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Thelma Plum was shot to stardom in 2019 for her critically-acclaimed debut album Better in Blak. The deeply personal body of work earned the First Nations singer seven ARIA nominations and a win while the title track landed her in the top 10 of the Triple J Hottest 100. To back up her hugely successful first album, the star turned inward for a new body of work and returned home – so to speak – to release an EP titled Meanjin (pronounced me-an-jin). Teeming with references to her hometown of Brisbane and steeped in nostalgia, it’s a side of Plum we haven’t quite seen before.
The release also marks her return to the stage in 2022 as she embarks on the Meanjin tour, to bring her beautiful live show around the country. Here, she speaks to GRAZIA on her newly-released EP and what’s coming next as she marks a decade of making music.
GRAZIA: Congratulations on Meajin. You’ve been releasing music for nearly 10 years. How has your music evolved?
Thelma Plum: “I started out doing this when I was 17-years-old. I’ve grown up a lot. I’m 27 now, oh gosh. That time has been the most formative years of my life and I think you can tell and hear lyrically and sonically that I’ve grown up a bit.”
How do you feel when you listen to those early tracks?
TP: “Oh I don’t. I do not listen to them! If I hear it… so recently I heard “How Much Does Your Love Cost” when I was out at a shop and I hadn’t heard it in a really long time and I thought, ‘Oh this is kind of ok!’. I hadn’t been playing it at my live shows for a couple of years, and after hearing it in Woolworths I added it to the set list. That’s an old song I heard and it made me feel happy.”
What have you learnt since releasing your debut album that you’ve applied to this EP?
TP: “A lot that I’ve learn from my producer Alex Burnett, he’s amazing and I learn a lot from him. A lot about production and song writing. I definitely feel that I’ve learned about storytelling since my last record. Better in Blak was deeply personal and I learned a lot about being vulnerable and sharing and that paid off. I was worried about sharing these parts of me that were so personal but I’m glad I did. It gives context to who I am.”
One of your new tracks “When It Rain It Pours” is steeped in nostalgia of family and home. Can you recall one of your favourite memories from your hometown?
TP: “I have so many. The whole EP is very nostalgic and it’s a big theme throughout the EP, lyrically but also sonically and how it sounds. I was listening to a lot of ‘90s production and early 2000s production. ’Baby Blue Bicycle’ which is on the EP, I sing a lot about memories from my childhood and singing about the house that I grew up in which is on the EP cover. That’s a nice memory. In “When It Rains It Pours” I mention different places like The End which is a bar in my favourite suburb in Brisbane. So there are a lot little hidden motifs in there.”
And what about your memory of music growing up?
TP: “I have always loved music. My mum says that since I was a baby – mum had really cool friends and she was really young – Toni Lawson was a singer/songwriter in a band named Isis in the ‘90s in Brisbane and she would sing to me a lot and mum says I would “coo” notes back to her. Probably something my mum just says but according to her, I’ve always loved music. Growing up I’d listen to a lot of music. I spent a lot of time growing up on my grandparent’s farm isolated. I often used music as a bit of an escape and I would dream up wherever I wanted to be.”
You’ve become such an advocate First Nations talent in Australia and abroad, and this culture has been a major theme in your past music. What do you hope fans take from this new EP?
TP: “I hope that they take whatever they want from it. With Better in Blak there were a few songs where I thought, ‘You listen!’. This EP is very nostalgic and I hope that it brings a sense of security and warmth to people. I hope that they feel that nostalgic feeling.”
This EP serves as a prelude to your sophomore album. How are you feeling backing up your hugely successful debut album?
TP: “I try to not get too caught up with that stuff. When you do, especially in the process of songwriting and making a record, I know me and I know when I start to think about stuff like that, I’ll think, ‘I never want to write a song again, I don’t know how to back this up’. Just not getting into that headspace is really good for me. I remember after that record thinking, ‘I’ve already said everything, what will I say now?’.”
You returned to the stage in May alongside Paul Kelly. Did he offered any words of advice that you will carry throughout your career?
TP: “Paul is a man of few words in real life but being around him is very inspiring. Watching how he performs. Being able to write with me, I learnt a lot just in that process. He’s just so incredible at it and I really wanted to go in there and soak everything up.”
You’re embarking on a tour at the end of this month. What is your favourite thing about performing?
TP: “I love performing. I love being on stage. I love playing with my band – I have the most incredible band ever. Being on the road again and do what I do and actually, doing my job.”
Any nerves?
TP: “I do get nervous before I go on stage. I used to look at it as a really bad thing. Before I’d go on stage I’d be so nervous my tummy would be in knots. It was Patience [Hodgson] from The Grates – I did Live at the Wireless and she got up and sang with me during the pandemic – she told me that nerves do the exact same thing to your body as excitement. Think ‘I’m excited’! That was incredible advice because I’ve kept that with me every show I’ve played since.”
Something else that really stands about yourself is your incredible style. Who or what do you take inspiration from?
TP: “Karinda Mutabazi my stylist, I cannot even sing her praises enough. The first time we worked together was when I was 17 – 10 years ago. She has really helped me through my fashion journey. I have always loved fashion since I was young and I love clothes, and would always make my own outfits and make my own jewellery. My mum would take me to op shops and teach me the importance of sustainable fashion so I’m very grateful for that. I’ve always wanted to do fashion stuff and Karinda has made that happen. My style journey has really grown working with her as well. It’s a nice feeling. I’m really into maximalism at the moment and she’s incredible at everything. I’m trying to do skirts over pants as a bit of a throwback.”
You’ve already been nominated for an ARIA, earned platinum singles, landed a track in Triple J’s Hottest 100 top 10. What else do you hope to achieve next?
TP: “Oh my goodness. I don’t know. Whatever happens, happens. I just feel grateful and excited that I got to release this body of work and it’s nice to be doing what I love again.”
Thelma Plum’s new EP “Meanjin” is available to stream now. For tickets to her upcoming tour, visit here.
