Hiya Georgia thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
Introduce yourself and your musical history, please mate.
I’m Georgia Hoareau, I’m an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from the Gold Coast, Australia.
I’ve been busking and gigging since I was 15 years old with my brother William who plays the guitar and is a session musician. We’ve been a duo cover band for nearly 4 years and more recently I’ve branched off with my own writing and started my own journey as an artist but with my brother playing by my side. Both our parents are music enthusiasts and my mum used to sing professionally in a band when she was in her 20’s. My parents have made sure music was a part of mine and my brother’s life and I’m glad they did!
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
If I’m being honest, I’ve only really realised that I really want to do music as a career in the last 6 months. I’ve always been involved in music, my parents put me in piano lessons, guitar lessons, trumpet lessons and school bands, choir and singing lessons plus I also did musical theatre and performing arts. I always dreamt of being a singer or an actress but when I started busking and playing at 15 didn’t always enjoy it, however the more experience I gained, the more confident and more enjoyable it became. Plus, I’ve met so many cool people and there’s so many inspiring musicians out there, it really is something I have become very passionate about.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, how do you feel you are doing?
I think every industry has its challenges. I think the hardest thing about this industry is it’s not necessarily based on skill or what you do. As Drake so accurately said “we play an opinion-based sport”. You just need people to like your music and come to your shows. There’s so much hard work ahead yet I feel like I’m making progress. This time last year, I didn’t have any music out, gigs were few and far between, no one knew who I was and my confidence was really low. Thankful however, I now have gigs every week, I’m playing support slots for some really cool local artists like Beckah Amani and Greta Stanley, I’ve made some awesome music friends and met some very talented people. I’ve released 4 original songs in the last 12 months, recently played my first sold-out headline show at a local venue and I’m finishing a 5 track EP, and have been fortunate to be a finalist in the 2022 Gold Coast Music Awards.
Ahhh, congratulations. Let’s share the love, what bands are doing really well in your Town / City?
There are so many amazing artists and bands on the Gold Coast & Brisbane, it’s crazy!
I mean, I have to shout out my beautiful friend Harry J Hart who is just insanely talented! His recent EP ‘Holding On To My Life’ is criminally underrated. There is some amazing female artist too, like DENNIS, Alicia Todd and Beckah Amani is doing really well here and overseas. I’m so excited and fortunate to actually be supporting Beckah at her Gold Coast show on her current Australian Tour.
What advice would you give other artists starting out?
Well, I’m only starting out myself! haha. But the biggest thing I’d probably say is to get amongst it and be part of a scene. Support other local artists, show up for people, introduce yourself and your music to everyone, work with other people, be kind and be open-minded.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about?
It’s not really surprising but something unique. I volunteer at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary once a week working with approximately 20 koalas. I only started volunteering this year as I really wanted to do something different, so once a week I help to feed the koalas, clean their enclosures and hang with them all day. It’s probably the best decision I‘ve ever made. I love it so much and it keeps me sane at times. It’s really refreshing to spend a whole day in a totally different scene and atmosphere with the animals and staff.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
I’m not really sure! I’d like to think it’s my songwriting and my voice.
I think my honesty and vulnerability in my writing stand out. I’ve still got so much room to grow and I’m only just beginning, so I want to keep improving and getting better at my writing and live performances.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
I have just released a new song called ‘Oh Well’. It’s a bit different to my other music that I’ve released. It has more of a rock feel as I wanted to write something that had a different vibe to my other music and a different message. It’s about moving on and not caring about what people think and sort of saying “oh well, sh*t happens”.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune ‘Oh Well’.
I wrote it with the intention of creating a more upbeat song. I was in an angry mood when I wrote it, which is unusual for me. I was fed up and sick of feeling a certain way and that influenced the song that came out. I was sitting on my bed on a Saturday night while all my friends were out clubbing and I was sick of feeling sad over a breakup, sick of wallowing in my own feelings and tired of caring about what other people think. I wrote the song on the guitar and once I had a verse, a pre-chorus and chorus, I played it to my parents. They really liked it, so I took it into the studio a few weeks after and finished it off with my producer.
What was the recording process like?
The recording process has been unique for each song I’ve recorded but ‘Oh Well’ was really easy. Both myself and my producer, Joel Myles at Head Atlas, knew it was going to have more of a rock feel, so we did a draft version of the distorted guitars and drum beat and later bought in the very talented Michael Grabbe who smashed out the live drum track. My older brother, William Hoareau tracked the guitars and bass and Joel added synths and mixing. We sent the track to Matt Bartlem who mastered the final track you hear now. It was a quick turnaround which isn’t always the case.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing ‘Oh Well’?
I learn something new with every song, but I think I learnt with this one to not over think it. I didn’t really change much about the song after that initial night. I always think I should draft lyrics and change them and think of new chords and have different versions of everything. But I wrote it that way and stuck to that which ironically matched the sentiment of the song.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Yes and no. I could change everything because there are unlimited options and there is always room for change, but I wouldn’t change anything. It is what it is and it’s a result of that period in time. I’d rather just write a new song than keep recreating an existing one.
Follow her HERE
Stream Oh ‘Well’ HERE
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