Georgia Ray is an independent singer-songwriter based in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne. She has been playing and writing music ever since she can remember. Influenced by the likes of Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Tegan and Sara and countless others, her music is a captivating and unique combination of pop, alternative and country genres. Over the last few years she has played at numerous local Melbourne venues including The Drunken Poet, The Bergy Seltzer, Baxter’s Lot, Revolver Upstairs and more. Georgia has been making music with her brother and producer Kyle in his home studio for a few years now. She is now in the studio again recording her upcoming 4-track EP. Indie Boulevard is delighted to converse with Georgia about her upcoming single ‘Hypnotherapy’, set to release on April 28th, along with her forthcoming EP, innovative methods, and more.

IB: Hello Georgia, it’s great to have the chance to chat with you about music and art! I just wanted to start off by congratulating you on your new single “Hypnotherapy” – It’s an awesome track, and it also marks a new chapter for you as “Hypnotherapy” represents a departure from your previous ballads, showcasing your move towards a more upbeat pop-rock sound. So, what inspired this change in direction, and how do you see your music evolving in the future?

GEORGIA: Thank you so much! Yeah, this song is definitely a lot more upbeat and energetic compared to most of my other songs so far. I think what has inspired me to go more in this direction with my music is the feeling it gives me – to write it, perform it, and put it out into the world – it feels more exciting! I love being able to take an idea that would typically be written as a ballad and turn it into something people will wanna dance to. Some of my favourite music to listen to is pop rock such as Avril Lavigne, Pale Waves & Paramore, so I think I took a lot of inspiration from these artists too. That said, I’m also really inspired by country artists like The Chicks and Kelsea Ballerini, so I think my music could potentially evolve into a blend of these genres.

IB: “Hypnotherapy” seems to delve into themes of self-discovery and healing. How has your own personal journey influenced your music, and how do you hope your music can help others on their own journeys?

GEORGIA: I’ve had my heart broken like many have, and sometimes you feel so sad and empty without that person that you feel like you’ve lost yourself too. This song comes from that place of desperation where you’re nearly at rock bottom and you’re willing to try pretty much anything to cure the heartache. For me the self-discovery and healing happens once I’ve written a song about it that I really enjoy. Once I’m able to sing my lungs out about whatever’s hurting me, that’s when it all starts to feel better. I’m hoping my music can help others to not feel alone in their feelings of heartbreak or loss, and to realise that things always do get better.

IB: Your brother Kyle produced “Hypnotherapy.” How does working with a family member impact your creative process, and how does that relationship translate into the music you create?

GEORGIA: It’s so awesome getting to work with Kyle – he’s produced almost all of my music to date! I think working with a family member is great for the creative process because I’m not shy to suggest any ideas, and he also seems to understand me musically, so he always comes up with awesome ideas that make me see my own songs in a brand new light.

IB: “Hypnotherapy” has a catchy chorus that’s sure to get stuck in listeners’ heads. How do you approach writing a memorable hook, and what do you think makes a great pop song?

GEORGIA: I’m so happy you think so! I pretty much always begin with the hook and chorus when I’m writing a new song because that’s the most important part to me, and it’s what gives me the motivation to write the rest of the song. To make it memorable I like to try and come up with a phrase that stands out a little bit, and the idea of needing hypnotherapy to get over an ex and move on was the first thing that came to me, and the melody came with it (this is usually the way for me). And it stuck with me so I eventually wrote the rest! What makes a great pop song to me is not only the catchy and unique hook, but how the rest of the song builds up to and anticipates that hook without ever losing the listener’s attention.

IB: You’ve talked about how you consider your music to be therapeutic, and your songs often explore intricate subjects like love, loss and identity. How do you think art can help us make sense of these complex emotions and experiences, and what role do you think music plays in our emotional lives?

GEORGIA: I think art has a way of highlighting the beauty in pain, and can wrap up all kinds of emotions into one piece in a way that lets us view it from the outside. It’s like magic, because it can twist our way of thinking and feeling. Music can make us sad, happy, nostalgic, and all these other emotions, and this individual feeling often sticks to a certain song, so we can be transported back in time to who we were and what we were feeling when we first heard it. I think that’s my favourite thing about music.

IB: Your live shows are known for their high energy and audience engagement. What’s your favorite part about performing live and how do you prepare for your shows?

GEORGIA: My favourite part about performing live is the people that come to watch. I love being able to introduce my songs to new audiences, and I also love being able to have my friends and family all in the same room. I love getting to meet fellow local musicians too. On top of that, I do love performing in general! I usually prepare by setting up as I would at the venue in my own house and just going through the set a few times. I’m putting a band together for my live shows very soon though, which I cannot wait for – so I guess I’ll need to start hiring a real rehearsal studio rather than just my lounge room!

IB: When and where can we catch you performing live?

GEORGIA: I’m playing a local Melbourne show at The Merri Bar in Preston on May 13, and I have some more exciting shows to be announced very soon!

IB: I couldn’t help but notice that you often play with a striking crimson acoustic guitar during your live shows – it looks amazing! Could you tell us more about this guitar and whether it’s a personal favorite among your collection of instruments?

GEORGIA: Thank you!! This is my Daisy Rock acoustic-electric guitar, it can sometimes look crimson in photos but it’s actually hot pink (and sparkly!). I fell in love with it as soon as I laid eyes on it. I’ve had it since 2016 and it was my first proper guitar of my own. Daisy Rock is such a cool brand – they make guitars especially designed for girls, and they look badass! It is definitely a favourite instrument of mine, although I recently bought a Fender Malibu Player in ‘Midnight Satin’ which is pretty beautiful too, and I use this for most of my live shows now.

IB: Your upcoming EP is due out in October 2023. Can you give us any hints about what we can expect from the new music, and how it might differ from your previous work?

GEORGIA: I’m very excited to release this EP! These songs will have more of a big, full band sound like ‘Hypnotherapy’ does, as opposed to most of my previous work. The writing of these songs spanned over multiple years, and they’ve become very close to my heart. I can’t wait to finally put them out into the world!

IB: And the last question. If you could only listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?:)

GEORGIA: It would have to be ‘23’ by my favourite band Jimmy Eat World. If there’s anything in this world that defines perfection in my eyes, it’s that song. And even if it was on repeat for the rest of my life, I don’t think I’d ever get sick of it. It’s epic in every way imaginable.

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