Words by Emily Hollitt
Between balancing the ebb and flow of everyday life and hosting ‘From The Roots’ on Brisbane community radio network 4ZZZ, young country / folk newcomer Georgia Scarlett found the time to release one of the most stunning, heartfelt records of the year. With orchestral elements scattered throughout the instrumentation, thoughtful, vulnerable lyrics and an overall introspective yet hopeful record, Georgia provides a snapshot of reality through her unique lens, while holding space for listeners to resonate with her experiences. She blends folk with country/pop, putting her own unique spin on the singer/songwriter genre. Her voice is gentle with intention behind every word adding the final touch to her already masterfully produced record.
I’ve loved everything Georgia’s been doing for a while, and this record is just the icing on the cake! I just had to pick her brain about the process. Luckily, she found some time in her busy schedule to chat with us!
You’ve just released your debut album ‘Rhythm Of Life’. Congratulations! How does it feel getting this out into the world?
It is a dream come true, nothing more, nothing less.
What was the biggest lesson you learnt in putting this album together?
Time, in all its power, shapes everything. That idea began as a theme for the album but creating it over three years made me truly understand it. I healed and grew as a person alongside these songs, and I learnt so much through recording, releasing, promoting, navigating social media, performing live, and saying yes to new opportunities. The album sounds the way it does because of every one of those experiences. If I’d started this project already knowing everything, it would be a completely different record. Time is a powerful teacher, and I’m stronger because of it. It shaped me, it shaped the album, it shaped my stage presence and artistic identity, and it’s even shaped the beautiful community of listeners around the music.
Is there any song on the record that you hold closest to your heart?
I hold so many of these songs close, and I still feel their emotion every time I sing them live. But ‘Watering Can’ has always had a particularly special place for me. It is a personal reminder to look after yourself, put yourself first, and to only put energy into the things that are serving you. It reinforces my belief that everything happens for a reason, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply put the watering can down. What makes it even more intimate is the spoken word at the beginning, it comes from a very tender moment in my life. I’m still considering whether I’ll ever share exactly where those words came from.
The record follows the themes of growth and change. Did this affect the way you ordered the tracks?
Definitely! The order of an album track list is something I think about a lot. As a concept album around the theme of time, I shaped this record in an order that could take the listener on a lyrical and sonic journey. Each song reflects a different moment spent processing change, heartbreak, loss, and self-discovery. Rather than mapping out stages of grief, the album explores the stages of simply living through these moments, not in grieving, but experiencing and feeling it all at full capacity. Starting with ‘My Love’ the listener is taking through those first moments of heartbreak, through to ‘Finding My Destination’ where listeners are filled with a sense of hope and forward drive to future experiences.
If you could describe your album to someone who’s never heard of you before in one sentence, what would you say?
‘Rhythm of Life’ is a woven tapestry of folk, country warmth, and quiet reflection, capturing the moments over time that shape who we become.
What does your songwriting process look like; story, instrumental or idea first?
For me, every song starts with a story, a memory, a feeling, or an emotion; something real that sparks the need to create. I always need that core motivation before the melody or tone starts to form. When a song begins this way, it sticks with me longer and it generally comes together more naturally and quickly. No two songs follow the same path, but they all begin from that same place of feeling. When it comes to recording, the process shifts again. It becomes about translating that initial emotion into a full sonic world, choosing the right textures, instrumentation, and space for the song to breathe. The recording is where the song grows into a full picture, a complete story.
You also host ‘From The Roots’ on 4ZZZ, a vital part in keeping the folk-ier side of the Brisbane music scene alive! What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt while claiming this very important space in the community?
I’ve really learnt the importance of community, and just how vital radio still is in a music industry where it often feels like it’s fading. What started as a simple love for storytelling and acoustic music has grown into something much bigger over the past two years. I’ve had the joy of interviewing and featuring more than 117 artists, and through that, I’ve connected with an incredible network of musicians locally, nationally, and internationally. ‘From the Roots’ has become a second home for me, and I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met and the relationships that have formed along the way. I hope it feels like a home for every artist who’s been part of it, too. There’s something truly special about radio, and I’m committed to keeping that magic alive for as long as I’m here to share it.
Moving on from this, who are 3 local artists you’d love to shine some light on?
There are so many incredible local artists, I genuinely couldn’t narrow it down! As a local radio host, I’m constantly meeting amazing talent and drawing inspiration from the scene around me. I do want to give a special shoutout to the wonderful artists joining me on the Queensland leg of my AUS album tour next year: Maddison Kate (Brisbane), Favourite Kid (Ipswich), Banksia Luna and Lilli Fairfax (Nambour).
What are 3 albums that you have shaped you as an artist?
It’s incredibly hard to summarise my artistry inspiration across just three records. I think part of the challenge is that I’m always chasing as much authenticity as possible. It’s a little bit easier thinking about the influences across creating my album. There’s nothing freer than letting the music find its own direction, but of course, we’re all subconsciously shaped by the sounds we love most.
‘Come Away With Me’ by Norah Jones – I grew up listening to this album. The songs are so tender and warm, and they’ve stayed with me for years. Any time they come on, they bring a wave of nostalgia that still feels close to home.
‘Lavender Days’ by Caamp – I listened to this album a lot around the time I was writing the songs for my record, so I’m sure it seeped in one way or another. I definitely bought and started learning banjo because of this album, without question.
‘Nerve’ by Madeleine Roger – This one is a more recent favourite and ended up being my most-played album of 2025. It absolutely influenced my thinking around production and recording. I remember choosing to add organ, something I was usually unsure about, into ‘Finding My Destination’ because Madeleine used it so beautifully in ‘You Don’t Think About Me’. I also connected deeply with her love for capturing a story in a single take, something that I always hoped to do in my album and ended up capturing across a few of the tracks.
With the after-effects of COVID-19, the reliance on social presence and the difficulties monetising music in the streaming landscape, what’s the best piece of advice you could offer to someone wanting to develop themselves as an artist?
In a world overflowing with music, AI, and social media, the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and for your listeners, is to be authentically you. People are craving realness now more than ever, especially in a landscape filled with comparison and computer-made music. Staying true to your voice is what will cut through the noise. At least I hope this is the case, I have hope!
And finally, what can we expect next from Georgia Scarlett?
I’m really looking forward to 2026. It feels like the start of a brand-new chapter for me. I’ll be kicking off the year with a tour in February/March alongside my band, playing shows across Queensland South Australia, and Victoria. There’s also plenty of new music on the way, with next year marking the beginnings of something fresh creatively including some collaborative work. I can’t give too much away yet.. I’ve just graduated with my Fine Arts degree as well, so 2026 doesn’t just mark a new phase in my musical journey, it marks my first steps beyond student life. You can expect to see me diving even deeper into what I love: songwriting, performing, radio, events, and creating content I resonate with.
With thanks to Kick Push PR
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