vera blue on the making of her new album and embracing vulnerability

It’s been more than five years since Celia Pavey (aka Vera Blue) released her debut album, Perennial, which provided earworms like “Regular Touch”, “Lady Powers” and “Hold”. The Aussie singer-songwriter has today released her follow-up record, Mercurial, and it's certainly been worth the wait. We recently sat down with Celia to chat about her most honest body of work yet, overcoming writer's block and learning to care less about what people think.

What’s the story behind the album title? When the album songs started coming together, I felt a theme developing; they were all over the place, about different topics, emotions and moments in my life. It felt colourful and crazy with so many ups and downs, so I felt like I needed to find a word that represented that energy. We found the word ‘mercurial’ and I loved it because it sounded like ‘perennial’. We delved into the meaning of the word and it was like it was made for this album. It describes someone whose mood or mind changes suddenly. It was the perfect fit. 

You started working on this record in 2018. How does it feel to finally release it? It feels like a huge relief but in a positive way. We had loads of delays due to lockdowns and so many emotional ups and downs. I can’t wait for people to experience it and make their own stories to it. It’s a body of work that I’m so proud of and there’s a level of fearlessness about it.

What influenced your sound this time around? So many things! Most of all, it came from experimenting with sounds and manipulating instruments to create energy, tones and textures based off of the emotion of the songs. It was wild when my co-writers and producers, Andy and Thom Mak, and I would find a beat or a synth tone in the studio and all of a sudden, we would all agree on it in the moment.

You experienced writer’s block and were also diagnosed with depression and anxiety during the making of Mercurial. How did you overcome these experiences and channel them into your music? The only thing I could do was channel it into my music! The emotions that came with experiencing depression and anxiety naturally poured out in my songwriting.

I think a bit of the writer’s block came from not knowing what to write about, and I needed to get out into the world and open myself up to inspiration. I also needed to find comfort in saying whatever I was feeling and things I wouldn’t normally say in my music.

What inspired the dreamy look of the “Mermaid Avenue” music video? I wanted the video to be the exact visual of the song: ocean views, symbolic items, emotive movement and romantic tones. Sydney-based director Billy Zammit absolutely nailed it! I love working with him. He’s so creative and collaborative which made the day effortless and he really captured the spirit of the song in a beautifully understated fashion.

How has your approach to songwriting changed over the years? I think I’ve developed a sense of confidence and the ability to not worry or care too much about what people think. Truly being honest and opening up has been a challenge in the past, because I didn’t want to offend someone or feel judged. It still is a challenge sometimes, but I now remind myself that I can say whatever I want. To me, real songwriting is authentic messages that show my vulnerable side, and in doing that, I feel a sense of achievement and weight lifted.

What makes you feel powerful? Being able to feel vulnerable and share it with others – especially with my music and knowing that I can connect with people through my lyrics and sounds. Sometimes lyrics can truly resonate with someone in ways that are incredibly healing. I find that to be very empowering; knowing that my music can help people. 

What do you get up to when you’re not making music? I like to go for walks, hang out at home and cook, hang out with friends, and enjoy the sunshine when it’s out! I also enjoy yoga, F45 and watching Netflix.

If you could give your 16-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? I would tell myself that being an emotional person is a beautiful and powerful thing if you can learn how to harness it and use it in ways that connect with others. To be emotional is pure, honest and can be a superpower. 

You’re going on tour soon. Which track are you most excited to play live? All of them! There are so many moments that I’m pumped for. I’m really looking forward to performing “Lethal” – it’s so high-energy and it’ll be fun to rock out!