Q&A: Effe Indulges in Longing on Debut EP “Solder”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY AMANDA COLLINS☆
Sophie Hur
EFFE DOESN’T HIDE FROM DESIRING INTIMACY, KNOWING WE NEED ONE ANOTHER — The space between two people can be close or quite distant, and Melbourne-based ethereal pop artist effe does not diminish the importance of desire. Released on August 7, effe’s debut EP Solder honors all stages of partnership, the intensity of longing, and the feelings that can grow in the presence or absence, the proximity or vast distance, from another person.
A lovely pairing of orchestral breakthroughs, synths, and vocal softness, Solder is 5 tracks of lush musings on opposing sides of romance. The EP is ideal for the act of day-dreaming and quietly, but meaningfully, romanticizing longing. effe herself practices the art of longing, reminiscing “I always had a crush in uni, and every time I was on the train, which was like a 30-minute ride, I would just listen to music and stare at my window and fantasize and yearn. I'm also Pisces, so I think it's just a Pisces thing. I would play music and, in my head, it felt like I was in a scene in a movie. I could picture a movie of a life with the person I had a crush on or whatever, or I'd think about little moments in my life. It felt very cinematic…”
Solder is sprinkled with lyrics that don’t quiet effe’s affection. Starting off sensual and honest, track “See-through" captures the immediate need for another, with lyrics “I just want what is mine.” On track “Every Version Of You,” the lyrics “(I) wanna get to the root/(I) wanna know what moves you” similarly speak to effe’s unabashed desire to close the gaps between herself and another. However, closing the EP with emotive “Tears Always Burn,” effe doesn’t give false promises when it comes to fantasies of love sometimes turning into underwhelming realities.
While Solder is filled with moments that replicate the rush of romantic possibility, it is paired with the trip-hop, downtempo beats, making it sonically clear on Solder that the plea for closeness isn’t always answered immediately. Hinting at the obvious that emotional intimacy is a two-way street, the EP lets it be known that distance between two people is sometimes uncontrollable, no matter how close the skin is.
Like adding an unpredictable variable to an experiment, falling into relationship with another person always runs a risk. Whether the reward is high, or the consequences sharp, singer-songwriter effe vouches for taking the gamble. “I think it's good to just put your heart on the line because eventually someone will reciprocate, and there's no point wasting time.”
To be direct about one’s feelings is brave, and whether the longing is met or is to no avail, there is something to be said about the exercise in itself. To want is incredibly raw, human, and worthwhile, whether reciprocated or not.
Read Luna’s discussion with effe on Solder, the release of her sleek early 2000s-esque “Tears Always Burn” music video, and her artistic journey in Australia below.
Sophie Hur
LUNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with Luna today. Congratulations on your debut EP Solder, as well as the release of a stunning music video for “Tears Always Burn.” When you moved to Melbourne, you were exposed to a broader wave of futuristic sounds which then influenced your debut EP Solder. Was there a particular sound, artist, or moment that made you think, “this is the direction I want to take my music”?
EFFE: I already was kind of aware of the music I wanted to make when I moved here. I think it helped that there were a lot more people who were doing more of that trip hop sound and like alternative pop sound here. I wasn't necessarily inspired by anyone here, but I felt very supported, and obviously was able to play shows with people here. I definitely felt like there was more of a community within that scene.
LUNA: Speaking of your move to Melbourne, how would you describe the ethereal pop scene from your perspective? Is there anything you love most about being part of it?
EFFE: I love that there are so many girls. A lot of women are making the music, so I'm usually on lineups with women, which I love, and I always love to have women on my lineups. I've made friends with a lot of them too, like a lot of my close friends. I've now made music as well within that scene. I think that's been the best part, making connections and always being inspired.
LUNA: I love that your background in film school led you to meet friends-turned-collaborators. Are there any stories you’d like to share about these friendships and how they might have been a part of your musical journey?
EFFE: I met one of my best friends at film school. We started a band together, and that was my first introduction into music because I didn't really know how to do it by myself. I guess when you're younger and you have a friend doing anything with you, you're more confident. We started this band together and did that for four years. We did so much. We got to tour with some really cool bands, support some bands we loved, make music and learn how to write with people and perform. That was definitely the highlight of that. If I didn't go to film school, I may never have met my friend. Her name's Zoe Hilditch, and the band is called WIIGZ. That was really formative for me. It's funny because once I graduated, I never did film again, apart from making music videos.
