You’re a young emerging singer, songwriter, musician and performer, tell us a little more about your creative practice?

I have been singing and playing guitar since I was 15, which lead me to study music production at Sydney’s Ableton live school. I noticed how very few females were producing and playing at festivals, so I wanted to enter the production game and inspire others that anything is possible, and hopefully inspire more women to enter the producing side of things. I create indie/electronic music infused with electric guitar and layered vocals. I make all the layers of my songs from the guitar melodies, to the vocals and beats, and this is something I want to convey in my live show. I feel really strongly about performing all the elements I create and using Ableton live for my live show. I am inspired by other artists like BANKS, Tash Sultana and Jack Garratt.

How do you like to connect with music audiences on the Northern Beaches?

I feel I can connect to audiences best when performing in small intimate venues, playing my live show where I loop electric guitars, drums and sing. Across the Northern Beaches, I have performed at Taste of Manly festival in 2018, and regularly play at local venues such as Manly Greenhouse, Hotel Steyne and The Newport. Further afield, I’ve performed at the Coogee Bay Hotel, Sydney Opera House and was selected to play at Party in the Park festival 2017.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your creative practice?

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on my business. DJ'ing around the Northern Beaches was my full-time job however due to restrictions and closures of venues I lost all my upcoming gigs and income. Performing was a huge part of my life and funded my song writing.

How has the Creative Community Support Grant funding help you adapt to the changing environment of 2020?

We lost the night life on the beaches this year. I have adapted to performing completely online instead of in venues/clubs. The funding has enabled me to write and produce a new song to release online. My new single, Something, is out on 8 January and I will be performing it live on YouTube livestreaming. I have created this online environment for live streaming, not only for myself, but for other artists, and will continue to invite other artists to join me on my live stream to perform their own music. Something is about the start of a new relationship beginning to bloom, drawing on my own personal experiences. It’s the start of a new era in my life, which is why I think it’s perfect to release in the New Year.

Something, was written and recorded at my home studio in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, before being sent to Brooklyn-based producer Tiger Darrow for mixing and added instrumentation; while Andrew Edgson (Matt Corby, Amy Shark) completed mastering at Studios 301.

Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in 5 years-time as a creative practitioner?

I believe that anything is possible! In a few years I would love to be touring and playing some big shows/festivals across Australia and the world. I want to be a successful artist and producer creating inspiring, uplifting music that will be heard across the globe.

Where would you love to perform when it’s safe to travel again?

When it is safe to travel again, I would love to tour Australia, New Zealand and the world. I would also love to play at Coachella! The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. It was co-founded by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen in 1999.

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Images courtesy Samantha Taylor

Photos © Whitney Taylor