A Quick Chat with Vetta Borne

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION FOR AFTERLIFE EP? 

My inspiration is always my life, my stories, my experiences. I’m always writing, I’m always creating. During the time I was writing this EP, I was going through a bitter ending of a relationship, to feeling vengeful, to carrying that hurt with me, to ultimately, moving past it. 

WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES AND HOW DO THEY AFFECT YOUR SONGWRITING? 

I’ve always been a fan of 2000’s electro house and pop. From Nelly Furtado/Timbaland collabs to Fedde Le Grand, it’s music I grew up and still bump to this day. I think my love for that time in music heavily impacted the way I produced the Afterlife EP.

WHAT’S THE CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE FOR YOU? 

It’s never the same answer. Some days I have an idea in my head that I’ve recorded into my phone, some days I’m endlessly sitting at my laptop playing a hundred different chords until something sparks. Some days I see a word, and I make the entire song in an hour (When I wrote ‘CPR’, it was like that!). My creative process is either a total mess, or a quick, clean shot. 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?  

I wish Australia did more to support their artists. I just spent a month in South Korea writing K-pop. And I heavily noticed, everywhere I went, their artists were being promoted. From playing at every single store, to their music videos being played in so many public places, on billboards, on buildings, bus stops, etc. You can’t escape their artists the second you step foot in the country. It was incredible. It makes sense how k-pop is immensely successful. Australia should really do the same for their local talent. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK LIFE WOULD BE LIKE FOR YOU IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE MUSIC AS AN OUTLET? 

I’m sure I’d take on some other sort of art-form, but I know without music, I’d be miserable. Even if I’m alone in public, if I’ve got my headphones on, I’ll be swinging my hips and aggressively bopping my head. Music brings me so much joy. I don’t know what I’d do without it. 

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE A CAREER FOR THEMSELVES IN THE INDUSTRY? 

Do it because you love it. It’s really hard work, you put up a tonne of money, you spend hours on end doing things outside of creating music, and it’s a long road before you start seeing any profitable return. So if you do it, make sure you love it, because that’s the only way that the journey won’t feel as rough. 

WHO’S THE MOST INTERESTING PERSON YOU’VE WORKED WITH/MET? 

A few years ago I went to Bali for a writing camp, and there was another writer there I got along with. We talked about family, life, faith, hope, and we wrote a beautiful song together. While we were writing I noticed she was drawing in a notebook, and I asked why. She said something like “when I have a pen and paper in my hand, I forget about being a ‘writer’ and this becomes more of a journalling process, I tell the story better.”

That heavily impacted the way that I write. Being a songwriter for so many years, you definitely get caught up in the strategy of writing, i.e what is going to make the song go “viral”.  It was such an important moment for me to realise I should never forget about the context, the core of the song. - That writer now goes by the name Muni Long. Incredible woman. 

ANY UPCOMING SHOWS?

I’ll be playing Bigsound this year. I plan to give you a SHOW!