Q&A: Folk Bitch Trio Redefines Indie-Folk in “God’s A Different Sword”
CAPTURING HARMONY AND HEART – Australia-based Folk Bitch Trio have released their latest single and video, “God’s A Different Sword,” a striking showcase of their inventive vocal arrangements and rich instrumentation. The trio, composed of Gracie Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington and Heide Peverelle, has made a name for themselves with their unique blend of grounded yet expansive folk music, characterized by three-part harmonies that feel as intimate as they are resplendent. Their newest release is no exception, capturing the essence of their longstanding creative collaboration.
Folk Bitch Trio manifest a unique kinesiology of relaxed indie-folk, characterized by a quietly confident, assured underbelly that sets them apart. Their sound, effortlessly blending delicate harmonies with introspective lyrics, is born from what the trio describes as a “mutual love for songwriting and truth-telling.”
“God’s A Different Sword” delves into the complexities of breaking away from a pattern while giving in to the urge to indulge in it “just one more time.”
“‘God’s A Different Sword’ speaks to relinquishing a pattern but indulging in the habit ‘just one more time,’” the band says. “The song was produced by us and Tom Healy during a fleeting stop in Auckland, Aotearoa this winter, while we were in town supporting Ben Howard. The lyrics are exasperated and questioning, so we wanted them to be held by instrumentation that is optimistic and open. The video, made by our dear friend Bridgette Winten, shows us gallivanting around our stomping grounds in Naarm, where this song was written and born."
Folk Bitch Trio’s craft is a testament to the magic that happens when artists come together not just to create, but to share a vision that is greater than the sum of its parts. Their music is a reflection of their friendship, their shared experiences, and their commitment to truth-telling through song. As they continue to push boundaries in the indie-folk scene, their approach promises to keep them captivating and compelling, always rooted in the joy of making music together.
Currently, Folk Bitch Trio’s world tour is a massive undertaking that includes: a series of shows in the UK and Europe including dates with The Teskey Brothers and Cat Clyde as well as a headlining London performance; a support run alongside M. Ward across the U.S.; and a lengthy headlining tour of Australia.
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar with you yet, what inspires your artistic style and sound?
HEIDE: We all listen to a lot of different music, but we’re also very inspired by each other. Our style and sound, we're inspired by each other as well, because we're sort of a collective in the way we work. We're very much inspired by what the band listens to and are wanting to create.
JEANIE: We all listen to a lot of different kinds of music, so I think that definitely flows into what we create. I'm inspired by the Melbourne music and art scene that's thriving.
LUNA: What kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
HEIDE: We do make quite a space for emotion, and create a kind of catharsis. But that being said, we like to create space for joy as well and excitement in our music. Creating any kind of space emotionally is definitely an aspect of the music.
LUNA: Say if someone hasn’t heard of your music yet, which song would you introduce your
discography to and why do you gravitate towards that song?
GRACIE: “God's A Different Sword” is definitely a better and more true representation of what we're making now. It's not a sad ballad.
LUNA: You just released your latest single “God’s A Different Sword” and huge congratulations! What is the inspiration behind the single?
HEIDE: I wrote it after coming out of a long relationship, and it was this optimistic song that fell out of me and it's grown in a different way. I think we wanted to have a song that was more optimistic.
LUNA: Can you walk us through the creative process for “God’s A Different Sword?” How did the song evolve from the initial idea to the final version?
GRACIE: Heidi comes home, sits on their bed, writes the song. Maybe a day later, we get a text with a voice memo. We loved it so much. Then we sit at our kitchen table and we figure out how we can sing it together.
JEANIE: That's usually how it goes. One of us will send a voicemail, and then we arrange it vocally and instrumentally all together, and then sort of tweak any lyrics or arrangements.
LUNA: Are there particular moods or themes you find yourself gravitating towards when writing and performing? How do you channel these into your music?
HEIDI: It's whatever fits. I feel like we've had a go at everything. We have angry songs, optimistic songs, sad songs. I guess anger often feels true for me when I'm songwriting. Maybe it's something I gravitate towards too much, but I feel like we cover all bases.
LUNA: You’ve also announced a tour including shows in the UK and Europe, a headlining tour of Australia and support dates in the U.S. What are you most excited to experience during these tour runs?
GRACIE: All of it. We've never played the UK before. We've never played the states. We were there earlier this year for SXSW which was amazing, and we got to visit LA and New York, all for the first time. But we've never played anywhere in Europe or the UK, so that's going to be bananas, and the rooms we're playing with The Teskey Brothers are huge.
LUNA: What are you doing to prepare for the tour? How do you ensure that you’re ready both physically and mentally for the demands of touring?
HEIDI: We've actually been discussing this. We just came back from a large recording studio, so we're spending a lot of time together, and we have a very concentrated period, and we've all been discussing what we're going to do and what we're going to do to get the most enrichment out of this time.
GRACIE: I think just trying to reduce stress levels, keep everything as relaxed as possible, trying to cultivate joy and happiness. I think we'll probably go into hibernation, rehearsal mode as well eventually, and probably incubation creativity mode. Just getting ready for our huge adventure.
JEANIE: I feel like we don't really have a set ritual, some non verbal time before and after shows. I do feel like more recently, we value having alone time before a show, and getting the alchemy of the three of us right before we get on stage. I think that that definitely helps with creating a good vibe for the show. Then usually post-show, I think we just kick back and decompress after. Often our shows can be because our songs are quite emotional and you do need time to decompress after shows.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
HEIDI: Exciting times. Very busy for the rest of the year. Lots of time spent in new places with each other.
GRACIE: New places, same gang, same crew.
JEANIE: Excited for the next year and releasing more music and playing more shows.
