hidden treasures with effie isobel
WITH HER NEW SINGLE ‘HIDDEN TREASURE’ AND EP ‘LIBRA RISING’ ANNOUNCEMENT IN TOW, EFFIE ISOBEL WELCOMES US INTO HER WORLD WITH OPEN ARMS. THE DREAM POP UNIVERSE SHE IS CRAFTING IS A WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION TO THE ERA OF LIBRA RISING AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT REFLECTIVE SONGWRITING, ROMANTICISING THE MUNDANE AND VISUAL STORYTELLING.
Photo credit: Nash Blight
TEMPER: You have just announced your debut EP Libra Rising, before its release how would you describe it in 5 words:
effie isobel: Ethereal, euphoric, cathartic, tender and sapphic.
T: You spoke of ‘Hidden Treasure’ being about the liminal space where you’re not where you used to be but haven’t quite reached the destination- was this period of uncertainty a time when you felt your creativity came alive?
EI: The period of uncertainty I wrote Hidden Treasure about was very trying. I felt as if I had been turned to goo inside a cocoon, my whole world felt upside-down. When I was writing the song, I didn’t yet know what the song was about, the lyrics felt like a stab in the dark at articulating feelings I hadn’t yet named. I like to think I'm coming back down to earth and finding my feet again recently, now i look at this song with a lot of tenderness. This song really confused me while writing it, now I see clearly that it's about going through the change you once wished for. It makes sense to me in hindsight that this song was written by someone who was grappling with the realities of being in their first committed queer relationship, deciding to dive into music full time and navigating the massive life changes that happen in your 20s.
T: When you reflect on songs you’ve written in the past, can you see the transformations and manifestations that you once wrote about in your present life?
EI: Oh absolutely! I believe songs are spells and try to keep that in mind when I'm writing lyrics. I think back to writing Moon Made (the first single from my upcoming EP) and how I felt so bored of dating, I imagined myself experiencing some grand and magical love and channelled that into a song, I do like to believe that song manifested meeting my partner. Whenever I play that song live, I like to imagine the bridge of that song is a spell I'm casting.
Photo credit: Mayah Salter
T:Your songs are very vulnerable and reflective of the changes in your 20s, is this a difficult thing to put into words or something that comes naturally?
EI: Writing music is so cathartic, I enjoy weaving those experiences into my songs, even if they feel hard, if it's what I'm experiencing, it's very likely to be woven into a song! I think it can start to feel daunting when it comes to releasing music, that is such a vulnerable thing, but I become quite uninterested in my own work if it starts to feel inauthentic, the scary vulnerability is always worth the experience of sharing your heart.
T: There is something so specific and quite wonderful in your visual storytelling, how do you go about creating visuals that align with your music?
EI: To me, the visual world that accompanies the music is another opportunity to welcome listeners into your world, so it feels really important to craft the visuals with love and consideration. I always start by compiling mood boards, often before the song is even finished. These mood boards are often made up of film stills, set design, theatre costumes, shoot inspiration, all sorts of things. I often work with photographer and cinematographer Mayah Salter who does an incredible job bringing these ideas to life with me.
Photo credit: Mayah Salter
T:On romanticising the mundane, are there mundane things in your life at the moment that you are romanticising?
EI: Oooh, my current favourite is embellishing the notion page I use for all of my music admin with drawings and quotes. I also love decorating all of my workspaces and desks with trinkets, lots of little second hand ceramic animals, sonny angels and jewellery dishes.