A QUICK CHAT WITH MELALEUCA

Point Of Normal' is such an energetic song! What is the story behind it?

I've been attempting to labour through the process of getting an ADHD assessment after a family member was recently diagnosed. So the song was an opportunity for me to reflect on what I feel is going on inside my brain a lot of the time and how it can sometimes be frustrating. Usually, I write lyrics about whatever comes to my mind at the time, so we often have this dichotomy of "upbeat sounding songs with sad lyrics". Which I'm more than happy to roll with! 

1. What is the creative process for you usually?

It is very collaborative. Jane and I sometimes bring little ideas we have come up with to the practice space, or sometimes we even make it up when we are there. We work well together as a group when it comes to creating and arranging the music together. We don't spend too much time in the practice space, mainly getting a structure worked out, and then the writing process often bleeds into the recording process, where we can fine tune some parts and add any cool extra things in. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

Charles M Schulz - the creator of Peanuts comics. If Charlie Brown were a kid in 2022, he'd be listening to Melaleuca. 

When you're not out there creating music, what other creative outlet do you have?

Music takes up almost all of my time! My day job is as a high school music teacher, which I love a lot. When I'm not playing in bands, I also sing in a choir and have done so for about 16 years. Occasionally I like to take photos, both film and digital. Usually of live music. I don't have much time to do anything else! 

If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?

More financial support for live All Ages music and more educational pathways. Many incredibly talented musicians in schools may never see the light of day because they have no idea how to get their foot in the door!