“A Woman Is A Woman” – What does this song mean to you?
‘A Woman Is A Woman’ is my song for finally accepting myself as a powerful woman in this world and as a queer woman. It was based around always picking myself back up and coming out stronger and what it means to be a woman who is unapologetically themselves. The power of women coming together and lifting each other up is what will break us away from constructs that were made out of fear, to define and suppress us. The male gaze to put it simply, or the way this world is constructed as a man’s world kind of goes out the window and at the same time, highlighted how crippling it is when you live by it and let it dictate how you hold yourself. That was something that I was able to feel free from when I came to terms with being queer. It’s not just being queer but what that opened up for me as a woman. This song means embracing your power and being unapologetically you. A reminder for when I waver from that power too.
Your lyrics explore themes around personal struggles and self-discovery. What about creating music allows you to express and share those experiences?
I know now more than ever that putting my feelings and words into song creates a way of saying what I mean with added melody and sound that adds more meaning than words on their own. Personally I think even part of writing lyrics and making music for me comes from the trauma of trying to communicate how I feel and not feeling heard. I feel like once I have written it out in a song with sounds to back up my words that it adds more meaning to my words and wraps it up in a little bow and I think I’ve worked through it. It’s also then about connection and wanting others to feel understood and heard and relate to a feeling or experience that they feel through it.
What has been your experience as a musician beginning their career in Tasmania?What is the music landscape like in Tasmania for emerging artists?
I started out as a busker at Salamanca markets in Hobart. Things music wise have grown in Tasmania since I started and it’s bloody beautiful to see. Tasmania is cool now! Haha it used to be a bit ‘where’s your second head’ to be from Tasmania. I’ve always been a passionate advocate of where I’m from and it’s a huge part of the way I am and the music I make. Starting out it was a part of what made me stand out in the rest of the country and at the same time was what restricted me as an artist. Things have changed now and there is a whole scene of bands and artists of all sorts making things happen in Tassie.the festival scene especially has been something that has been nurtured through the pandemic and out the other side and has allowed Tassie’s scene to grow. I still think it’s important to expose that to the rest of the country and the world, Tasmanian, Australian artists have a down to earth connection that makes for something real special. I’m also coining the term, ‘Tasmaniana’
How would you explain your sound, and what particularly has influenced your sound?
Ah yeah, Tasmaniana! Being Tasmanian and being from a tiny island (Bruny) off Tasmania has shaped my sound hugely. its like honest, unapologetic and raw. I grew up on Australiana, pub rock and a bit of country. Story telling, Singing with my Tasmanian accent and all of that mixed with all the badass women who have inspired and paved the way have made my sound what it is, from Stevie Nicks, to Missy Higgins, to Miley Cyrus and recent powerhouses who made me feel like it was ok to bring that powerful voice into modern music like Chappell Roan. using classic sounds and bringing new fresh elements to it for hopefully timeless kind of music that makes you feel! Women in music and the empowerment of that feels exciting now. I’m the Tasmanian version of all of those influences combined.
If you could choose one artist/band who has influenced your music, to collaborate with, who would you pick?
Always the hardest type of questions! To narrow that to down to one is too hard! It would be go to different ends, like from Chappell Roan, to Sharon Van Etton, to Stevie Nicks, to Miley Cyrus, to Waxahatchee, to Paul Kelly! I’m a blend of all these types of artists and would die to be able to learn more from any of them!
What are your passions outside of music? Do they often circle back to creative inspiration for writing music?
A lot of them circle back to music, being an independent artist now allows me to have more creative control and responsibility in all of the creative parts around the songs, creating a world around the music is important to me. Visuals, art, photos, fashion are all a part of it and I am very particular and sure about how I want things to feel. Fashion has become more of a creative outlet for me that goes with the music and how it is presented. From that to interior design and creating a space that is for me to exist in and create in is also very important to me.
What inspired you to write “A Woman Is A Woman”, and what lyrics resonate with you the most?
The inspiration came from two things, working out and coming to terms with being queer and how that literally changed the way I felt about myself and the perceiving the world. And picking myself back up in the music industry, revamping how I’m going to do it and scrapping the way I was doing it, getting bogged down by the industry. I had been swept up in all sorts of industry mess that really brought me down and instead of staying in a self pity, self doubt dump, when all of it was in question, I turned to just being an artist again and there was no denying I have to be a musician and I’ll never give up.
Is there a symbolic significance to the visual elements of fire within the cover art and music video for this single? If so, why fire? What does it represent or symbolise?
The fire is a part of the symbolism of Bruny island, the whole EP I’m releasing and represents where I grew up. It represents witches being burnt, being scared of women’s power, feminine rage, and burning past versions of myself, a rising from the ashes type thing.
Now pressings and vinyl doesn’t all run according to plan, so tell us, what can we expect to see from Maddy Jane to launch this exclusive run of the translucent, ‘golden soil’, 7” pressing for A Woman Is A Woman?
This vinyl release has tracks ‘A Woman Is A Woman’ AND ‘A Woman Is A Woman Pt. 2. PART 2 is supposed to be listened to after part 1 like one big song and I’m so excited for that to be on 7” vinyl the way we made it to be. Side B also having ‘It Can’t Be Heartbreak If It’s Not Love’ on the vinyl is like the start of the EP and is like the first chapter of a story
Will you be doing any upcoming instores around the vinyl?
yes! I’m playing an acoustic stripped back session at impressed records to launch this vinyl. I’ll be playing those songs and a couple more of the unreleased tracks from my upcoming EP. It will be a chance to get an idea of what is coming too!
How can fans get their hands on this ‘hot property’? Where can they find it?
I’m participating record stores around the country and online at impressed records!!
What is on the horizons for Maddy Jane?
This is just the start. I have so much to say and I’ll be releasing my EP will in June! Which is pt 1 of my album! I’m so excited to really get going again but in a new, refined way! With more live shows coming, more community and exporting Tasmaniana to the rest of the country and overseas.
