Why Writing 'Blastoma' Wasn't So Much Cathartic As Educational

The beguiling Ngaiire (aka Ngaire Joseph) has come far — from a stint as the jazz singer bringing cred to the Australian Idol competition to performing with the roots collective Blue King Brown to introducing herself as an avant-soul soloist.

Now, following 2013's auspicious debut Lamentations, the Papua New Guinea-born, Sydney-based Joseph has returned with a hot album in Blastoma via her own Maximilion Brown label.

In the lead up to its release, the neo-soulstress is in Israel. Aside from indulging in some well-deserved chillaxing post-Groovin The Moo dates, she's shot a video. "I was visiting friends and family and my director happened to be here, so we thought, 'why not? let's make a video!'," Joseph enthuses. "I've been riding camels, swimming in the Dead Sea, eating way too much hummus, walking around the old city of Jerusalem, partying on rooftops…" She'll soon be rugging up to launch a headlining national tour at the Snowy Mountains' PEAK Festival, before hitting Splendour In The Grass.

"I wanted nothing more than not to write it as, at the time, I was quite exhausted from touring and personal pain."

Blastoma might be described as dark — its title, referencing Joseph's childhood cancer battle, figurative. Between albums she experienced a debilitating break-up and depression. Yet ultimately Blastoma thematises resilience. Was making it healing? "It wasn't cathartic when we first started writing it," Joseph responds. "I wanted nothing more than not to write it as, at the time, I was quite exhausted from touring and personal pain. Two years later, I'm learning more about myself through these songs than when I first wrote them. That's been quite surprising to me. I've always been an honest person so, regardless of what kind of approach I choose to take, there will always be a sense of honesty."

Joseph worked with longtime champion Paul Mac — she cameoed on the electronica vet's 2005 Panic Room — and Jack Grace as producers. But, at Mac's suggestion, she also had writing sessions with his pal Megan Washington. "When she whispered to me, 'I just want to do right by you, Ngaiire,' I felt like a teenager on nangs!" Their collab resulted in 2015's glitch'n'B Once, Blastoma's triumphant lead single. It was voted #73 in triple j's Hottest 100.

Joseph issued her inaugural EP, Song For No One, back in 2008 (she'd teamed with Tony Buchen, who is today guiding indie types like Montaigne and Bob Evans). However, she's still seen as a 'next big thing'. Certainly, Joseph's international profile — and fanbase — is growing. She prestigiously toured with Alicia Keys (and John Legend), recalling that the American was "a darling". "She came to my trailer for a chat after one of our shows." Then last year Joseph — who appeared at 2014's Glastonbury — played her first US gigs, notably joining New York's CMJ Music Marathon. "I can't wait to get back," she says.

Joseph has been identified with Australia's surging "future soul" movement. She herself admits to being "obsessed" with Beyonce's experimental Lemonade. "I'm a sponge when it comes to music and the whole industry is saturated with electro this and electro that. I think I will always be one to draw on what's happening around me, yet still fulfilling my need to continue pushing my own boundaries and discovering new ways of doing new or old things."