What happened?!
Nothing goes as planned, here I am again, Kidding
Time becomes elastic. What happened? Thunderous months, roaring past with fury. I’ve got no excuses, although we did move house which was, of course, an effortless breeze. Last time I looked I was waiting for a cyclone, and then somehow it was now.
I didn’t really keep up the routine I wanted to set for these writings, I hope you can forgive me that.
The thrill of the recent live shows has been very real. I was very lucky to play in Katoomba (yes, I stayed in the haunted hotel) and Bulli with the incredible Elana Stone. I’ve known and loved Lan since we were jazzheads in uni, we were even flatmates in Melbourne for a while, and it was heart-filling to share the stage with her again. Wicked, clever, so talented. Check out her music if you’re not across her yet. Here’s a video of us figuring out ‘Shangri-La’ in the band room.
I never understand how some artists don’t like to tour - for me, that space on stage under the warm lights is like a little church. I love to go there, I love the people who make it possible. I am a singing animal. I’ve just announced 16 more regional shows across NSW, QLD and VIC.
Somewhere inside the weeks my album got mastered, which is always a moment. Something psychological happens to the record after it’s truly finished like that, it sounds totally unlike any way that I’ve heard it before. I have the mental image of a tailor turning the garment the right way around for the final time, all the stitches on the inside. It feels whole and real in a totally fresh way, and it reveals its themes! I never really think about themes when I am making a solo record, it’s too close to see properly, I just let the colours and feelings and chords and worlds blob out until it feels right.
But now, listening back, I think I can really see what it is; crystallised hope, a love-letter to myself, a love-letter to nature; it’s creative space - an isolated tropical dreamscape fantasy land I’ve been spending time in, mostly alone. I think it’s my loneliest, most personal record yet. It’s about finding something very precious inside yourself, and refusing to give it up. Insisting on art. Insisting on beauty. I’ve called it ‘Gem’, which is my name in reverse. The next single is coming on Friday, it’s called ‘Kidding’.
Love you, see you soon.
Meg x
Great work Meg. Love your blogging too. Being alone - and not lonely - can be so freeing. Looking forward to hearing your old tunes again and new ones live in July at the Footscray Kindred Bandroom… after that off to the Camino de Santiago again to be alone, but far from lonely, myself.
You disappear into the forest, and come back with light caught in your hands.We don’t mind the wait. We’re just glad you returned, singing.