A music career can be turbulent and relentless. My passion for composition demands sacrifices of stillness and certainty in my life as I grapple with its worth. I am also tempted by an intrinsic desire to create that cannot be tamed.
Music has challenged me in ways that I could never have imagined. The wisdom I have gained has been transformative in developing this business venture, maturing my music, and enhancing my sense of self. Many of the mistakes I made as an independent artist have been financially and emotionally taxing.
Two years ago, I moved home to Wangaratta for a reset and to sit with introspection, and two years later, I still reside there.
Commuting to Melbourne for rehearsals, studio sessions, and shows means frequent bouts of couch surfing and lends itself to a nomadic way of living. The city beckons, but the exorbitant cost of living threatens to stifle my artistic pursuits. I live on the Hume highway, driving from town to town, and if I’m completely honest, it’s tiring.
This lifestyle isn’t something I’d recommend to other musicians. It breeds daily stress of finding a place to sleep, affording to eat and what my following form of income might be… I guess people don’t realise the toll this kind of lifestyle has on my life, and while I don’t expect them to understand, I resent the oligopolies that dominate the music industry.
I feel industry tastemakers sometimes overlook the hardships that exist beneath a body of work. I am grateful for my community of listeners, but I am also intimidated by the quantitative data that defines my output. How can we measure artistic reputation based on numbers and figures?
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I have learnt to nourish my love of art and culture and enjoy the creation process. I hope to earn the respect of more listeners and continue to deliver well-made art. Creativity breeds community, and I value a world that listens to different perspectives, challenging one another to grow. As the world continues to twirl, I don’t feel that it functions in a cyclical manner but as a series of waves carrying unpredictable tests that we can learn from.
In the tranquil embrace of Wangaratta, amidst the gum trees and crimson banks, inspiration flows freely, giving rise to the melodies of my EP. Amidst the hardships, it’s the generosity of my friends and family that grounds me.
Despite the nomadic nature of my life, Melbourne remains my anchor, and my friends and family offer unwavering support. Their open doors and warm hospitality have been my sanctuary, allowing me to focus on my music and share my EP with the world. The love and gratitude I have for them are etched into the pages of my music.
MOZË is an English-born, Yorta Yorta/Wangaratta-based artist and producer whose new EP, Mosaic, is out now – listen to it here.
She created the EP alongside Michael Belsar, Stephen Mowet, Bonnie Knight and Allan McConnell. Mosaic is out now – you can catch MOZË at her upcoming EP launch concert:
MOZË
MOSAIC EP LAUNCH
FRIDAY 5 APR – SHOTKICKERS, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
