A Quick Chat With Jo Davie

Jo Davie welcomes the shift in seasons with Colder, a hauntingly intimate alt-indie single, out now. Known for her lilting vocals and masterful storytelling, the Brisbane artist has built a loyal following across Australia’s folk circuit, from Woodford to the Sydney Festival stage, amongst plenty more with other projects. Colder blends delicate folk-pop with cinematic strings and kaleidoscopic guitar, capturing the quiet unraveling of a relationship and the power that emerges in its wake. It’s a final glimpse into her emotional world before the release of her long-awaited debut EP Nothing Comes Free, landing May 2. We caught up with Jo to talk about the new single, the EP, and everything in between.

Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
Colder is such a fun track to play live! For me, it's about being indecisive and staying in a relationship that you know isn't really treating you right anymore, but you keep second-guessing yourself and waiting around in hope that things might change. In the end, you realise that being stuck in that relationship is worse than facing your fears and moving on. So, I would love people to take away from this song that they deserve to be fully and wholly loved!

Your debut EP is set for release next month, what can we expect to hear?
It is, I can't believe it! You can expect to hear six tracks that, to me, are all really unique whilst also feeling cohesive as a collection. Four of the tracks will have been released as singles prior to the EP release, but the last two tracks might be some of my favourites I've ever written. They play in sound worlds that I have long admired, with one incorporating Bon-Iver-esque vocoder, and the other leaning into a really raw acoustic band sound that I just love. I'm so proud of this collection, and recording them with Sam Cromack was just the most organic and wonderful experience – I can't wait for the EP to be out in the world!

Who are some of your influences, and why?
I have a big range of influences, from Joni Mitchell to Nina Simone to Bon Iver, but I think some of my main influences for this record would have to be Laura Marling, Adrianne Lenker, Lizzie McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers and Boygenius. I love how all of those women create the most beautiful folk-style songs within incredible production worlds that add so much depth and meaning.

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
For me, a song pretty much always starts with chords and random lyrics I've noted on my phone late at night. I start to improvise melodies and generate a lot of material, trying to understand the crux of what the song is trying to say, which leads to a lot of editing and problem-solving until I feel like all the parts are working towards something greater. I've also been learning to self-produce in the last couple of years as part of my PhD research, so for these EP songs I was then able to take things a step further, and experiment with making full produced demos. This was unbelievably useful in helping me further refine things like the melody, lyrics, and harmony within a more holistic context. Once I was happy with my demos and felt confident, I sent them to Sam Cromack, who recorded the EP, and it gave us a really good starting point for each track's soundworld.

What do you think makes a great song?
I think a great song has a memorable and intentional melody that gets stuck in your head, and says something that everyone feels but doesn't always have the words to express.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I think it would have to be Bon Iver. I just find his work so very inspiring – the way that he transitions his records between the folk/acoustic world and the electronic/sampling world is so beautiful and bold. I would just love to understand more about how he makes the things he makes.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
If I'm honest, I'm not sure that I have many other creative outlets! I enjoy knitting and sewing from time to time, but I feel like being an independent artist really fulfills me creatively as it's not just about the music. Like, everything associated with a music release requires different creative thinking – press photography concepts, music video ideas, stage outfits, merchandise, graphics for social media, there's a lot there that feels really creative. So, in my spare time I love to spend time with my family and friends, go out for yummy dinners, go to thrift stores, and go for walks and runs.

Who are some local bands we should check out?
I gotta recommend all the support acts for my tour!! I am in love with all of them, and so honoured to be sharing the stage with them: Stella Eve (Canberra), Betty (Sydney), Kaitlin Keegan (Melbourne), Follow The Robin (Warburton), Paulina (Ipswich), Those Folk (Sunshine Coast), Cigany Weaver (my other band! We're doing a co-headline show in Murwillumbah), Lottie McLeod (Brisbane), and Serendipiti (Brisbane).

Winter or summer and why?
I think I would have to pick winter – I just have too many fun grandma jumpers that get so little use in the Brisbane heat!! Plus I love the cosy feeling of being tucked in with a cup of tea on a cold night.

Is there anything exciting you are bringing to your live show when you are on tour in May?
I can't wait for these live shows! I'm bringing my full 5-piece band, which features lush three-part harmonies that I just love immersing myself in. We've been working on crafting a really varied set with lots of ebb and flow, so I'm excited to bring people on that journey. I'll also be bringing my own limited edition merch for the first time ever – I've got some very cute hats, stickers, necklaces and CDs that I'll be selling at the shows too!

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Interviewsaustralianmusicscene10 April 2025