FELIVAND aka Felicity Vanderveen debut album Ties is sweet, deep and daring. The Meajin/Brisbane singer's vulnerable lyrics and flowing, jazzy production has been on repeat. It makes us groove, move and feel good, like a good confessional album does. Think SZA. Ahead of FELIVAND's Australian tour, we did what we do best, and asked the artist 10  Questions:

Introduce us to your new album using 10 words!

"Introspective, warm, connective, woozy, textural, vulnerable, explorative, groovy, curious, contemporary."

We love the album. What was inspiring you when you were writing it? 

"Lyrically it’s definitely more of an internal journey than an external comment or observation on things. I guess I was inspired by the unfolding of my life and mental health at the time, a lot of big questions and trying to find meaning and ground myself."

What did you learn between putting out previous EPs/singles and putting out a debut album? How do you think your sound and artistry had evolved to create this album?

"It feels like a really gradual but intentional evolution of sound, and as I get older it feels like it’s maturing with me. I think that’s a really beautiful thing about starting music when you’re young, it moulds and changes with you as you grow. I definitely learnt that I really like going into a project with intention. Previously I would have songs lying around and thought “oh! I guess I have an EP” and put them together, but this album was intentional from the start and I always had the layout and atmosphere of the album in the back of my mind while I was writing it. I definitely prefer to work towards a bigger goal or project like that!"

You’ve said you have dreamed of recording an album since you were a little girl. How do you think she would feel now that you’ve made that dream come true?

"She would be so proud and happy right now. I think more so about that I stuck with music, and not so much of the music itself."

What do you hope listeners take from this album?

"I’d love for my listeners to draw their own meaning and value from this album. It’s transparent and personal but I feel like it’s really open-ended. I think it’s definitely more of a solitude album that you might listen to while you’re travelling or wanting a sense of company."

Is there a lyric that means the most to you on the album?

“I’m looking for a way out of my mind, but maybe the way out is inside of me.” 

How has your life in Australia influenced your sound?

"This is a great question. Growing up on the coast I had a lot of quiet around me and it was the opposite of I guess, ’hustle bustle’, so maybe having that space caused me to enjoy more down-tempo sort of music? I definitely went through a ‘coastal’ sort of sound when I first started recording and I was listening to artists like Good Morning, Matt Corby and Palace. But I think with how the industry has developed and transferred online means that people can be inspired by the music being created on the other side of the world." 

Who inspires you musically?

"I’m very inspired and moved by contemporary R&B/Soul and artists like Frank Ocean, Solange, Blood Orange, James Blake. These artists create such a sonic and emotional world around them and their music is so therapeutic and special to me."

What’s something you’re passionate about aside from music?

"Nature! I love being outside and in the sun. With this love definitely comes the passion about climate change."

What’s next for FELIVAND?

"I’m touring in Australia over the next few weeks in August and September, and playing some summer festivals! Hopefully going back to the U.S to do some more recording and writing sessions too."

Listen to Ties here.

@felivand