LUNA: The word solder often refers to uniting metals by melting or fusing them together. Why choose the word solder for the title of your EP?
EFFE: I wanted the name to be something that encompassed connection and togetherness, because those are the themes of the EP. I have a lot of silver-like hardware imagery. I have a chain that I've attached to my mic when I perform, and I've just always loved the imagery of hardware so I wanted it to feel gritty, but also have something to do with connection. I felt like that was a really cool word, and it encompassed that feeling in a way.
LUNA: I love the orchestral and synth elements throughout the EP. Were there any specific breakdowns or moments on the tracks that you felt the most excited to have created?
EFFE: Yeah, I’ve never had proper strings on my songs. So when I got the opportunity to have that, it was really exciting and when I first got the bounce of “See-through” with the big orchestral moment on it, I was so excited. It felt very James Bond-like, very cinematic. That was really exciting because before that, the song didn't have any strings on it, so it really leveled it up. We had that on some of the other songs as well. It really just leveled it up in a way that I might not have been able to do if I didn't have a bit of support behind me.
LUNA: You mentioned that the track “See-through” sounded James Bond-like. If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film, is there a film that would come to mind?
EFFE: Totally. A few people have said some of the songs would be in the world of James Bond, but I think it would probably also be like an early 2000s rom com.
LUNA: The EP works through the highs and lows of relationships, and it’s been mentioned that throughout the writing of these songs, you were "reflecting a lot on the previous experiences you had dating, which were confusing, frustrating and sometimes crushing.” Now, after living through those heartbreaks and potential lessons in love, is there a new perspective you’ve gained or any advice you’d like to share for those single and dating?
EFFE: Yeah, I think my advice would be to always follow your intuition and put yourself out there. Because, even if you know you tell someone you like them and they don't like you back, at least you know and you can move on. When I was young, if I had a crush on someone, I just would never tell them. But then I would keep crushing on them, and it actually made things worse because the feeling just grew. More recently, as I got older, I realized it's actually so scary to tell someone but, ultimately, they're not gonna be grossed out. They're not going to be mad at you. They're just going to be like, “Oh, okay.” They're going to be flattered either way. I think it's good to just put your heart on the line because eventually someone will reciprocate, and there's no point wasting time.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned that your “Tears Always Burn” music video is about “the connection between human emotion and bodies of water.” Would you like to dive further into this?
EFFE: When I was writing the song "Tears Always Burn,” I had recently had a conversation with a friend who said that they have this sadness in them that never goes away. But, you know, you can live with it. I guess a lot of us have that. I've definitely had that before, and anxiety. You have something in you that it's like, no matter how much you cry, it's always kind of there. So I had that in my mind when writing it.
Also, tears do burn because they're salty. If you leave them on your face too long, they can burn because of the salt. I always loved knowing that our tears are salty because we evolved from ocean animals. I don't even know if that's true, but I believe it is. I guess in a way we are all connected to the ocean because we literally have ocean tears. I love using waves and the ocean as a metaphor, like the waves always crash. I love that as a metaphor. I think it's a really cool way to feel connected to the earth.
LUNA: Would you like to walk readers through your creative process for the “Tears Always Burn” music video?
EFFE: I worked on all the videos with my manager Joe Agius, who also has had a career in directing music videos for around 10 years, so I worked with him. The EP took so much time and creative energy, and was very personal. I kind of gave him the reins for the visuals because I just wanted them to be something simple, and we had a small budget for it. So he was like, “We should make it rain in the music video.” I liked that, and it's like a visualizer. We made a little box in a studio, and we had to go to a hardware store and get a hose, poke holes in it, and then connect it to water. We basically almost flooded that studio because it was very hard to remove the water once it was in there. It was such a simple concept, but I think it was really perfect for the song. Yeah, I gotta credit Joe.
LUNA: Your music videos and social media are filled with icy shades of blue and white. What draws you to these colors, and how do they shape your visual aesthetic?
EFFE: Yeah, I love cool tone edits on photos I think because my music is down tempo and like sad girl yearning vibes. I like cool tones because if it was bright, you'd be like, “Oh, she makes really happy music.” I feel like it's a visualizer of my music in a way, and also a lot of early 2000s music videos that I really like have that cool edit, so that's also my inspiration for that.
