Genevieve Sovereign had a productive 2022, releasing her debut EP “It’s yours.” as well as deepening her network and collaboration opportunities – particularly through becoming Melbourne Coordinator for the Australian Songwriters Conference, and exploring cross-genre contributor prospects as a classically trained flutist. Keeping that momentum strong, Sovereign has additionally teamed up to explore one of her earliest musical loves, electronic dance music, in a series of EDM / IDM singles releasing late 2022 and into 2023. Her collaborator and co-vocalist on the project, Ben Tenison, is himself a career musician and songwriter – as well as most recently a self-releasing pop artist under the pseudonym Roxley.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Genevieve Sovereign, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Thanks, Kamil! It’s certainly great to be here with you.
What first got me into music? Well… Simply existing, I think! I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember, and have always had eclectic tastes – encompassing electronic, pop, rock, new age and ambient music… As well as traditional folk tunes and instrumentation! I picked up basic music theory during school, eventually learning concert flute in high school. Went on to play both flute and piccolo in school bands and my city’s youth orchestra, before moving off to uni – where I played for a season in the pit orchestra of a campus musical comedy production, whilst simultaneously working and studying.
Life got pretty busy attending uni though, as it does, and I actually stopped playing anything at all for more than a decade – until I found myself in the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. Ironically that’s when I got back into music, and started teaching myself guitar. Once things opened up here in Melbourne again, I began taking in-person guitar and singing lessons. I’m particularly keen to keep developing my voice, and exploring where it wants to go from here! For anyone curious, more backstory details are available on my website at…
What is your creative process like?
Fun-as! I’m all about play, exploration, experimentation. I love mixing styles, media, perspectives – you name it, and I’ll give it a go! I also enjoy dabbling in all kinds of “approaches” especially when creating music. Sometimes I’ll try writing something from a lyric basis to start (like with “We’ll Know Nothing Together” from my “It’s yours.” EP), while at other times I’ll try building up from instrumental concepts (as per my Ben Tenison collabs “Vibration Angle” and “Life Soaked Reveal”) and at other times I’ll try something really specific… As with “Savouring Today” from the “It’s yours.” EP, where I tried this convoluted songwriting method that David Bowie is supposed to have used in writing some of his stuff. For me it’s all about learning, experimenting and having fun along the way!
Your latest song is 'Life Soaked Reveal (feat. Ben Tenison)'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
“Life Soaked Reveal” (https://emubands.ffm.to/lifesoakedreveal) was released in memory and on the birthday of my late friend, Melbourne-based composer Luke Paulding (1987-2021, https://soundcloud.com/luke-paulding). Luke was instrumental in my first deciding to explore music creation, and I like to think he would have enjoyed the track’s lyrics / messaging. :)
The composition of “Life Soaked Reveal” is actually based on the very first instrumental concept track of my collaborator Ben Tenison’s that I’d ever heard. On hearing Ben’s arrangement, I was captivated straightaway – there was just something about it that instantly took hold, and throughout subsequent weeks I listened to it on repeat as these snatches of lyric would seep through. Several months of collaboration and refinement later, Ben and I have been delighted to offer “Life Soaked Reveal” into the world as it now exists!
What was the most difficult challenge you faced?
Probably learning how to coordinate and collaborate most effectively with people working remotely. For example, Ben and I first met online through a songwriting group, and thusfar we still haven’t interacted in-person! Ben is actually based on the other side of Australia in Brisbane, so he records his vocals up there and sends them through electronically to me. Then down here in Melbourne, my own vocal components are recorded in-studio around existing arrangement and mix elements. It’s something of a juggling act and iterative process at times, but a very worthwhile challenge!
What is the biggest mistake you have made within your career to this point?
None! One of my cardinal rules in life is: No regrets. Everything is an opportunity to learn and to grow, with each “failure” to achieve a planned or hoped-for outcome being an integral part of the human experience, and a priceless chance to build oneself. Sure I’ve had my share of uncomfortable, unanticipated and/or upsetting experiences. Every time, I try to remind myself that all of it just makes life that much richer. (Admittedly, sometimes I’m harder to convince than at others, haha!)
Are there people who help you with the production of the songs?
Absolutely! And I’m grateful past words for all of them. Beyond aforementioned latest collaborator on my last two singles Ben Tenison – whose soundscapes are truly works of both art and skill that I deeply admire – all of my releases to date have been recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by audio engineer extraordinaire and owner-operator of The Black Lodge Studios, Melbourne (www.theblacklodgestudios.com) Joel Taylor. Throughout I’ve also been coached and overall nurtured by my incredible vocal / songwriting / performance teacher Emily Saaen – as well as by seasoned industry professional Nicholas Albanis, co-founding member of Melbourne’s electro-medieval band Dandelion Wine (www.dandelionwine.band). Absolute legends, each of them! <3
What are your long term goals?
Ongoing improvement of my skills and output across all the expressive channels I explore (music, visual arts, movement, writing, etc) whilst also building a repertoire of work that is meaningful and valuable to those who connect with it. As an artist, that is my ultimate aim and greatest indicator of success: Continual growth and evolution within myself, as well as enriching those I connect with.
What do your fans mean to you? What do you value most in them?
I feel deeply honoured whenever a person connects with my work and, even better, obtains from it something nurturing to their essence or evolution. That’s the entire reason for doing what I do – to share in ways that are meaningful and helpful. If something I create is able to bring someone peace, joy, curiosity, or assist them along their journey in any way… Then that is a success worth everything I’ve ever put into my work, and then some.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
I think the most beautiful response I’ve received was when a friend whom I hadn’t heard from in years reached out completely unexpectedly – with a recording of themselves covering the very first song I’d ever written! Called “Our Sunrise” that piece has always been close to my heart, and was actually written as a kind of parting-of-ways song regarding another friend entirely… So hearing “Our Sunrise” picked up from a rough demo post of it that I’d made on social media several months prior was pretty mind-blowing, exciting and humbling all at once!
Where is the best place in the world you’ve ever been to?
Exactly where I was, in that specific moment! The gift of being harmoniously present is the greatest one on Earth, in my opinion. And those profound moments of clarity which truly bring that idea home happen anytime, anywhere. I am always grateful to be here, amidst the beautiful fortunes of this life.
Incidentally anyone interested in sharing special moments with me can keep tabs through my website (www.genevievesovereign.com) or platforms (https://linktr.ee/genevievesovereign). Adventures love good company!