Bendigo’s Georgia Delves, who performs as Georgia State Line, has brought her country/Americana sound to audiences since 2017, releasing a debut album in 2021.
Georgia was a Music Works recipient in 2022 and talks about how her funding supported a new collaboration – and the seeds of a new album.
Tell us about your band Georgia State Line.
Georgia State Line (GSL) is a project I started way back in 2017 after completing a music degree and it’s both a band and a songwriting moniker for myself. I had played as part of other bands for a while but felt an urgency to share the songs I had sitting there going unheard. Naturally the line-up of the band has evolved since inception, but I’ve been lucky to collaborate with musicians Patrick Wilson (drums), Tommy Brooks (electric guitar) and Laura Baxter (bass) for a while now. They’re all great songwriters themselves and bring this viewpoint into the room when playing.
Tell us about your Music Works-supported project.
Myself, alongside the GSL band, presented A Very Special Show at Melbourne Recital Centre’s Primrose Potter Salon. We performed 12 new works with a three-piece string section that was arranged by Lucy G Rash and featured Chloe Sanger on Violin 2, Nils Hobiger on Cello and Lucy herself on Violin 1. The performance was Auslan interpreted with Auslan Stage Left and it was an absolute thrill to play to a sold-out audience.
Why was the funding so important to your project?
It granted me the freedom to spend the majority of 2023 developing the new music, refining arrangements and collaborating with my band and Lucy G Rash (director and composer of the string section). Previously I have never had such a creatively fulfilling opportunity, and whilst the overall process required a lot of planning and work, I am incredibly thankful for the support to make such an idea a reality.
What accessibility measures did you put in place for the performance?
I worked closely with Auslan Stage Left to ensure the performance was Auslan interpreted, and worked alongside the brilliant Melbourne Recital Centre staff to create a welcoming and safe environment for patrons.
What’s next for you?
An album! I leave this project now with a suite of new works and accompanying string parts. With such a large part of the creative process being completed, I can now closely consider what else I want out of a new release before entering the studio.
What advice would you offer for anyone applying for Music Works?
Understandably, the process of formalising an idea can be daunting. But trust in your ideas, back yourself and share them with the community. We want to hear them - and so does Creative Vic!
Find out more about Music Works here.