Thelma Plum - BIGSOUND Live 2013 Feature Artist

Our next BIGSOUND Live feature artist is one of Australia's fastest rising singer-songwriters, the incredible Thelma Plum! Thelma is having quite the week, walking away with big wins at the National Indigenous Music Awards, the Queensland Music Awards and her song 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' took third place in the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition. 'Quite the week' is underselling her week a fair bit, yes?


Like Gossling, Thelma was lovely enough to take the time to answer some questions from us about all things BIGSOUND, her busy year so far and what's to come next. And don't forget, tickets are on-sale now for BIGSOUND Live, the best two nights of live music in Brisbane all year! You can check out the full program (and get info on all of the fun events) over at the BIGSOUND site and you can grab your one or two day passes through Oztix and QMusic!

Thelma Plum

Performing Live: 10pm @ Black Bear Lodge - September 12, 2013

as part of BIGSOUND Live

Interview by Matt Bond

Thelma Plum! Welcome to It’s My Kind of Scene! How are you today and what have you been getting up to?


Thelma: I am very good today thank you : ) I just had a coffee and feeling very awake!


It’s been a busy year for you; releasing the Rosie EP and taking it on the road, as well as supporting Emma Louise. How have you found the reception to Rosie and what have been some of your tour highlights?

Thelma: This year has been amazing! The touring has been amazing! I think a major highlight from the Emma Louise shows was at the very start of the tour in Adelaide when I started playing 'Around Here' and I could hear the words echoing back at me and I thought there must have been something wrong with the sound, but it turned out to be people singing along! That was pretty cool.


In exciting news, you’ve made the shortlist for the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition with the song ‘Breathe In, Breathe Out’. Congratulations! It really is a beautiful(ly heartbreaking) track. Can you tell us the story behind it?


Thelma: Thank you very much. I am so humbled and excited to be in the top 30! SO CRAZAAA@@ZZZAY! I wrote 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' right after I had my heart broken for the first time. I was feeing very hurt and couldn't talk about it, so instead I wrote about it. At first I associated the song with that person that broke my heart and I remember right after I finished thinking, "oh man I can't wait until he hears this," but now I don't associate it with him at all.. it is MY song.. haha!

(As mentioned above, Thelma came third in the V&Y comp!)

Next month you’ll be performing as part of the BIGSOUND Live line-up. How important do you think an event like this is in introducing the sounds of emerging performers?


Thelma: Woo! Bigsound! SO important! I think it is really cool to have an event where so many different people from the industry can meet and emerging artists get the chance to show those people what they can do!  


The nights involve a lot of running around to catch the acts you want to see. What will the Thelma Plum performance offer to those in attendance?


Thelma: Lots of singing, a bit of crying, and of course some swearing.


The BIGSOUND Live bill is a who’s-who of the country’s best new talent. Who are you hoping to see perform if you get the chance?


Thelma: EVERYONE! There are so many people I want to see play! I can't choose so I will just say EVERYONE!


How are you planning to follow up Rosie? Can we expect to hear Thelma Plum’s debut album anytime soon?


Thelma: I am planning on putting out my second EP very soon : )


Call and Response:

The first album you ever bought was… 

Thelma: PAUL KELLY

Your favourite band is… 

Thelma: PAUL KELLY

The best gig you ever attended that you’ll remember for the rest of your life was… 

Thelma: PAUL KELLY

A song that was designed to make you dance is… 

Thelma: 'Barbara Ann' performed by The Beach Boys.

Your music guilty pleasures are… 

Thelma: Too embarrassing to mention.

The most underrated act in music is… 

Thelma: There is a very long list..

If you could write a song with anyone it would be… 

Thelma: PAUL KELLY - when he was my age so we could write music and make out.





If they were to make a movie based on your life right now, who would you want to play you, what’s the name of the movie and who’s performing the song to promote the film?


Thelma: It would be a musical called 'The Life of a Plum' and Jennifer Lawrence would play me because she is a massive babe. She would have a really good fake tan too. And it would be Beyonce performing the song for the movie.. I would be very happy with that. 


I would definitely see that movie! Big thanks goes to Thelma Plum for stopping by. Can't wait to see her perform at BIGSOUND Live and just as excited to hear we'll be hearing another EP very soon! Today is a good day.