Not just bitten, Thelma Plum is smitten with the Brown Snake. The Brown Snake is the third single lifted off her Meanjin EP released today. Meanjin is a self-professed love letter to her hometown. Kicking off in just under two weeks, the beloved Gamilaraay artist will embark on her ten-date The Meanjin Tour in celebration of the new release, joined by very special guests GRAACE and Jem Cassar Daley.
Across its six tracks, Meanjin is a moving body of work that sees Thelma reflect and reminisce on her time growing up – and returning to – the Sunshine State. Arriving alongside the release is a music video for “The Brown Snake” – an ode to the locally famed Brisbane River and its affectionately known alias, which features a multitude of other references to Meanjin. The clip sees a joyful Thelma and her band venture on a ferry trip along the song’s namesake, taking in its distinct hue and city skyline, and comes to a close as they pass under the iconic Story Bridge.
The river was a significant source of inspiration for Thelma when writing Meanjin. "In strange times you always tend to look back at warm memories for comfort, and when I was confined to an apartment overlooking The Brown Snake, I found myself writing music about Meanjin, the place I grew up in and have gravitated back to,” she says. “It’s blowing a musical kiss to the things I’ve loved." Joining “The Brown Snake” on the EP is May single “Backseat Of My Mind” - Thelma’s first original release since her era-defining, ARIA-winning debut album Better In Blak in 2019. Comprising its remaining four tracks are the stirring rainy day anthem “When It Rains It Pours” and haunting piano-led “Baby Blue Bicycle”, as well as and the short and sweet “Bars On My Windows” and charming love story “The Bat Song”. Watch the live performance video of “When It Rains It Pours”.
Earlier this month, Thelma was nominated for Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year, at the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) for her acclaimed single “Backseat Of My Mind”. In May Thelma made her return to the live stage, revisiting previous COVID-affected tour dates on her Making It Up To You Tour, before joining Paul Kelly for a special run of performances at the Sydney Opera House for VIVID Live.
THE MEANJIN TOUR
With special guests GRAACE & Jem Cassar Daley
Thursday 25th August – Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW / Gundungarra and Dharug Country *
Friday 26th August – The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW / Awabakal Country *
Saturday 27th August – UC Refectory, Canberra, ACT / Ngunnawal *
Thursday 1st September – Forum, Melbourne, VIC / Wurundjeri Country
Friday 2nd September – The Gov, Adelaide, SA / Kaurna Country
Saturday 3rd September – Spring Time Festival, Gold Coast, QLD / Yugambeh Country
Friday 9th September- The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD / Meanjin
Saturday 10th September- Nightquarter, Sunshine Coast, QLD / Gubbi Gubbi Country
Friday 16th September – Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW / Gadigal Country
Saturday 24th September – Good Day Sunshine Festival, Busselton, WA / Wadandi Boodja
* Jem Cassar Daley not appearing
Tickets available here
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