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MUSIC FEATURE

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Thelma Plum has come up with a killer second album, I’m Sorry, Now Say it Back . PLUM BLOSSOMS BLAK TRACK If you’re a newcomer to Thelma Plum’s work, make sure you check out her first album, 2019’s Better in Blak , one of the

finest Aussie debuts of the past decade. It even features a collaboration with two of music’s greatest Pauls – Sir Paul McCartney and Paul Kelly.

W hen one listener heard We Don’t Talk About It , the first single from Thelma Plum’s second album, he went straight to YouTube and commented: “I reckon this’ll be Australia’s Eurovision entry, it’s so catchy.” Who knows where Plum’s new album will take her? But the artist – originally from Delungra in NSW – is definitely going places. I’m Sorry, Now Say it Back is the sound of a young woman who’s very much in charge, but not afraid to share

I’m Sorry, Now Say it Back by Thelma Plum is out Oct 18 via Warner

her vulnerabilities. “When I was younger, I was kind of forced to grow up fairly quickly and it impacted me in ways I’m only discovering now that I am an actual adult,” Plum explains. “This record was created with love, heartache, forgiveness, and care in mind. It’s personal, and kind of like I’m sharing pages from my diary with you. “But it’s time for it to fly free.” Jeff Jenkins

Thelma Plum’s key collaborator is Alex Burnett, who found fame in Sparkadia, who released two albums – 2008’s Postcards and 2011’s The Great Impression .

PLUM JAM

Thelma Plum

THE DEAN OF EMOTIONAL POP Dean Lewis digs deep on his third album.

Dean Lewis

D ean Lewis’ new album, The Epilogue , has all the feels. It features what will become a classic wedding song, Rest , as well as a funeral song, Memories . And there’s every emotion in between. Was the artist emotionally spent when he finally finished the record? “I’m sort of always emotionally spent,” Lewis smiles. “But I always have energy, so I’m always writing. So when the album was finished, I think I was just excited.” On the album, Lewis sings: “All I ever wanted was to go back to the days when we were young and made a promise that we’d never change.” How has fame changed him? “Wow, that’s a good question. So many ways, profoundly. I think you lose yourself a little bit in chasing this dream. Eight years ago, I had nothing, I was living with my grandma. Then Waves took off and since then I haven’t really experienced life – all I focus on is touring and writing songs. I think I have missed out on so much. But it makes you realise how important family and friends are.” Jeff Jenkins

THE FIRST NOEL Oasis inspired Dean Lewis to make music, so what would he say to Noel Gallagher if he met him? “I wouldn’t really want to meet Noel. I’d probably tell him his songs are so great and he would be like, ‘I know.’”.

The Epilogue by Dean Lewis is out Oct 18 via Island/Universal

Photo credit: Sean Loaney

BOOK ’EM, DEANO With The Epilogue title , Dean Lewis’ new album has a bit of a book theme. “I’m a big reader of books that help me. I tell my fans to read The Seasons of Life by Jim Rohn. No matter how great things are, the winter will always come. But spring and summer will also come, and you can plant seeds for the future.”

46 OCTOBER 2024

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