Fyerfly: Sensual sadcore & indie rock torch singer Fyerfly will warm you with her sultry, haunting sounds.
Interview conducted March 31, 2021
By Dan Locke
From the gentle mountain streams of Victoria, Australia, sensual sadcore songstress Fyerfly is captivating audiences with her mesmerising late-night intimacy. Fans describe her voice as “sultry & soulful”, offering a soothing solace in the enveloping darkness.
What is your upbringing?
I was an only child until I started school, so I grew up creating my own worlds. I never knew anything different and loved the things I built, places I imagined and the friends I had. I started performing at the age of 3 and was quite a leader as a young child until I moved town/schools, where I became very insular and guarded. My parents split when we were young so I became a parent figure to my two younger siblings, until I went to uni. Whilst I grew up in a family of 3 kids, my extended family kept growing and I was exposed to two very different extremes. I was dedicated to my music, theatre and art as a teenager at a time I was also quite self-destructive. I like to give the ‘younger me’ a cuddle every now and then 😉.
How did you discover music?
My father was a guitarist and singer in bands before I was born. I was exposed to a lot of live music in bars, festivals, home acoustic sessions and a.m radio! My grandmother (mother’s side) was a classical pianist and an influential and award winning teacher. She trained elite students and she taught me from around the age of 11, when I moved to the same town. She nurtured my musical abilities and introduced me to many streams of expression and performance and took me to see classical shows when they came to town. Now I go alone, and miss her dearly. We shared the language of music that gave us another dimension to our relationship.
How did you start to write music/poetry?
I had always been a deep thinker. I feel deeply, which was a bit upsetting growing up. I discovered that playing and writing music allowed me to express my emotions as a beautiful and natural flow of energy. As an extension of my spirit.
As a young child I had a few favourite poems framed in my bedroom and I always had a natural desire to write expressively. My mum liked to write poetry back then too. Writing music came much later, when I was learning piano, but it was just instrumental and experimental. The first original song I wrote was a rap song (back when it was called Rap!) for a competition on ’The Afternoon Show’ on the ABC (TV). I never submitted it – it was naively dreadful. Other than that, I really only pieced lyrics and composing together as a young adult after I’d come back from a few years overseas, and huge gap from music altogether. I’ve still much to learn and improve on
Describe your music.
Okay, here are some describing words… Vulnerable, expressive, haunting, sensual, soulful, relaxing, mystical, honest and emotional (I cheated and got some of these from my fans ;))
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My dad gave me one of his guitars as a young adult. I slowly taught myself to play and later started lessons, which was a MUCH more productive exercise! I think I gave that guitar to my sister.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
I want to be very clear – I am a singer-songwriter and not a guitarist, nor a pianist. I have limited technical knowledge so a guitarist friend helped me buy my acoustic electric Maton EM325C and my x-husband bought me an Ashton, which is what I learned to play on with my teacher.
What was your first performance like?
I was a performer decades before I became Fyerfly but I always enjoyed the stage. I was always quite shy off-stage.
What makes a good songwriter?
Honesty and bravery. If the listener can’t grasp the story, the song can’t connect with its audience. There’s a difference between mindful poetry and secret code. I’ve experimented with this. A song needs to be real and understood to be its best. Just like life.
What is the process of writing your music?
99% of the time I write my lyrics first. From them, I form the rhythm. And lastly the melody, which is usually ‘played with’ on piano then recorded and developed electronically, to form my demos. I kind of do it backwards to others. I’ve only written one song with just an acoustic guitar first, and then the lyrics. That was much quicker!
How did you get your stage name?
With much thought and consideration. I wanted one word that could artistically represent what I stand for. Fyerfly accomplishes that on many levels. I brainstormed ideas then sought feedback from a small ground of trusted friends.
In your bio you talk about you should think of bedroom intimacy of Norah Jones. Is that Norah Jones as a solo artist or her other project The Little Willies?
