Western Victoria's Libby Steel has already gained critical acclaim winning the Triple J unearthed Queenscliff music festival competition & featuring at St Kilda's Best New Artist stage.
She has just put out her latest single 'Miss me' taken from her forthcoming EP Bones.
Tomatrax caught up with Libby to talk about her music.
What inspired you to become a musician?I've always loved music, the way it brings people together - both lyrically and live, however being from a small country town in rural Vic I didn't think it was a career option growing up. I was really encouraged to get a degree and be able to support myself which I'm really thankful for, however in doing so it really showed me where my passions were- and that was music. Every day I wake up thinking about music, it's what drives me, gives me purpose and happiness.
When did you write your first song?I wrote my first song when I was confident enough on the guitar, which was about 15. Once I could string together a melody the lyrics came and I've been writing since.
You've just released your latest single, how does it feel to have it out?It's great to finally have 'Miss Me' out. I was really keen to show a different side to myself and my sound, which 'Miss Me' did. I wanted to release a stripped back song which was lyric focused instead of production & I'm really proud of how 'Miss Me' did so.
What made you pick 'Miss Me' as your latest single?I chose 'Miss Me' as it's such a contrasting sound to my original work. It has opened up doors in terms of my sound so people can be prepared for anything in my upcoming releases.
You have an EP coming out soon, how has work on it been going?It's been going really well. I have grown artistically in the process, exploring new sounds, pushing my lyrics and my music knowledge to the test. I can't wait for it to come together.
How will the EP compare with your singles released so far?I don't like to narrow myself to a genre which is evident in my past releases. All my singles are extremely different which is what I love about them. In saying that, I think my EP will bring everything together which I'm excited about.
You received a lot of acclaim for your debut single, does this make you feel any pressure going forward?Not at all, it's the first of many songs.
Do you ever listen to your own music?I do, however it's difficult not to listen to your own music without over analyzing it instead of just enjoying it.
What other music do you listen to?I listen to a lot of different genres and artists. At the moment, I'm listening to a lot of Alabama Shakes and Khruangbin.
What do you have planned once the EP is out?Once I've released my new music, I'll be looking at a tour. I've got a great community in Vic, but need to establish that in other states.
Check out Libby Steel's website to find out more!
