Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘Promises’?

Promises came at a time when I couldn’t explain the freeze that had gripped my chest and completely robbed me of words. I was in a really challenging time in my relationship with my partner, and I couldn’t explain it, for myself, for him, for us. That song was like an explosion. It unlocked a rage which had been locked down, and it was such a relief, even though it felt a bit scary to finally have the words. When I came back from this writing session with the songs that would form the backbone to this whole body of work, I walked into my house and said to my partner.. “Hey.. I have new information, I finally have some words to explain this mess.”

What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?

My songwriting affects my influences! I write songs because it is one of my tools to understand myself, to package up the storms in my life, and then have to repeat them, imbibe them, dose them, until they don’t hurt any more, or until they integrate. The happy love songs are such a relief when they come! Sometimes when I am journaling, wrestling with an internal quandary, a cluster of words spills out and I get distracted, thinking ohhhh I could hang a whole song of that. It is like striking the vein of an idea.

What’s the creative process like for you?

In this project as Mama Kin Spender, with Dingo (Spender) and I living on separate sides of the country we have to really intentionally carve out time to write. So we block out 3-4 days at a time 3 or 4 times a year and we rent a place and buy enough food, and just hunker down. We have an incredible creative shorthand with each other. We do a lot of creative writing and then extract concepts or word clusters that strike a chord and then we build something from that. With this body of word we didn’t realise we were writing a song cycle, that the songs would be linked to each other through a central story. That was really exciting to discover!

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

It would absolutely centralise the role of the artist and the art, and the connection between the artist and the audience as the most important things to protect, invest in and uphold the integrity of above all else.

What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?

I can answer that with absolute clarity because I didn’t start releasing music until after the birth of my second child because I was too scared! I was in and out of frequent bouts of depression, I was rigid, I was blocked, I was resentful at times. It was like living in a fog. I didn’t realise how much it was wreaking havoc with my system.

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? Why?

I’d like to one day co-write with my daughter Banjo Lucia. It’s not time for us yet, although we love to sing together, but that time will come. In the meantime I am a huge fan of Joan as Policewoman and I would love to write more music with a previous collaborator of mine - Emily Lubitz. We had a project together called We Two Thieves and I love her so much! For now I really deeply enjoy collaborating with Spender. We are a great match. It is so fun to make music, and whole creative outlet life with one of my best friends!

What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?

Fall in love with your craft. Be really good to it. Care for it. Nurture it. Grow it. Play with it. Laugh with it. Cry with it. Lean in. And if one day you decide you want to share that relationship with an audience, then know that that is a whole other aspect, which is distinct to that central love that you share with your craft… no one actually gets to tell you about it, or judge that relationship between you and it. Careful not to let anyone decide about that. Know that when you start taking it to an audience - you are opening the doors, you are commercialising, you are starting a small business, and that comes with a whole different set of challenges, opportunities to upskill, grow and expand. Let it take time. Chart your own course. Find what’s working and breathe steady air into it.

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?

We are working with Craig Ilott as director for a theatre show Promises and Wild Beasts which sits alongside this album. It has been so interesting to work with someone so experienced in a completely different creative field to ours, and yet this aligned dedication to story telling.

Any plans for a tour on the cards?

Yep! We are touring through VIC, NSW and QLD in Sept and Oct, few festivals in November and then we will be premiering the music/theatre work in 2026! So plenty to come and see!

Fri 5 Sep 2025 - Majestic Theatre - Pomona/Gubbi Gubbi, QLD
Sat 6 Sep 2025 - The Citadel - Murwillumbah/Bundjalung, NSW
Sun 7 Sep 2025 - Lefty’s Music Hall - Brisbane/Meanjin, QLD
Fri 12 Sep 2025 - Brunswick Ballroom - Brunswick/Bulleke-Bek, VIC
Sat 13 Sep 2025 - Archie’s Creek Hall - Archie’s Creek/Bunurong, VIC
Sun 14 Sep 2025 - Sooki Lounge - Belgrave/Wurundjeri, VIC
Fri 3 Oct 2025 - Paddington Uniting Church - Sydney/Gadigal, NSW
Sat 4 Oct 2025 - Milton Theatre - Milton/Budawang, NSW
Sun 5 Oct 2025 - Dashville Skyline - Dashville/Wonnarua, NSW

Tickets: mamakinspender.love

A Quick Chat with Mama Kin Spender