From fan fiction to film: How Perth's Edie found herself making music

Western Australia's Edie is an artist on the rise, with the musician thanking her creative upbringing for her current musical journey.

The Perth pop/indie/rock musician joined Homebrewed earlier this week to discuss her new single 'Front Row', as well as sharing details of her "wacky imagination" as a child.

Edie believes she is typically quite shy in real life. That is, until she gets to know you, or she's busy working on projects.

"I think I've always been pretty creative from a young age," she said.

"I had a very wacky imagination as a kid, and would always make up weird songs and dance moves, and concerts for my family.

"I was a drama theater kid, so I've always been creative and music is what I've always wanted to do."

Despite music being a life-long dream for Edie, she didn't find herself making music until last year. The 23-year-old says that the COVID-19 pandemic played a big role in her delaying her musical career.

"I started really committing to music last year," Edie said.

"I studied it a few years back and when COVID hit it put me on a break, and I'm kind of grateful for it because it gave me time to work out my sound and what I wanted to produce."

She says that she wants to create the kind of music she enjoys listening to, such as pop, rock, and indie, but also admits that she enjoys a bit of electronic music on the side. Drawing from these inspirations, Edie says she wants to make music that's "fun and get's people to dance."

Edie joins the Perth music scene on the rise, with many artists in WA capitalising on border restrictions in 2020 and 2021 which limited international and interstate travel. Fellow Perth artists DICE and South Summit have expressed how the lockdown period helped to elevate the Perth music scene, and Edie agrees.

"I love Perth music," she said.

"My social life is going to gigs here. And there's so much talent here as well.

"There was this rough six months or so where we couldn't go to gigs. But some of my closest friends are musicians here in Perth and it's awesome to see them get the recognition they deserve.

"I've never felt like it's a competition or something, I've always felt so supported by fellow musicians here as opposed to seen as a threat, or an enemy," she laughed.

"Everyone is just so supportive."

Not only did the COVID pandemic have a positive effect on the Perth music scene, Edie believes that there is a new desire and hunger to see live music off the back of extensive lockdowns.

"I think people are appreciating art more, especially after COVID," she said.

"You see how everyone was absorbing art in that time, and I think people have such an appreciation now for gigs and live music."

Edie has recently released her second single, 'Front Row'. The track explores themes of fixation, love, and obsession. The song shines a light on the dynamic of a parasocial relationship and its all-encompassing nature, while conveying the power of the mind to create a fully realised fantasy relationship about an individual who is not even aware of your existence. As it turns out, the song is about Harry Styles, and it was inspired by another creative artform that Edie has explored.

"This song was inspired by fan fiction," she said.

"The common story was that you're at a gig, and they notice you, and then you fall in love, the end. That was the story.

"It influenced me a lot and I wrote a song about that kind of scenario, but without spoiling anything, there's a plot twist at the end. Not everything is at it seems.

"It's kind of a retelling of the classic boy-meets-girl love story, but with a twist."

Edie also directed and starred in the music video for the track.

"I have always wanted to use my own ideas in my music and have a bit of control over the visuals," she said.

Check out the music video for 'Front Row' here

Listen to the full interview with Edie on Homebrewed here