Solo artist. I’m not familiar with her collaborative work. She’s only one recognizable artist I’ve been compared to. I wouldn’t say my sound is like her sound but I agree there are some similarities in the way we deliver our vocals.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yeah, just the standard stuff. ASCAP and the Aussie organizations ARA AMCOS & PPCA.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Heavens no! Unless it was on cassette… which may have occurred…
Tell me about your latest cd “Connect”? Are you planning to release new music soon?
I recently released my single ‘Willow Tree’ so I’ll give that a little time to breathe before showcasing another from ‘Connect’. I intend to start recording again this year. Some time.
During the creation of your music you offered the chance for your fans to get private access to snippets of your new songs and studio shenanigans
Kind of. I’m very private about my initial creation process. It’s intimate and not something I share. However, I certainly to document collaborative creation and recording with my team, when they’re not feeling shy themselves. I later make that available for viewing by those VIP fans that follow along closely.
Were you surprised at how many fans wanted to see you create your new music?
Not at all. It’s a natural part of human connection to want to be part of the journey.
What it the backstory on your video “Willow Tree”?
I was inspired by the evening light falling through leaves of a willow tree. It was gently brushing the top of the water. A poem formed in my mind which later became the lyrics. The video is a visual interpretation of that song.
What is your favorite track on your album?
It just depends on the day. Like today – one particular fan loves to listen to my album loud in his car, which is something I’d never done myself. So I did that on my way back from the mountains, and the first track ‘Motions’ made me cry. So that’s the one that’s speaking to me today.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I’m not a tourin
I’m not a touring artist so it’s a lot easier for me 😜. I keep a pretty consistent exercise regime and enjoy a clean, healthy diet. (I’m into health and wellbeing – not being skinny). Vocally, I train daily for as long as I have notice that I’m about to record or of a coming performance. So that may give me months of lead time, and keeps my range broad and smooth. So I’m pretty disciplined I suppose.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
We gotta roll with the times. As a listener it’s a brilliant way to discover new music. As a composer, writer and performer the payouts are ridiculously minuscule. A tiny percent of 1 cent per stream is so insane that it should be illegal. I’d have hoped that COVID may have highlighted and finally forced this to change…
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, or (in North American usage) pound sign. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes. Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags to be known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Ha! I’m sure musos will ever lose sight of this but it’s certainly possible with the rest of society. There’s little reason for them to know what a sharp looks like. Or what it means.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both have their place but as a personal summary, vinyl-only if you’ve a great speaker system or great headphones. Digital satisfies all facets of my earbuds. Still need good speakers though! I’m a huge fan of great mixing and I want to hear it all – it’s as much an art form as the rest of the production. Poor mixing leaves a song unresolved for me. Unloved.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what does that song mean to you?
The Longest Time – Billy Joel.
I remember listening to this single over and over on my friend’s record player in her room when we were kids. I’ve always loved harmonies, and Billy Joel. To me this is track about finding the one that inspires the love in you. I get that
You played Wimmera Rock Festival at the beginning of the virus. What was the 60 years of Wimmera Rock Festival?
It was a reunion of musicians and bands from the region, spanning over a 60yr period. I lived in the Wimmera (a rural region of Victoria in Australia) for a large portion of my life, and was invited to perform as one of the ‘active’ artists.
The Australian city of Melbourne has just come out of their third lockdown.
The entire state of Victoria was in a third lock-down, not just Melbourne. We did what we were told and are now living pretty freely as civilians. It has been really difficult to endure but we have all had to adapt and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved as a whole.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
I’m not qualified to comment on this one.
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
Once again, I’m not qualified to say. My only thoughts are that we live in a free society where we all have the right to choose. Only time will tell.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
It definitely puts it on hold and in a wobbly state of suspense. But nothing will ever kill the live music scene. Even if it’s just musos playing for musos! As an optimist, I think this is a collective experience that will cause a form of evolution, but I don’t believe it will impact us negatively long term. .
How was it to release an album during the lockdown?
