ryan from High School Musical. I feel like we connected on a deeper level, so I’d probably say Lucas Grabeel would really nail it. Otherwise, Meryl Streep, but for no other reason than she is my queen, and I think she would really nail the wisdom and sass I’m planning to have in my 60s. 

What album have you listened to the most?

Pre-pleasure by Julia Jacklin.

Weirdest rider request?

I went through a phase of cocobella. Chocolate coconut water. Absolute love. 

What's the best gig you've ever played?

I really loved the solo show I did at Queenscliff Music Festival last year in the beautiful Grand Vue Hotel. It was just the most insane room, and it was absolutely packed with strangers. I had just gotten a bad haircut, and everyone was really nice about it. I loved the Brunswick Music Festival Street Party show last year that was rockin, and Empress at Strawberry Fields was pretty epic.

Is AI going to be the end of humanity?

I don't think it will end us, but it will and certainly already is, changing us. For better and worse.

Best live artist you've ever seen?

My god, that is difficult. Honestly, it could likely be AC/DC. Or Saya Gray actually. She is incredible. 

What song do you wish you had written?

'Porchlight' by Ruby Gill or 'Dancing On The Wall' by MUNA or 'A Case Of You' by Joni Mitchell.

Who are your four dream dinner guests?

Joni Mitchell, Julia Jacklin, Phoebe Bridgers and Gillian Welch.

Go-to karaoke song?

'Bust a Move' by Young MC. 

What song would you have played at your funeral?

'All You Need Is Love' by The Beach Boys.

Who would be your dream collaboration?

I mean, obviously Julia Jacklin, but I'd love to work with Buck Meek or MJ Lenderman or Alex G, they're all amazing artists and producers. Dream collab would honestly be that Boy Genius gets back together and decides to go 4-part. I'd do anything.

If you were curating your own festival, what three artists would you pick? 

Miss Kanina, Amyl & The Sniffers and Saya Gray. 

What's your most controversial music opinion? 

I hate horn sections and horn solos in indie music. It's just weird and cringey. I'm sorry horn players, but stay in your lane a bit. I just feel like a sax solo is always a bit cringe, and I am sorry, but that is just how I feel. Also, I'm sorry, but the flute just doesn't sound good ever; why is it so SHARP? Gosh, this is so harsh. Maybe I just have, like, orchestra trauma or something. I think that is probably it.

What's the most unexpected influence on your music?

Teaching has a massive influence on my music. I get to listen to really different music and interpret it/learn it/help to teach it expressively. Also, students make a really great support network. Haha. It definitely fires up the neurons for music-making. I would also say running. I actually write a lot of melodies/lyrics when I run. There's something about running that shushes my brain and inspires me to think clearly or something.

Best album of 2026?

Julia Jacklin - The Gem or Ruby Gill - Fishing is not about fishing. 

Grace Robinson's choppy is out now via AWAL Recordings. Listen/buy here.