In Conversation with Meali Grace: A Journey Through Songwriting, Heartbreak, and Resilience
Meali Grace is a rising star in the Australian music scene, known for her heartfelt songwriting and captivating performances. With over eight years of creative experience and a Bachelor of Music specializing in Songwriting, she's set to make a lasting impact with the release of her debut EP UNDER MY MESS. The EP, a deeply personal exploration of love, loss, and resilience, showcases Meali’s raw emotional depth and introspective lyricism. Ahead of her upcoming performance at Toowoon Bay and the release of her EP, we sat down with Meali to discuss her musical journey, the stories behind her songs, and what fans can expect from her next.
UNDER MY MESS is described as a soul-stirring exploration of love, loss, and resilience. What inspired the overarching themes of this EP?
I wrote these songs over a span of two years. They all came from me just sitting and playing my guitar, wanting to express how I was feeling in those moments. I also desire to tell these different stories, and I believe all the themes are an inevitable part of growing up and being human.
Can you tell us more about the creative process behind "Upstream"? What does this track mean to you personally, and how did you capture the feeling of "swimming against life's relentless currents”?
The idea came to me when I was sitting at home one day, and I couldn’t shake the image of swimming upstream against the current. The more I thought about the image and metaphor, the more I began to think about how we all go through times where we feel like we just can’t catch a break. Where life just keeps coming at you. And it gets to the point where you have to wonder when exhaustion will hit. And how much longer can I withstand this weight and pressure before I’m essentially “left to drown”. I’ve been in this circumstance many times, and you're not quite sure if there is enough hope to hold onto. I feel like the finger picking pattern adds this consistent effect to the song where it keeps moving, similar to how life’s relentless currents do. Having a little breather in the middle of the song gives you a chance to catch your breath before it then swells into bigger sections again.
"Heartbreak at 19" takes listeners on a melodic journey through heartbreak. How did you approach writing this song, and what emotions were you channelling while creating it?
This song stems from a conversation I was having with a friend one day about a breakup she had recently been through. We were joking around and thought we should have a go at writing a song about it and so I sat at the piano and asked her to tell me all her thoughts about the breakup from the initial conversation to where she was at that day. From that afternoon I felt inspired to finish the song, and as I wrote more of it I wanted to be able to give her a song that finished with some hope at the end. I guess we’ve all been through things where in the beginning it doesn’t seem like the pain and grief will ever end but with time, there is always a little bit of hope to cling to.
"Eyes 4 U" delves into the theme of unrequited love. How does this track reflect your experiences, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?
Unrequited love is an inevitable part of life and I’ve experienced it in both a romantic and platonic way. There’s been many times where I have wondered what would happen if you would just see me? And see all of me? Would you then want me too? I love the quote “to be fully known is to be fully loved”, and this was a big inspiration behind the message and lyrics of this song. I want the listener to have a space to wonder what it could be like and have an outlet to feel the frustrations and sometimes hurt that often come with unrequited love.
"Easy to Remember" received praise for its heartfelt storytelling. What inspired this track, and how did you feel when it premiered on Triple J’s Unearthed?
This song was one of the first that I wrote purely from personal experience with a relationship breakdown. When I wrote this song I was holding a lot of anger and frustration about the breakdown of the relationship but at the same I was so sad and in a way mourning the loss of a relationship I had held so close for so long, and one I didn’t think would end. I really wanted the song to capture holding those two contradicting feelings at once. To have the song premiered on Triple J’s Unearthed was such an amazing feeling. I was able to have friends and family with me as it played and we cheered and yelled and felt all the feels when it was announced and played. It was such a surreal moment, definitely one I’ll never forget.
Your lyrics are deeply personal and introspective throughout the EP. How do you balance vulnerability with artistic expression in your songwriting?
It’s been a goal of mine through out the years to write songs that not only go deep into these personal stories and experiences but also have a certain level of musicality. I want all the elements of my songs to have depth and intentionality. Although sometimes that means having a really simple melody and chords so that the simplicity of the lyrics shine, which is done in ‘Stay A While’, Other times I feel like the chords really help carry the stories as we move through the different sections, like in “Heartbreak at 19”.
"Stay a While" is an intimate ballad that celebrates unconditional love. What inspired this track, and how did you approach its delicate and expressive performance?
When I wrote this song I was sitting alone in my room with my guitar, just playing this progression of chords, and I starting singing “stay a while whilst I catch my breath”. From there I got this picture of sitting there with somebody and that idea of bearing your soul, laying down your guard and for once surrendering this idea that you can need someone and not have to carry burdens alone. I often get caught doing this myself and there are a few key people in my life that I feel I can ask to just sit in the mess and unease with me, yet it never gets easier to do. I wanted the recording to feel really intimate, like someone was sitting beside you singing this song to you.
With this EP, you've drawn on over eight years of creative experience and your Bachelor of Music in Songwriting. How have your studies and experiences shaped the music on UNDER MY MESS?
The stories from all of these songs are a culmination of both my own personal experiences and the experiences and stories of the people around me in the last few years. My studies did significantly shape my songs harmonically. It really opened my eyes and gave me more options and room to explore different chords, progressions and structures. Being able to have more options gave me the ability to choose how I wanted to tell these stories through song.
How did the acoustic soundscape of the EP come together, and why did you choose to focus on this style for such emotionally driven tracks?
I’ve always connected and been drawn to songs that had a similar soundscape.
When I got really into writing and started looking for inspiration, I knew I had this particular acoustic sound in mind but I could never find an artist that I felt really emulated that particular sound. Eventually, I found Lizzy McAlpine and it was the first time I felt like I had actually found the sound I knew I was waiting to hear. I always knew I wanted to keep the songs very minimal and acoustically driven, as I didn’t want them to lean too far into pop territory but also so the melody and lyricism had room to shine. So, taking inspiration from Lizzy and a few other artist, in addition to creating many different recordings and versions, I am really happy with the type of acoustic soundscape we landed on, as I feel they really highlight the emotional drive in these songs.
What do you hope listeners will feel or experience when they listen to UNDER MY MESS, and how does this EP represent your growth as an artist?
It’s my hope with this EP that listeners find space for themselves to heal, grieve, find hope and maybe even cry a little as they get lost in these melodies and stories. I believe these five songs show the potential of who I can be as an artist, as I start to build a discography that I am really proud of. I feel as though I have created a solid foundation I can now build on to grow deeper in my writing and production.
Tell us what to expect from your EP launch at Copacabana on September 14th
The launch will be an intimate celebration and show, with an exclusive evening of live music under the stars. The show will feature a full band, a support act and good vibes. Everyone will hear my brand-new tracks, but you'll also enjoy some never-before-heard originals that I can’t wait to share with you. You can invite your friends, gather your drinks and snacks, grab a picnic blanket, and join us for a night of music, good vibes, and celebration.
Under My Mess
