Bumpy Shares Behind The Scenes Of New E.P 'Morning Sun'

The Band

The Band By Georgia Mein

I feel incredibly grateful to perform with this crew. We have fostered such a family connection so travelling, performing and touring together is always so special. Individually, they are all monsters of their craft, and I highly recommend checking out all of their other projects! I would love to introduce them to you!
Starting with my very own brother, Ben Yarram. An incredible multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, we have grown up together, jamming and singing our favourite tunes. You can find him performing in other acts, such as Millar Jukes and The Muscle and his recent solo adventure, Big Lubly.

I am very lucky to perform alongside my partner and guitarist, Mick Power. He is a constant support and close collaborator within this project, and he provides a lot of the soundscape within this EP as well as the big ol' solo you can find at the end of Leave It All Behind. Mick and I both perform in psych-soul group Squid Nebula, but you can also find Mick performing in the free-jazz group Bohjass at 303 on Mondays.

Jake Amy is an incredible and in demand keys player here in Naarm. They collaborate with so many amazing musicians. They really foster a safe space on and off the stage. Jake is also a wizard recording and mixing engineer! You can find their own solo music or catch them performing with the likes of Kaiit, Emma Volard, Bailey Judd and more.

You will find Noah Hutchinson on the bass! Noz’s ability to transform your story into musical expression is incredible. He also contributed some production work to this EP on tracks Waiting Game and Hide & Seek. A man of many talents!! You can catch him all around, performing with Empress, Emma Volard, Juice Webster and more!

L-R: Jake, Isadora, Emma, Noah by Georgia MeinOne of the incredible backing vocalists in the band is Emma Volard. I have admired Emma’s music for some time, and her recent debut album, Deity, is such an incredible release. HIGHLY recommend wrapping your ears around this beautiful expression of tenderness, love and power.
Also blessed with this heavenly voice, we have Isadora Lauritz. A powerhouse vocalist whose tone immediately draws you in further. Issy has released some incredible collaborations with Keith Smackdown and Sylent Nqo. You can find Issy in Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir, performing with her brother Miro Lauritz and more!

Evolution - from ‘Return Home’ to Morning Sun

‘Return Home’ (released in May 2022) was the track that sparked the EP. After writing this song, I knew I wanted it to be a part of a body of work and to mark the re-introduction after a two year break from releases. I also knew that I really wanted to honour the story of this song and the themes it explores; connection, songlines and how we find the feeling of ‘home’. 

Recorded at The Aviary Recording Studio the day before a snap lockdown in Naarm, we were very lucky to squish in a full day of tracking. Return Home featured in a beautiful live show for the Opening Night of Yaluk-ut Weelam Ngargee Festival. In collaboration with Aaron Wyatt, Allara Briggs-Pattison and ensemble Dutala, a string arrangement was created and featured in this performance. After performing this live with these incredible musicians, it was quickly decided that they would feature on the recording of this track.

Ensemble Dutala recording on Return Home

Bumpy captured by Lewis Roberts

Working with friend and Director, Lewis Robert from Strange Paradise, we turned out a music video within just a few weeks. Lewis and I had conversations around displacement, yearning for connection and what that feels and looks like to me. The way that he interpreted my feelings into a visual display for ‘Return Home’ was so inspiring and really felt like I was allowing these deep emotions to step into their light and become something powerful. With the help of my lovely siblings (who feature in the music video) the incredible Culture Evolves dance crew and Remuse Designs, the video really became a healing journey and was such a joy to watch those feelings be presented visually.

WOVEN PIECE

Image by Georgia Mein

The women in my family came together once a week to have yarning and weaving sessions on zoom during lockdowns. It was a beautiful way to check in with each other whilst we couldn't be together and also reconnect to old ways with my sister Jodie teaching us different weaving styles. Whilst stuck at home, I decided I wanted to challenge myself by creating a feature piece to use in the single cover of ‘Return Home’. I wove the collar piece and clasped it at the back. Further honouring the story, I asked if my Mum, Aunties and sisters would be willing to weave a circle and send it in the mail so that I could add it onto the piece. Collating them all together felt so special at a time that we couldn’t physically be together. To me, this necklace represents my Matriarchs and the stories, love and care that entwine us together.

Collaboration with Remuse Designs

“R E M U S E is a Melbourne based clothing label where futurism meets nature. Fusing artisan techniques, low-impact dye technology, and natural fibers, R E M U S E investigates the ways the future of a fashion is simply fashion that takes inspiration from the earth. R E M U S E utilises natural fabrics, vegan materials, both fibre reactive and mindfully concocted plant-based dyes, and fabrics sourced both locally and globally, with a constant exploration of GOTS-certified organic materials, deconstructed and recycled fabrics, and our foundation, unbleached and unaltered calico. Each R E M U S E products are designed and manufactured within our design studio in Collingwood, Victoria, and Ethical Clothing Australia accredited.”

I have been collaborating with the incredible Tamara (Remuse Designs) for a few years now. Her care for community, art and expression is extremely inspiring and speaks volumes through her creations. Through trade and cross-disciplinary collaboration, it has been an amazing partnership in supporting each other creatively. I was very honoured to provide a live ambient soundscape for her show at Melbourne Fashion Festival and other runways, and in turn, my band and I have been very lucky to be dressed head to toe in these gorgeous garments at many shows and festivals! You can see a lot of Tamara’s designs throughout the visuals of this EP, and I can't wait to explore more creative community collaborations.

You can listen to and download Bumpy's new E.P below.