What kind of food do you eat when you're on the road?
Yesterday, I ate a burrito from a 24-hour burrito restaurant. I eat mostly vegetarian. I love vegetables and often there are no vegetables or salads. I'd be happy with a big plate of broccoli, but I find myself eating hot chips a lot as a substitute. It takes a bit of extra effort to eat well and find out where the good places are. A lot of the time, I don't like to eat before I play, because I get too nervous, so I find myself not having dinner until one or two o'clock in the morning when we finish playing. Obviously, by then, everything is closed and the only option is a Domino's.
Yesterday, I ate a burrito from a 24-hour burrito restaurant. I eat mostly vegetarian. I love vegetables and often there are no vegetables or salads. I'd be happy with a big plate of broccoli, but I find myself eating hot chips a lot as a substitute. It takes a bit of extra effort to eat well and find out where the good places are. A lot of the time, I don't like to eat before I play, because I get too nervous, so I find myself not having dinner until one or two o'clock in the morning when we finish playing. Obviously, by then, everything is closed and the only option is a Domino's.
You used to deliver pizzas. What was that like?
I really liked it. It was fun. I'd get to drive around in my car and listen to the radio. I probably drove back to the shop a bit slower than I needed to. On my first night, I became lost – this was before iPhones, and I didn't have a road map. There was one place I went to that was like a scene from a horror movie with a flickering fluoro light and blood on the staircase. I was young, and by myself, so I was really scared. But otherwise, it was great – people give you tips.
I really liked it. It was fun. I'd get to drive around in my car and listen to the radio. I probably drove back to the shop a bit slower than I needed to. On my first night, I became lost – this was before iPhones, and I didn't have a road map. There was one place I went to that was like a scene from a horror movie with a flickering fluoro light and blood on the staircase. I was young, and by myself, so I was really scared. But otherwise, it was great – people give you tips.
You started playing music at age 10. How did you first get your hands on a guitar?
It was tricky. I kept asking for one, but they're expensive, and I had to borrow them off family, friends or neighbours. I had a next-door neighbour who had a guitar and he'd sometimes let me borrow it for a day or two. A family friend gave me a long-term loan of a half-broken guitar and I learnt on that. After I proved to my parents that it wasn't just a phase that I was going through, we combined a couple of Christmas and birthday presents over the years and I got one.
It was tricky. I kept asking for one, but they're expensive, and I had to borrow them off family, friends or neighbours. I had a next-door neighbour who had a guitar and he'd sometimes let me borrow it for a day or two. A family friend gave me a long-term loan of a half-broken guitar and I learnt on that. After I proved to my parents that it wasn't just a phase that I was going through, we combined a couple of Christmas and birthday presents over the years and I got one.
Your first gigs were open-mic nights in Hobart. What helped with your nerves in those early appearances?
I've always been a nervous performer. I get better the more I do it, and overcoming that challenge is quite satisfying. I did my first open-mic night in front of friends, but sometimes that can be more nerve-racking than playing to strangers. I just kept on persevering.
I've always been a nervous performer. I get better the more I do it, and overcoming that challenge is quite satisfying. I did my first open-mic night in front of friends, but sometimes that can be more nerve-racking than playing to strangers. I just kept on persevering.
Prior to your first American tour, you'd never left Australia. What's it like now to travel the world playing sell-out shows?
It's great. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to travel. In the last few years, I've been to so many places that I never thought I would go to. You know after school, when people would do gap years and goackpacking? I didn't do that. I already had a job and went to university. Travelling seemed like such a far-off thing.
It's great. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to travel. In the last few years, I've been to so many places that I never thought I would go to. You know after school, when people would do gap years and goackpacking? I didn't do that. I already had a job and went to university. Travelling seemed like such a far-off thing.
What was it like discovering you'd made President Obama's summer playlist?
It just popped up in my social media feed – just a news article about it. I think he's incredible so it's very flattering. And I would love to believe that it was him that put the playlist together. If he does listen to my music, I'm incredibly honoured.
It just popped up in my social media feed – just a news article about it. I think he's incredible so it's very flattering. And I would love to believe that it was him that put the playlist together. If he does listen to my music, I'm incredibly honoured.
Is food something you think about a lot?
I have a lot of songs about food. It's just there in our lives, and in a way, our days revolve around it. It's one of those topics that's always on people's minds.
I have a lot of songs about food. It's just there in our lives, and in a way, our days revolve around it. It's one of those topics that's always on people's minds.
You started the award-winning Milk! Records label with help from your grandmother. Did you have a strong musical relationship with her?
A little bit. My grandmother was more into jazz and she enjoys a lot of classical music, so we'd talk about that.
A little bit. My grandmother was more into jazz and she enjoys a lot of classical music, so we'd talk about that.
You run the label with your long-term partner, musician Jen Cloher. Years before your relationship, though, when you were in high school, you saw her play at Falls Festival and yelled out "will you marry me?"
I did do that. I was a fan and I was excited. She's incredible and has now taken over as label manager. She's super busy, writing her own songs. She's an inspiring person.
I did do that. I was a fan and I was excited. She's incredible and has now taken over as label manager. She's super busy, writing her own songs. She's an inspiring person.
Now you're an award-winning musician with international hit records. What kept you going when success seemed far
away?
I didn't think there was another option. Music is what I like doing. I wasn't really thinking about "success" success. I wanted people to hear the songs I was singing. But every day is another step in some direction. So I just kept moving forward.
away?
I didn't think there was another option. Music is what I like doing. I wasn't really thinking about "success" success. I wanted people to hear the songs I was singing. But every day is another step in some direction. So I just kept moving forward.
You once wrote a song called "Three Packs a Day" about your addiction to two-minute noodles. How's your relationship with instant ramen these days?
It's like a special treat, which I have every now and then.
It's like a special treat, which I have every now and then.