Harnessing the multifaceted nature of ‘Lady Powers,’ one of Australia’s most exciting breakthrough artists Vera Blue (Celia Pavey) is about to unleash a formidable Lady Powers | Power Ladies Remix EP – out Friday, April 13.
Hey Celia, thank you for chatting to Forte. Your new single ‘Lady Powers’ is all about female empowerment, and personal freedom, can you tell us a bit more about it?
Definitely! When we wrote the song, I was going through a period where I was kinda o figuring out who I was, recognising my surroundings and also recognising how I was being treated in general, and it sparked a feeling in me of wanting to respect myself more, so I started writing the song. It’s a little bit of a self-empowerment song and I’m really glad that women are relating to this song in whatever way they want to, ‘Lady Powers’ is basically your self-respect, your dignity, it’s your body. ‘Lady Powers’ can be your strength that you develop over time, and it’s also for women that surround and empower you, your friends and your family, it can be lots of things, but mainly for me at the time it was self-respect, dignity and just knowing how to be treated, by people all around you.
On that, do you see yourself as a bit of a feminist?
Yeah, in a few ways. I haven’t experienced anything terrible in the industry or anything like that, just more in personal relationships with people has allowed me to realise how I should be treated as a woman.
So, the Lady Powers, Power Ladies Remix EP contains some unique interpretations of ‘Lady Powers’ by four very exceptional international and Australian female producers, what’s it like listening to your work portrayed in so many different ways?
It’s so amazing. The song by itself is already really cool, but the idea of wanting to collaborate and involve loads of other women into the project was really exciting and the way they’ve all interpreted the song in their own ways is really special. I love listening to how they’ve moulded the song and what parts they put where, the way they’ve added beats or vocal samples and put their own touch to the song, they’ve made it their own kind of version and it’s really cool, I can’t wait for that to come out.
I can’t blame you, it sounds like it’s going to be great! So, your first show at the Forum in Melbourne has already sold out, with limited tickets still available for the second show, what are you most looking forward to for this performance?
For the tour I’m really excited, were still sussing out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to set the live show up and how to enhance it from the last one, I think it’s going to be a really fun show with lots going on.
What’s one of the most important things for you when you’re on stage? Do you have any backstage rituals?
Yeah kind of, I like hanging with the guys before we go on and we do a handshake thing, we change it every time, it’s just nice to be able to have a moment with them before we go on stage. I like having space to dance on stage, and being able to connect with the audience, I think those things are really important to me.
The last few years have been pretty big for you, what are your goals for 2018?
I try not to make set goals, sometimes I set unrealistic ones, so I just want to have fun and enjoy what I’m doing, but to be able to have some new music out this year would be a big goal though. I’m kind of just riding the wave and meeting lots of people along the way, I think that’s something that’s really special, to be able to do what I love and have fun doing it.
When & Where: The Forum, Melbourne – June 2 (sold out) & June 3. Tickets via ticketmaster. Vera Blue is also performing at Groovin The Moo in Bendigo on Saturday May 5.
By Chloe Cicero
Image by Neil Kryszak