Effie Isobel Is Bringing Libra Rising to the Stage
WORDS: SAVANNAH GALLIMORE PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY KEATING
After spending time in the world of Libra Rising, Adelaide artist effie isobel is ready to take her new EP somewhere new: the stage. Her first headline tour marks the live debut of songs that are deeply personal, pairing vulnerable songwriting with the playful, synth-pop energy that runs throughout the record.
With a full band by her side, she is approaching the tour as both a performance and an opportunity to connect. Ahead of her first Sydney show, Temper spoke with effie about the strange and surreal feeling of performing vulnerable songs for a crowd, finding strength in sharing her work, and what it means to bring her visual storytelling to the stage.
Temper: This is your first headline tour for your new EP, Libra Rising. How does it feel for these songs to make their debut with live audiences?
effie isobel: It’s really strange and surreal and beautiful. As of today, I’m getting to play these shows, so I can’t imagine it yet. I’m really anticipating what it’s going to be like, but honestly, I’m just so excited that it feels real.
T: You’ve played a lot of shows before, but you haven’t played this set of songs quite yet. Do you think performing your new songs in front of an audience will make the emotions behind them feel more real?
EI: Totally. When you write something really lighthearted, if people aren’t into it, it’s like, “Well, whatever. I’m having fun. This is cool. It’s not a big deal.” But when it is so deeply personal, you’re looking for a bit more feedback that people are enjoying it, which can feel quite intense. I’m hoping to focus on taking my time with these songs and enjoying the way that it feels to just be playing them for me. And then if people resonate, then they resonate.
T: I feel like visual storytelling is a big part of your music. How do you plan to bring that to the stage?
EI: It’s tricky to travel with a set at this point. My merch is definitely a big one. I design almost all of my own merch, which is really fun. I think just bringing that in and adding little fun elements where I can, and also decorating the sound as well. I’ve designed the set to be a bit more cohesive, rather than individual songs. So I’m looking forward to that.
T: What do you feel like you’ve learned about yourself from performing and touring?
EI: I think it makes me feel strong. To get up and just perform and share my music. Being vulnerable makes me feel strong, I think, which is kind of a strange paradox, but it is something really beautiful. That’s a big part of what I’ve learned. And also, I’ve learned that I don’t want to shut up. If I’m talking, I’m like, “Okay, stand-up set. Hello, everybody. You’re a captive audience, and I’ve got a microphone.”
T: Do you also like to give a little introduction before the songs, like, “This is what this is about”?
EI: Absolutely, I love doing that. I think it’s cute too, because sometimes I get a bit in my head and I’m like, “Oh, am I just rambling on?” But no, I love when I’m listening to an artist and they’re telling their perspective on a song that I haven’t considered. So I try to bring that.
T: What song are you most looking forward to performing?
EI: I think “Honey Drunk”, that was the feature single for the EP release. I’ve never played that live as of right now, which is crazy. And I think that’ll be really fun. It’s a fun little synth-pop track, but it’s also really, really vulnerable. So I’m just like, “Let’s just do everything at once. Let’s have it be fun, have it be vulnerable.” Yeah, that’s what I’m most looking forward to playing.
T: You’re also opening for The Tullamarines soon. How are you going to approach that tour, in front of a new audience?
EI: I’ve been chatting with lots of different people about this and how to make the most of it, and also just have the most fun on this tour and bring as much of my energy and essence to the stage. But I think I’m just going to, where I can, encourage people to come down early and come see my show. And make sure that I’m available at the merch desk if anybody wants to hang out, because that’s my favourite part of touring, meeting all these new people.
I’m just going to make my set super punchy and bring big energy and have as much fun with it as I can. When I’m not the headline, I have the privilege of the pressure being off a little bit.
T: How did you go about picking outfits for this tour?
EI: I tried to focus on everything being thrifted or from small businesses. I start everything with a mood board, like a Pinterest board, and try to get as much inspiration as I can. Then I go about my shopping or my thrifting and try to pick pieces that aren’t necessarily straight from the Pinterest board, but kind of speak to those elements, and then start piecing things together as I go.
Q: What do you plan to do to keep yourself grounded while touring?
EI: Honestly, sleeping as much as I can is really important to me. I’m also incredibly lucky that my bandmates are two of my best friends, and my partner is here. She’s a touring musician, so she’s across it and is looking after me. It’s so beautiful to have that little slice of home with me. Outside of that, going for walks, being in touch with my curiosity, that makes me feel very comfortable. Honestly, just touching grass. Being in this park earlier, across the road, was just so beautiful. It was so relaxing. It actually just makes me go, “Oh my God, none of this is that deep.” It’s really not that deep. Just touching a tree, I’m like, “Okay, it’s actually all good.” That is such a big thing for me, reconnecting with nature.
T: You have an Adelaide show coming up as well. Are you excited to play a hometown show?
EI: I love hometown shows. It’s so nice to wake up in my own bed and then get to play a show, and my dad is there. My dad helps me set up, and it’s just so nice to do that, also because my friends are there. As beautiful as it is having new faces in a crowd in front of you, it’s very grounding to see the people that you love in the front row.
T: Do you get more nervous playing in front of people you know?
EI: I think, yes, maybe I do, because I’m like, “Oh, these people already have an opinion of me that I should try and upkeep,” versus in a city with people you don’t know, it’s like, “I can do whatever I want, right? I could do anything if I want.”
T: How did you go about picking openers for your tour?
EI: I was so lost with openers, so I put a post up on my Instagram saying, “Hello, does anybody want to open for me?” And that got more comments than I was expecting. So I ended up listening to about 500 artists. Which was a lot. I spent a couple of days going through everyone’s Spotify and making little shortlists. From there, I wanted to do non-male artists as much as I could and some pop girlies, that felt like a no-brainer.
I was also listening to what people were messaging me. They were just being like, “Oh, please get this person. Please get this person.” I think it’s so important to hear people out on who they want to see platformed as well.
T: When someone comes to a show, what do you hope that they take away from it once they leave?
EI: I think it’s a beautiful thing to have fun, and having fun and bringing some lightness into your life is okay. I think right now the world is such a dark place, it’s all feeling very heavy, and so it’s actually okay, and really important, to have fun.