The best piece of advice Chelsea Warner has been given

Congrats on the release of your new single ‘Back On My Bullshit’. How did the collaboration with Sumatra and Zyad come about?

Thank you! I made the track with Sydney based production duo Sumatra (BoomChild, Urthboy, Rissa, Ms. Thandi) who also happen to be my friends. It just started with me and my friend Finbar hanging out and writing one day. We wrote a few ideas, and as I recall I had only 20 minutes left until I had to leave the session, so the time pressure made a diamond and we left with the idea that became the track! Immediately it was Britney-esque – it had that 90s pop/R&B intensity to it, and I was freestyling with the phrase ‘Back On My Bullshit’, which was a recent addition to my own vocabulary. The chromatic bit in the pre-chorus also came out then. I thought it was funny, and in my mind the song started a little as a joke, but it ended up having heaps of awesome energy! So we then injected more modern hip-hop and R&B layers, with thick harmonies, booming sub bass and cool, swirly synths. We were sitting on a placeholder second verse, but after we heard Zyad on it, we knew we found our little gem of a track.

 Who would you consider to be the biggest influence on your music and why?

‘Back On My Bullshit’ is my first foray into a pop-leaning sound, though I tend to listen to a lot of alternative R&B and early hip-hop (especially 90s). When I discovered Erykah Badu it changed my writing forever – her simple yet extremely eloquent and also at times humourous hooks, and her ability to weave stories throughout the course of a song was so inspiring. An artist that has remained consistent throughout my writing efforts (since I was a young teenager) is Ariana Grande. I’m still so influenced by her vocal arranging, with awesome tight harmonies and call & response backing vocals, as well as the modern concepts she’s been exploring recently.

You’ve been busy writing and producing music for these artists: Emalia, Nardean, Sarah Wolfe, Doolie, amongst others, can you give us a hint about any future releases together?

Right now I’m not 100% sure, but we’re sitting on some fire! I love working with other artists, it’s one of my favourite things to do – it’s so special when someone lets you into their musical world, and I’ve definitely come into my own as a producer lately.

 Best piece of advice you have been given?

To partake in small actions each day that push you towards where you want to be, but to overall surrender to the flow of life and not try to control everything.

What’s one thing you’d like people to know about Chelsea Warner?

That I make music to inspire and empower them! I’ve been learning and growing a lot the last couple years as I enter adulthood, and I’m sure my first releases will all be reflections of this. I feel like ‘Back On My Bullshit’ is the fun, witty and problematically self-aware jam everyone needs for their pre-drinking (or just, you know, having a glass of wine at home by yourself). No matter who you are, everyone needs the message of being unapologetically self-indulgent in the name of putting yourself first! Also, I’m a workaholic, and I’m always collaborating – or spending all day in my studio, like a loner, making beats and writing.