The Evolution Of Vera Blue

With a bunch of shows already sold out on her upcoming national tour, Celia Pavey is clearly still riding high on all the Fingertips EP buzz, despite her understandable Splendour comedown.

"There's lot's going on, I'm feeling lots of things," shares Pavey. "I'm excited, because I'm heading into the studio soon to work on an album, but I've still got the post-Splendour blues." Feeling all the feels, however, puts Pavey in the right frame of mind for songwriting. Expressing sincerity and truth is the way she rolls when it comes to making music. "That's exactly what I'm about," she says. "I have to be very honest with my music, it's always real, because that way people can connect to it." Good game plan girl, it's definitely working.

"Going through high school, I listened to a lot of music with heavier beats and bass, like Beyonce, and I really loved it."

Veteran producers Andy and Thom Mak, as well as songwriting buddy Gossling, helped Pavey experiment her way out of the pure folk groove and find the sound she's always wanted. "I really wanted to create a blend of folk and cool, with heavy, thick sounds," she says. "Going through high school, I listened to a lot of music with heavier beats and bass, like Beyonce, and I really loved it," she says, showing evident good taste. "Yet, I also loved folk, so I let all that go to concentrate on a more acoustic sound." Fortunately, Andy, Thom and Gossling helped her bring the beat back. "They helped me experiment, and I was also listening to artists like alt-J and FKA Twigs at the time," she says. "That's where the sound evolved and I fell in love with it. This is the music I've been wanting to make and I feel like I'm unleashing."

Pavey's about to be further unleashed on the gig-goers of Australia, who are clearly lapping up her new vibe. Sold out Melbourne Howler gigs, plus a bunch of other sell-outs across the country, demonstrate the growing appetite for Pavey. "It's really wild," she says, sounding totally stoked. "I think performing with Illy, Slumberjack and Flume at Splendour made people interested in getting some tickets." That, plus the intimate and ethereal EP tracks like Hold, Settle and Fingertips may also have a little something to do with it. 

The big-time love for Pavey is helping her approach this tour with measured self-belief. "I think I'll definitely be feeling more confident on stage," she says. "But I'll always be pushing for a better performance, and more connection, and to make it the very best it can possibly be." The performance will most certainly be bringing the magic Vera Blue combination she's finally nailed. "lt'll be a very full electronic sound, but it'll have acoustic vibes as well," she shares. "I want it to be perfect for the people coming to watch."