We at Indie Top 39 fell in love with Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Thea FitzGerald late last year when she released her melodic, R&B-inspired cracker ‘Good Like That’. She’s now returned with her first release of 2022 in the form of ‘Way Up’, and it truly is another special little track. It’s definitely more introspective and downbeat when compared to ‘Good Like That’, and it expertly showcases a different side to FitzGerald – a softer, more “toned-down” side. Again working alongside Melbourne-based producer SB90, the pair have created a deeply emotive, bold, and heartfelt tune that we simply can’t get enough of! Having grown up on a steady diet of acts like Paul Kelly, The Pretenders, Crowded House, and Tina Arena, FitzGerald’s sound continues to evolve and mature with each new release. Her third EP is scheduled for release on the seventeenth of next month, and we can’t wait to sink our teeth into it!
A heartfelt and introspective track, ‘Way Up’ sends out a beautiful message of empathy and not wasting the time we have!
INDIE TOP 39
What does the song mean to you?
‘Way Up’ was written about losing someone and wishing you could change the story of the relationship. More specifically, it was written about Grandma who (to be brutally honest) I didn’t adore that much until I was about 15. From 15 – 18 we became extremely close and she ended up passing away unexpectedly whilst I was on a gap year overseas. I hadn’t seen her for months and didn’t get to say goodbye and I will always regret that I only really made 3 years of our relationship special.
Tell us about your creative process and how the song came to be?
This release was originally written and recorded at the VERY very beginning of what we now know as the shitstorm that has been COVID. I vividly remember sitting on the couch home alone one night feeling pretty sorry for myself and picking up the guitar. This then started to come together. Shortly after I produced a demo version of what I wanted the track to be and then got to work with the BRILLIANT Stuart Le Brander (SB90) for the first time on developing it further.
Please finish the sentence – Music to me is…
Music is a way of healing and working through this strange but brilliant thing that is life and all the ups and downs that come with it. It’s a way of attempting to filter those emotions into something that can become a keepsake of that experience to always come back to. When combined, these little keepsakes can create the most brilliant picture of how much we get to experience in this world.
What do you want to achieve in the next 12 months with your music?
I am so so looking forward to having my next EP out on the 17th of March, and then a few more singles are lined up throughout the year! I also cannot WAIT to get stuck into the live scene again now that things are finally open! I am SUPER excited about getting back on stage amongst brilliant musicians and friends and getting the live shows happening! Crossing my fingers to be able to support a few killer artists on their tours this year, and also host a few of my own shows.
Make sure to connect with Thea FitzGerald on Instagram » Facebook » Twitter
Now you can listen to all the 39 songs in one place, right here on Spotify!
This coverage was created in collaboration with Musosoup as part of the #SustainableCurator movement.
