Bilby Brave is not from Far North Queensland, not originally anyway. Although her music sounds and feels like it originated in a lush rainforest, Bilby clarified this for us.
“While I’m currently based in FNQ, I actually grew up in the Upper Hunter Valley in NSW. However, I’ve moved around a lot since then, including spending time in Canberra, Wollongong, the South Coast of NSW, the North Coast of NSW and Alice Springs, among other places. All of the places I’ve lived have influenced me in some way, but what I notice most is how the natural environment influences my emotions.”
Then she specified the places and things that actually move her to create.
“I found Alice Springs and FNQ to be particularly inspiring. Both areas have so many inspiring natural places which inspire feelings of 'awe' - whether it be far-reaching mountain ranges, orange sunsets, waterhole oases, or dense ancient forest. These feelings of 'awe' inspire me to reflect on my own emotions and experiences, using music as a vehicle to do this.”
If you want the elevator pitch for the Bilby Brave sound, we asked her to sum it up in 3 words.
“Reflective.”
“Intimate.”
“Alt-folk.....”
We always ask where songs really start. For Bilby Brave, there is no single starting point.
“It really varies depending on the song. The songs I’ve released so far were all written at very different times and with very different workflows. Most often, it’s a picture I wish to paint; the chord progression and melodies follow, and the lyrics come last. More recently, I’ve been writing more poetry and adapting these into lyrical ideas afterwards.”
Bilby Brave released her latest single, "Charcoal & Chamomile," earlier this month and it's now spinning regularly on Local Sounds Radio. We asked about the origins of two of her earlier releases, including 'What is Love to You'.
“When I wrote this song, I asked myself when trying to work it out. I came to the conclusion that there is no right or wrong answer to that question, and most of all it's a feeling that comes from within. Ultimately, the song is meant to leave the listener to question what it means for them, I suppose!”. “I wrote ‘What is Love to You’ on an electric guitar and got the idea for the guitar sound when playing around with a multi-effects pedal that I have. I wanted something that makes you feel like you could be ‘floating’ when listening to it, and have a slightly whimsical vibe. It felt natural to start with a more intimate and organic feel with the guitar, and use my violin to build interest and help define different sections of the song.”
One of our all time favourite Bilby Brave tracks is the distinctive ‘Distracting Myself’ Was writing this song a form of distraction in itself, or did creating it force you to actually stop and process what you were experiencing?
“I wrote ‘Distracting Myself’ in a moment where I'd been feeling hyper-stimulated for an extended period of time due to factors both within and out of my control. It's about a moment of stillness in nature where I've realised that time has passed quickly, but not necessarily in the way that I want it to. It's a reminder to stop and take a breath, and take whatever space needed to do so.” “I think creating the song has helped me to stop and process my emotions, as music does in general for me.”
So what is coming next? Bilby Brave has a plan, and a calendar.
“I’m currently working on my production skills and learning my DAW better. In late 2026 or early 2027, I plan to release an EP. This will have a slightly different feel, with more ambient sounds and instrumentation, as well as lyrics with a more cinematic, storytelling vibe, written from different perspectives. I’d say this will be more in line with the direction I’d like to continue pursuing.
Until then, I’m trying to stick to my goal of releasing a single each month throughout 2026. My next single, ‘No Longer Mine’, will be released on 26 August. It’s about a specific place that I once called home, but after returning following some time away, it felt completely foreign. I’m also planning to release an EP in late 2026 or early 2027.
I also recently had the opportunity to collaborate with some artists from Europe, and we spent a day in the studio creating a cinematic electronic track. I’m looking forward to sharing that eventually.
If you’d like to support me at the moment, the best way is to head over to Bandcamp and purchase a few songs, save the songs you like on Spotify or other streaming platforms, follow me on Instagram to get updates, and most importantly share my music with anyone you think might be interested.”
https://bilbybrave.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bilby_brave/
One last ask for Bilby Brave. What should we queue up after listening to all of your songs?
“I’ve been really enjoying Olive Jones’ debut album. If I had to pick one song, I’d choose ‘Colour On The Wall’. I love how beautifully intimate and raw, yet refined, her music is.”
Check out Bilby Brave's latest release Charcoal & Chamomile on Local Sounds
https://localsounds.com.au/song/bilby-brave/charcoal-chamomile
SoundVerge Editorial
Independent music journalism
