Whilst Broods are currently in between album cycles and working on their forthcoming third studio record the New Zealand brother and sister duo have decided to release a solo passion project each. Lead vocalist Georgia Nott is the first to unleash her project and The Venus Project sees her celebrating being a woman and showcasing other talented women. She did this by only working with female songwriters, producers, engineers, musicians and artists throughout the whole process of her debut album. “Vol 1” is a unique collection of 10 empowerful and emotionally raw tracks. This record strips back the vocalist and artist that you know from Broods and takes it back to the very beginning. I recently had a chat to Georgia about this new musical project, the differences she found in the creative process and her favourite touring memories. Check out the chat below;
TB: “Wont Hurt” is the first taste of how your debut album is going to sound and it’s got this dreamy and DIY feel to it. How does the rest of the album sonically sound and feel compared to it?
GN: The entire album is very DIY. A couple of tracks I’ve actually kept as demos because they felt to me like they were best that way. My favourite songs are all in that DIY/demo/live style so it’s been great to create an album that lives more in that world.
TB: You started this project because you wanted to experiment with different creative processes. How did you go about trying to separate your writing techniques from who you are as a solo artist and who you are as apart of Broods?
GN: I have been writing songs since I was ten years old but I’ve only been writing pop for the last five years since Broods. I’ve still been writing other stuff on the side of Broods but it wasn’t ’till a couple of years ago that I thought about making an album out of these songs. After writing two albums as Broods I felt it was important for my own growth as a creative to make something that I could explore my capacity with as an artist.
TB: This record was an all female collaboration, so how did you find the experience end up differing to your previous studio experiences?
GN: It was very intimate working with all women. Collaboration is always a very intimate thing in my experience anyway, but this album has been especially personal. I think it’s partly the fact that the things I have written about on this album have been extremely personal and partly the fact that I’ve been able to have open conversations about being a woman in a creative industry. I got to work with women that inspired me with their stories and ideas and listened to my stories and ideas.
TB: Right now is the perfect timing for an empowering record like this. So what would you like to say to young women who are scared to be themselves or are confused with the current state of the world?
GN: I have been scared, too many times to count making this record. I’ve been scared that people wouldn’t like what I had to say or the music I wanted to make. But I was more afraid of changing my vision for the sake of opinions that didn’t even exist yet. It is hard to find who you really are when you have other people’s opinions warping the image you see in the mirror, or the person you feel like beneath that skin. I had been so affected by this idea of what it means to be good, beautiful, lovable, happy or strong and successful that when I kept failing to reach that ideal, I felt like something was wrong with me. Giving myself the room to find myself and the grace to let myself make mistakes is what has made me feel successful. Often women feel like they don’t have the privilege to makes mistakes because they are constantly trying to prove that they are smart enough and strong enough and tough enough to be seen as an equal. I want young women or anyone that has felt inferior because of the circumstances of their birth or who they want to be, to see that equality is not something they have to prove they are worthy of. It is their fundamental right as a human being.
TB: “Wont Hurt” explores the dark thoughts that can consume our brains sometimes. What do you personally do to try and stay positive when you’re doubting yourself?
GN: I do a bit of yoga and I often write when I’m in that place. I try to find a poetic way to describe what I’m thinking and feeling. I let myself be dark. I have my moment of hate and then I can make room for the voice of reason. Those moments sometimes come as often as inhaling; but fortunately I’ve mastered the exhale *laughs*.
TB: What are some of the other lyrical storylines you explore on the record?
GN: A lot of the album is about those moments. I love writing about sad things. I have gotten very comfortable being open about that side of me. I have been able to connect with strangers through writing from that place and I thought this record was an opportunity to be as honest as I have ever been as a songwriter and person.
TB: What would you say is the albums most vulnerable moment?
GN: I think the most vulnerable moment is very open to interpretation. For me it’s the song “Go Easy”. It’s the most vulnerable feeling I’ve written about. The feeling of being afraid you’re not good enough for the people that love you. The moments when your self esteem is at an all time low and you don’t see that you can be great and wanted and belong somewhere. That is the hardest feeling to exhale away.
GN: Are you planning to tour The Venus Project? And if yes how do want these shows to feel, look and sound?
TB: My goal is to do at least one show with all female band and crew this year. I’m so excited to play these songs live. I don’t think I’ll fully be able to absorb what I’ve made unless I play it live.
TB: You’ve been constantly on the road for four years with Broods and have spent a lot of that time in Australia playing shows. So what would you say is your favourite Australian tour memory?
GN: My fave tours around Australia have definitely been the festival tours. Groovin The Moo a while back was such a blast and we met so many great people on that run. We also did Falls Festival which was killer. Best crowds we have ever had were on that tour.
TB: With you and your brother both taking some time to work on such different solo projects how do you reckon it will sonically alter future Broods music?
GN: It has definitely made a difference to the way we’ve gone into writing the next Broods album. We both have had a chance to explore and experiment without the pressure of pleasing anyone. I think that’s been a huge part of our evolution coming into album 3. The stuff we’ve been writing lately is definitely my favourite stuff we’ve ever made together and I’m so pumped to get back into Broods.
TB: Lets play a little game when you answer these questions with the first thing that comes to mind.
TB: If I could have any superpower it would be…
GN: Teleporting! Imagine never having to go through airport security ever again
TB: My guilty pleasure song is…
GN: I honestly can’t think of any songs I feel guilty for liking *laughs*
TB: Most mornings I…
GN: Have 4 cups of tea, check emails and and work.
TB: One thing I can’t travel with out is…
GN: My passport
TB: My brother thinks I…
GN: Am the bees knees
The Venus Project ‘Vol 1.” Is out now