LUNA: Are there any specific music videos that come to mind from the 2000s?
EFFE: I don't even know if this one's from the early 2000s, but there's this one. It's like a Rolling Stones music video, but it has Angelina Jolie in it, called “Anyone Seen My Baby?" It's very cool toned, and it's just Angelina Jolie running around in a fur coat in New York. There are other scenes, but I feel like she's the main part of it. I love the color grading on that.
LUNA: Outside of music, what tends to capture your attention or spark your imagination in everyday life?
EFFE: I definitely get inspired by movies more than music. A lot of times, when I'm in writing rooms, I'll get up Pinterest. Or, if there's a movie I've seen, I just picture a scene in my head, and that's how I get inspiration. Then I kind of just write it, like what song could be playing over that scene and the mood of it. I guess all my music is a soundtrack or whatever's in my mind.
LUNA: Do you have a creative ritual or routine?
EFFE: I'm not always making music. I am a bit lazy in that regard. I used to always make music, but since having music out, I'm less inclined to just write a million songs. For example, if I write a song and I've been working on it for a couple hours and I don't really think it's getting anywhere, I'll just move on. I think that's definitely my creative process because I don't want to try and make it fit, because I know I'm never gonna finish it. I work quite quickly. That's my creative process. When I'm writing, it has to happen quickly. Otherwise, it's not going to get finished.
LUNA: If there is one thing you would like listeners to take away or feel from your music, what would it be?
EFFE: Maybe not like to learn from it, but I really want people to be able to listen to my music for moments in their life. I always had a crush in uni, and every time I was on the train, which was a 30-minute ride, I would just listen to music and stare at my window and fantasize and yearn. I'm also Pisces, so I think it's just a Pisces thing. I would play music and, in my head, it felt like I was in a scene in a movie. I could picture a movie of a life with the person I had a crush on or whatever, or I'd think about little moments in my life. It felt very cinematic and, when you're a teenager or in your early 20s, life is like a HBO show. I just want to be that soundtrack for young women and whoever, and be that soundtrack to romanticize your life to, or help you come to terms with the fact that you like someone.
My friend, actually yesterday, was saying that she listened to my song and it helped her realize that maybe she wasn't as into someone she thought she was, because in like “See-through,” I'm saying like, “I'm so excited to hang out with this person again,” and she was like, “I don't think I have that. That made me realize maybe I just see this person as a friend.” I was like, “Oh my god, that's so cool that my song helped them realize that.”
LUNA: Was there a favorite moment you had when creating Solder or any of the songs?
EFFE: Definitely. When me and Alex wrote “Tears Always Burn,” I was like, “Whoa, this is a really good song.” Not in an egotistical way, like I wrote it with him and it's equally his writing. But yeah, I just was like, “Wow, this is like really, this is a good song.” I feel like everything came together really quickly, and the song has a message. I was really proud of my writing, and also it's so emotive, like the actual chords that Alex wrote. Then I had that with “See-through” as well. That was the first song I wrote for the EP, but I didn't know I was writing an EP. This was before I knew I was getting the opportunity to do that. I did a session with this guy Ed Quinn, who I worked on it with. I walked out of our first session and was like, “Wait, this is a really this is a cool song.” I really loved it.
LUNA: It's been mentioned that your inspirations are Lana and Björk. Do you want to talk more about who you're inspired by musically?
EFFE: I am very inspired by people I listened to when I was younger. I loved Dido and that one album, Life for Rent. She was definitely one that I would always put on the CD player. Then I discovered Lana, and I loved her. I kind of exclusively listened to her from like 12 to 15. But I try not to listen to music and get inspired by it when I'm writing because there are so many good songs that already exist, so I'm not trying to copy them exactly. I don't really listen to that much music at the moment because I'm writing another project right now. I love listening to albums, so I was listening to that Dido album, and yeah, I also love Björk. I kind of got into her later in life, but I guess she was kind of popping off in the early 2000s as well, so everyone that inspires me musically kind of exists in that age, like early 2000s-2010s.
LUNA: Is there anything you’d like to share with Luna about what you’re excited for coming up?
EFFE: I've got the headline tour in Australia, which is really exciting. I'm supporting After on their Australian tour. I'm so excited for that because I think they're making really cool trip hop music and like trip pop as they say. I'm a really big fan of them. Then, I'm working on another project that will be out later in the year. So yeah, excited about that.
