Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum has just shared the latest milestone in her already-illustrious career, officially releasing her latest EP, Meanjin. Her first EP since 2014's Monsters, it serves as her first collection of new material since 2019's Better In Blak, which not only hit #4 on the ARIA charts, but won an ARIA Award from its five nominations.
Having given fans a taster of her new EP with the likes of previous singles Backseat Of My Mind and When It Rains It Pours, Thelma's Meanjin EP is on track to be regarded as one of her best releases to date.
Described as a "love letter to her hometown", Meanjin is a powerful body of work that sees Thelma reflecting and reminiscing on her time growing up in, and her eventual return to, the Sunshine State. Such reflections are made crystal clear on the EP's opening track, The Brown Snake, which itself is a reference to the nickname given by locals to the Brisbane River.
It's a heartfelt ode to hometown landmarks and the impact that it's had upon her life, with the music video going on to underline this fact as it shows Thelma and her band on a ferry ride along the river, taking in the iconic skyline and passing under the Story Bridge.
"In strange times you always tend to look back at warm memories for comfort, and when I was confined to an apartment overlooking The Brown Snake, I found myself writing music about Meanjin, the place I grew up in and have gravitated back to," explains Thelma, recalling the inspiration that the river had upon her work. “It’s blowing a musical kiss to the things I’ve loved."
Meanwhile, director Johnny Moubarak, who was in charge of the video clip for The Brown Snake, explains that his pairing with Thelma was one that made complete sense in the grand scheme of things.
"Thelma is such a charismatic person and by nature people are drawn to her, myself included," he explained. "Working alongside Thelma, I realised we both share a passion for storytelling and nostalgia...and we both love Brisbane. The video for Brown Snake embodies all of this. I’m humbled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with such a passionate and creative artist."
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To celebrate the release of her Meanjin EP, Thelma Plum will be hitting the road later this month for a run of national tour dates across Australia, supported by GRAACE and Jem Cassar Daley. Full details are available below, with tickets on sale now.
Thelma Plum – The Meanjin Tour
With special guests GRAACE & Jem Cassar Daley
Thursday, 25th August – Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW / Gundungarra & Dharug Country *
Friday, 26th August – The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW / Awabakal Country *
Saturday, 27th August – UC Refectory, Canberra, ACT / Ngunnawal *
Thursday, 1st September – Forum, Melbourne, VIC / Wurundjeri Country
Friday, 2nd September – The Gov, Adelaide, SA / Kaurna Country
Saturday, 3rd September – Spring Time Festival, Gold Coast, QLD / Yugambeh Country
Friday, 9th September – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD / Meanjin
Saturday ,10th September – Nightquarter, Sunshine Coast, QLD / Gubbi Gubbi Country
Friday, 16th September – Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW / Gadigal Country
Saturday, 24th September – Good Day Sunshine Festival, Busselton, WA / Wadandi Boodja
* Jem Cassar Daley not appearing
