Following her long-awaited, striking May single Backseat Of My Mind, beloved singer-songwriter Thelma Plum is proud to announce her brand new EP ‘Meanjin’, due for release on Friday 12th August. In celebration of the extended release, Thelma will be welcoming audiences to the Meanjin Tour, travelling around the country throughout August and September.
The Meanjin Tour sees Thelma joined by some very special guests. “I can’t believe I am lucky enough to have both GRAACE and Jem Cassar Daley join me on this tour,†says Thelma. “They are artists I adore, and I can’t wait to see you all!â€
Adding to the already abundant news is a new track When It Rains It Pours – one of ‘Meanjin’’s six songs from the heart, about the heartland, and a breathtaking, nostalgic addition to the Gamilaraay artist’s flourishing catalogue.
“After far too much solo time spent in lockdown, I was sitting on my balcony watching my neighbours set up this extravagant looking dinner party during a classic Brissi downpour†says Thelma of the new single. “I was lonely and missed my family terribly. I longed to be sitting around a table with them, but I wrote “When it Rains it Pours†instead!â€
Talking to the forthcoming EP, Thelma adds “We all know what happened at the start of 2020 – I was in the middle of recording an album in London when the world changed and in between lockdowns and floods I kept working on music and it became apparent that I had a whole separate body of work which was a love letter to my hometown Meanjin – so here it is for you allâ€.
The trio of announcements come after the brilliant new single Backseat Of My Mind, which marked Thelma’s first original release since her acclaimed ARIA-winning debut album ‘Better In Blak’ in 2019. Written as a self-described “nostalgic feeling ‘driving’ songâ€, the single swiftly took out the number one most played spot on both triple j and 4ZZZ, and landed Thelma her first commercial radio additions on Brisbane’s B105, plus Late Nights on both Hit Network and NOVA, amongst coverage from Refinery 29, The Guardian, NME, Music Feeds, and more.
Backseat Of My Mind also heralded Thelma’s return to the live stage, joining Paul Kelly for a special run of performances at the Sydney Opera House for VIVID Live before revisiting previous COVID-affected tour dates on her Making It Up To You Tour. With a run of dates in support of Vance Joy set to follow Thelma’s own Meanjin Tour later this year, Thelma Plum’s homecoming has well and truly arrived.
In 2019, ‘Better In Blak’ – a storied record of culture, heritage, love and pain – became one of the most successful albums of the year with seven ARIA nominations and a win, as well as spawning the ARIA Gold-certified single (Not Angry Anymore) and three Platinum singles (Better In Blak, Homecoming Queen, Clumsy Love). The title track landed in the top 10 of the triple j Hottest 100 – the highest ever result for an Indigenous artist at the time – and won the prestigious Vanda and Young “Song of the Year†award.
While Backseat Of My Mind was Thelma’s first new original music since the record, the celebrated creative has far from receded from the public eye. Thelma and her music have been involved in high profile campaigns for White Shirt Day and a number of household brands; for Netflix’s ‘Back To The Outback’ animated feature film (starring Tim Minchin and Eric Bana), as well as appearing on the cover of the re-launch of InStyle Magazine Australia and most recently digital beauty magazine Gritty Pretty.
THE MEANJIN TOUR
General on sale Thursday 14th July at 9am AEST via ThelmaPlum.com
Thursday 25 August – Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW / Gundungarra + Dharug Country
Friday 26 August – The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW / Awabakal Country
Saturday 27 August – UC Refectory, Canberra, ACT / Ngunnawal
Thursday 1 September – Forum, Melbourne, VIC / Wurundjeri Country
Friday 2 September – The Gov, Adelaide, SA / Kaurna Country
Saturday 3 September – Spring Time Festival, Gold Coast, QLD / Yugambeh Country
Friday 9 September – The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD / Meanjin
Saturday 10 September – Nightquarter, Sunshine Coast, QLD / Kabi Kabi Country
Friday 16 September – Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW / Gadigal Country
Saturday 24 September – Good Day Sunshine Festival, Busselton, WA / Wadandi Boodja
When It Rains It Pours IS OUT NOW – STREAM HERE
‘MEANJIN’Â EPÂ IS OUT AUGUST 12Â
Connect with THELMA PLUM
With thanks to Warner Music Australia