Shit. So much work, time, money, energy, tears, and change went into its creation
Shit. And it was right at the start too – the most unfortunate timing. So much work, time, money, energy and change went into the albums creation and it was something I could never have anticipated. Who could?! But it’s just the first album. There’ll be more. And I learned a lot in the process.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Teaching my kids, repairing my house, reading, writing and working. And grounded meditation. Check out a doco I was in over that period for more intimate info https://bit.ly/FFLYdoc
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Ha – no. I’ve not had time to spare, nor enjoy the ones I’ve already got.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
I started streaming a doco channel for a few months while I was unemployed.
I really don’t watch much TV but my kids and do I love a movie together most weekends, usually from Netflix/Disney
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on live-streamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
I think that’s reasonable, Facebook was never designed for this purpose. They’ll need to invest in improving their platform, so it stands to reason that they charge for the service.
There are already other purpose-built alternatives that offer better syncing/ticketing services, so if artists seriously want to incorporate live streaming into their mix, they should consider a quality service for their fans.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Facebook ‘is’ for sharing with friends and family. I admire Facebook/Instagram for demonstrating their boundaries, even though people may spend less time on the platform as a result..
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live and sell merchandise to them at the show? Is pay-to-play still a thing? Pay-to-play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Yeah… I don’t know about this direction. There’s probably a place for them in the younger generation’s world but I definitely don’t get into watching or performing online. For me, performance is the exchange of human energy – an engagement of all my senses – so a screen, or hologram can never replace human interaction.
I think it’s up to the musicians to interact with their audience via newsletters and social media, to keep the relationships alive. In fact there’s no better time than now to strengthen existing, and form new relationships with fans. Live music will return. And eCommerce is quite alive and kicking. Fans can be directly supporting artists by buying their music and merch from the artists themselves. There’s really no need to loose touch.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, which provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Less than a week ago. A letter went out to the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) with over 3500 industry name who signed a open letter asking for urgent support with lockdowns, border closures and audience restrictions continuing to devastate the live music industry. Is the Australian government listening?
I think it’s getting there – ever so slowly.
There will always be a call for more support. And I know many musos are relying on our government’s financial assistance to tread-water. It’s been a really hard and horrible time. But unemployment benefits are quite simply not a sustainable system. Which is all the more reason to help everyone ‘get back to work’ as effectively as possible.
I personally think that we, as an entire country, have been well supported through a time that no one has any experience in managing. Government’s world-wide have done an amazing job navigating this crazy time. Locally, our leaders are still in discussion about how to bring the industry back to life and I’m sure we’ll get there eventually.
I know it’s tricky, but there’s only so much money to go around. For now, everyone needs to take less to ensure the greater whole is looked after. I think an attitude of gratitude and compassion would be more beneficial to instil during this time – not protesting for more handouts.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artists? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you looked into this yet?
hey sound fantastic. No I’ve not heard of, nor yet looked into it. Any organisation banding together to offer support is a gift to be grateful for.
In the past if a musician stopped doing music they’d find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Right now, it’s more about what I ‘need’ to be doing. I’ve run my own business for 19 years and specialise in branding and marketing management. I had slowed my business down to focus on music, moved towns, and had started a part time job as marketing manager when I was made redundant, the first day Australia closed its international boarders. (That was the also week of my album launch.)
After several months of unemployment and home schooling my kids, I revved up my business again and found another part time marketing job to create some financial stability for my children and I.
The opportunity to submit music grants to gain financial support have come and gone. Whilst I’d dearly appreciate my music being recognised and supported financially, it’s my responsibility to create a solid foundation for myself and my children so I’ve focussed on rolling up my sleeves with my paid work. I’ll never let go of my music – I’m always writing and plan to record the next album soon – but it’s painfully clear that it’s helpful to have something else to fall back on. Just like SpongeBob Squarepants.
What is your happy place?
Singing, dancing, reading, travelling. I’m lost without ‘bush time’ to replenish my energy so I’m always happy in nature. I love being around people but I find it overwhelms me and needs to be balanced with quiet time, and with select people. But too much time alone and I wilt. Like everything in life, balance is key.
With love & light, Fyerfly
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