Interview with Stelle: new single coming 3rd April

After giving her fans a heartfelt legacy of content and stunning singles, Stelle has shown she isn't done yet.

With a complete portfolio of song releases, Stelle mandates to her audience that 'we have to get older' while drip-feeding clues about her new single just weeks before an announcement was made. Now with a music video on the way, Stelle has come ready to revitalise her image in the Meanjin scene and continue her arc as one of Meanjin's finest singer-songwriters.

Putting the rumours to bed, we spoke to Stelle to ask more about how she single-handedly organised a music video shoot, is keeping her commitment to her fans with the evolution of her style, and her plans to extract every yearning tear from her listeners' inner child.

Behind ‘Have To Get Older’, what’s the motivation and meaning that listeners should be picking out of the single?

‘Have To Get Older’ is really a personal reflection on the growth that comes with time passing by. It’s about coming to terms with how we change as we get older, even when we might not feel like growing up so soon. The core meaning is about embracing this change and understanding that it is okay to get older; it’s just what we have to do. I wrote this song when I was 16 and decided it was about time to put it out into the world so other people can embrace growing up and reflecting on the memories they have made, connecting to that feeling of inevitability while finding comfort in the ever-changing journey of life. 

We heard that there’s a music video coming with this one when it releases! How was the process of planning and getting things together?

I am so excited to release my first music video with this song! It has definitely been a learning process, and a whole lot of fun at the same time. I spent a lot of time planning the concepts and vision for the music video and ended up mapping it out by scene with lots of pictures and descriptions, so the creative team and I had a clear outline for what I was envisioning. I worked closely with Cassie Jones to create my ideal press shots for the song who also assisted with the direction of the video, and Sienna Moffatt who recorded, directed and edited the music video. I had worked with both of these lovely girls in the past for press shots and they were an absolute dream team for the music video, I seriously couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. 

What advice would you have for other solo artists in the planning stage of their music video shoots?

Preparing for the shoot day we communicated about a month or so before the day to arrange a time that worked for us all and ended up filming and shooting the video and press shots in February in about 5 hours at my house and surrounding areas in the Scenic Rim. I did my own makeup, hair and styling for the shoot as well as organising props such as a party backdrop, tiara, and the cake (which I made).  Some advice I have for other solo artists in the planning stage of their music video shoots is to not be afraid to take control and stay true to your vision by getting involved in the creative journey as the more you are involved in the whole process, the more your connection to the song will come through. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Get family, friends and creatives involved, and anyone you feel will support and contribute to the process best.  

Between ‘Strangers Again’ and ‘Bouquet’, there’s a strong singer-songwriter influence covering your style - should your fans be expecting even more of what they already love about your music?

Absolutely! The singer-songwriter influence is something that’s core to my music, and it’s definitely not going anywhere. Both ‘Strangers Again’ and ‘Bouquet’ showcase a side of me that’s very raw and introspective, and I think fans can expect more of that honesty in the future, especially in ‘Have To Get Older’. I also really love to experiment with different genres so I think there will always be new sounds in my music, but at the core will always be storytelling. I like to describe my style as indie-pop folk singer/songwriter, which I feel encompasses my discography so far in my music journey.

With the release of your new single, are there any exciting events coming up in your plans?

Yes! I am having my debut headline show to celebrate the launch of the song and MV on April 10 at the Cave Inn, Woolloongabba. I am so excited to have some incredible artists opening the night – Steve Mondel, a country artist from Ipswich/Tulmur, and Georgia Betts, an indie-folk artist from Brisbane/Meanjin. What you’re in for is a night of super intimate, acoustic vibes and delicious pizza. The show starts at 7pm and ends at 9pm. Tickets are $10 online + booking fees or $15 at the door, however there is also a 'pay what you can' option as I would love everyone to have the opportunity to attend. There is more information on the ticket page for this event and I look forward to a beautiful night of music (and pizza) to celebrate this release. 

I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am for the support I’ve gotten on this journey. From producing, mixing and mastering by Dion Shaw, photography and co-directing from Cassie Jones and videography, directing and editing by Sienna Moffatt, I truly could not have done this without their support.  This first music video and debut headline show is such a huge milestone for me as an emerging artist, and it feels amazing to finally share it with the world. I hope my listeners can find a piece of themselves in this song and video, and I can’t wait to keep growing and sharing more with them.

Stelle's new single 'Have To Get Older' is out Friday, 3rd April. Presave the song now.