Melbourne marvel Sir Jude braces the release of her brooding debut album Revelations out now.
With her theatrical approach to modern-day pop, Sir Jude’s diverse range allowed her to intricately connect the dots and create Revelations, her first full length project. Marking such a prominent period in her life, Revelations is a body of work that represents a sonic journey of unravelling internalised misogyny and discovery of the self, wherein each song the same question is posed: What does it mean to be a woman today?
A distinct love for cinematic soundscapes can be heard throughout, often self-describing her music as “very James Bond.” Each of the album’s nine songs would not sound out of place on the silver screen either, the foreboding title track being a prime example with its slow building verses that explode into a sea of dramatized electronica.
We had a chat with Sir Jude all about Revelations and the making of the record. Read the Q&A below.
Hi! How are you? What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?
“I’m anxious and equally great! At the moment, my days are filled with lots of album admin, making sure all of my creative runs smoothly, and sharing lots of posts. I’ve been having early starts so I can get all my work done. Sometimes I’ll have a session, and I get to meet new and incredible writers and artists. In the evenings I’ve been trying to attend as many gigs as possible – I moved to London about 3 months ago to the novelty hasn’t worn off yet.”
You’ve just released your debut album Revelations. What’s the record about, where did you draw influence from sonically and what does it mean to you?
“The record gave me the opportunity to express my frustrations and anxieties about having to settle down according to when society tells you to; i’s a critique on tradition, an exploration of internalised misogyny and catholic guilt and an all rounded feminist Bible from start to finish. Sonically I draw a lot of inspiration from artists such as Yelle, Lana Del Rey, BANKS and Alexandra Savior. They’re just so bold with their story telling and great a building sonic universes where they stories can live timelessly.”
Please take us through your songwriting/creative process for the LP. What was your favourite part? And what did you find most challenging? You worked with Maxim on one of the tracks..how was that experience?
“Overall, it was challenging emotionally because I’ve been holding onto these songs for a long time. I’m so ready to let them go that it’s felt almost torturous to keep them to myself. At some point you just have to move on.
“I dived head first into some of the subject matters on this album. I was initially and very briefly scared to write about it. But ultimately that was my favourite part; pushing my boundaries and seeing just how far it could take me. On top of that I got to work with some beautiful and inspiring creatives that are now a part of my musical family and they really helped through all of the anxieties and emotions that come with exposing your truth and you artistry.
“Working with Maxim was out of this world. It was awesome to see what could come out of working together remotely and how our visions and musical sensibilities collided to make something truly weird and exciting. He was such a great sounding board and collaborator and was so transparent with his visions for the song. I can’t wait to do it again in person.”
What do you hope fans/listeners take away from Revelations?
“I just hope they feel heard and empowered by whichever truths speak to them. That it’s okay to be where you are and who you are. It’s also okay to know what you want, and to not know. This whole album can be your own personal purgatory that feels like heaven.”
Finally, what else is next for you? Do you have any shows coming up to support the album release?
“I do! And I’m so excited!! I’m supporting one of my favourite artists and beautiful friend, Sabiyha in Hackney at The Shacklewell Arms. It’s on the 6th of December – I’ll see you there.”