With her video for ‘Soak Into This’ filling up screens around the country, Greta Stanley shares some of her favourite female artists and their tracks.
It’s fair to say that 2019 was a huge year for Queensland indie-rocker Greta Stanley. Off the back of her EP Sun In My Eyes she racked up hundreds of thousands of Spotify streams, sold out a national tour and became a triple j Unearthed staple – all key stepping stones for an artist about to ascend into the next tier within the Australian music hierarchy.
She’s just dropped a video for ‘Soak Into This’, her track that reached an impressive number six on the AMRAP Metro Chart, which follows the ups and downs of a relationship between (presumably) two sisters. Much like the track, the video sways between moments of elation and euphoria as we watch on, waiting to see if they’re going to pull through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RRRDxPBC5E&feature=youtu.be
But what about the artists who pull Greta through when she’s looking for inspiration? We caught up with her to ask about her favourite female acts and the tracks of theirs that she loves most. Check it out below:
Soko – ‘I’ll Kill Her’
I remember my dad showed me this song when I was about 14 or 15, I thought the lyrics were so vulnerable and funny and I have listened to all of Soko’s songs on repeat ever since. She’s hands down one of my favourite songwriters. I think she’s so unique and brilliant, and although she’s very successful I still think she’s very underrated!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGRlKEmVkdY
Macy Gray – ‘I Try’
I remember listening to this song a lot when I was about seven, my mum listened to it and I didn’t understand the lyrics back then but as I grew up I did and I loved it even more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEQ0l_m3Xm0
Ani DiFranco – ‘School Night’
My friend created a playlist that had this song on it,I loved the lyrics again for the vulnerability and the story telling way of writing. The metaphorical way of writing was really clever and it inspired and influenced some of my own songwriting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpt1gDDg1dI
Phoebe Bridgers – ‘Motion Sickness’
I love this song, I only discovered Phoebe last year and a lot of her songs really resonated with me, and this one felt like something I wish I’d written. Phoebe’s songs are all so great, so honest and raw but so cleverly put together. She’s awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sfYpolGCu8
Lisa Mitchell – ‘Love Letter’
I’ve always thought this song was so beautiful, but before being a touring musician myself I didn’t understand the lyrics to the extent I do now. I have a new appreciation for this song, as I believe it’s about being on the road and finding it hard to have romantic relationships when you live a different lifestyle to most.
“Writing someone else your love letter
Cause I’m always on the road
And of course I wanna know you better
But you know the way it goes
Well a telegram’s no substitute
When it comes to living proof”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg8w2eU4JTY
Tia Gostelow – ‘Strangers’
I love tia, she’s great. I’ve seen her live a few times and she’s always awesome on stage, this song I can just never get out of my head. It makes me feel like I’m falling in love with someone, it’s nostalgic and beautifully written.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWs-fGb4L8Q
Daughter – ‘Landfill’
Daughter made me want to write my own songs. I was so obsessed with her lyrics, her voice, everything. I’ve never listened to anyone’s music more. I discovered ‘Daughter’ when I was around 15/16 and she definitely helped shape my songwriting initially. I loved the chorus:
‘Cause this is torturous electricity
Between both of us and this is
Dangerous ’cause I want you so much
But I hate your guts
I hate you”
Because even little young me at the time felt like I knew what it was like to fall for someone even if you really didn’t want to like them!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnf2J-V_OWA
Angie Mcmahon – ‘Pasta’
I think Angie’s simply brilliant. Her live performances kick ass, and you can tell she’s so connected to what she’s singing. This song resonated with me as I guess I felt a bit low and lost when I first heard it. I think it’s great Angie’s singing about feeling that way, because I think a lot of people feel isolated in those headspaces or in those feelings, and to hear someone else is feeling just the same is comforting. I can’t wait to hear everything else Angie put’s out in the coming years.
