I started off the year at Nannup Festival, becoming one of four finalists in the busking competition as well as volunteering to earn myself a ticket. I perform both days of the weekend, once as a solo set and the other alongside my friend Gem Addison of Freehand - link to their facebook page here Freehand. Unsurprisingly, I had managed to burn myself out over the weekend and just one week into uni I felt like I'd been hit by several large trucks. But gigs continued to come up at The Bassendean Hotel and the Fremantle Farmers Market, so I soldiered on. About 3 weeks later, I had the exact opposite problem. On the week of Freehand's big single launch and South West tour, the quarantine was implemented. I was to cameo in their Friday night launch for the song we performed at the September Climate Strike from 2019. I would have also been their warm up act for the Pinjarra gig set for the weekend. But this was cancelled and although it was ultimately the right thing to do, it was still heartbreaking to say the least. As a musician and a friend to many in the community, my heart goes out to everyone who had to face similar circumstances and lost a great deal of time and money because of it. But funnily enough, we bounced back as Freehand and communities of local musicians put on live streamed shows, some of which I was apart of including "Grape Juice Events Live Stream Fest!". It felt great to perform, even if in an unconventional environment. My neighbourhood community helped myself and another young singer songwriter put on a gig we named "Driveway Iso". Before winter kicked in, we performed on our driveways to both an online and real life audience. I was honestly shocked at how many people came out of the woodworks to listen and park their camper chairs on the opposite side of the road. It was rejuvenating - even as it got dark, my Dad positioned his car with the headlights on so that people could still see us perform. Afterwards, many people came up to thank us for performing, saying that they'd been feeling stressed because of the isolation. Knowing that our little local event had helped to alleviate some of the pressure during these times was honestly a relief. It was a poignant reminder that this is my job for a reason - that this thing that I do, I do because it helps people. Despite how some mainstream outlets like to portray musicians and artists as an "unessential industry", we play an important role in holding people and communities together. Through the shows you binge watch, the playlists you jam out to, the podcasts you play when doing chores - art is inherent in all forms of entertainment and it the best remedy for weakened mental health. Without art, these essential workers would struggle to support themselves, let alone others. Music helps those who help others. Feel free to paint musicians as self-aggrandising and unimportant. But in the same breath, sing a song to make yourself feel at ease - that's what we're here for.
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Artist SummaryI'm a WA Fremantle based singer-songwriter / composer. Here, you can have a gawk at my studies, compositions and performances. Archives
August 2022
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