Singer Songwriter

for lessons, and she would pour all her knowledge and support into me. I feel so grateful I was able to connect with her. She taught me how to use my voice and about stage presence and how to perform.

Tell me about your band?

So after college, I went to the Tasmania Conservatorium of Music for a year and I studied the singer songwriter course there. The most positive thing I got out of it was meeting musicians and seeing their willingness to collaborate. There have been a few songs I wrote just by myself and they have stayed pretty much original. But there have also been new songs which I’ve brought to the band and we’ve workshopped together, which has been really cool. Also, when we reach the recording stage, there’s usually more chopping and changing then too.

When you’re writing songs, what comes first: the guitar or the lyrics?

I think for the most part guitar chords first. It feels a little bit harder for me to put a melody onto a guitar progression. Then I just come up with a melody from that.

Have you been writing much music during lockdown?

I moved to Clifton from Hobart city and I’ve kind of just lapped that up! I’ve been getting some nature time because I was going a bit stir crazy from living in town (haha). I’ve been doing a bit of writing too: I’ve actually been writing a grant that took up a lot of time. Also giving a few singing lessons to little girls down here, which has been fun. No one’s been going out in the community much, so I just go over to their house and do singing vocal exercises and songs that they like.

Tell us about your new album?

That began in 2018, in winter, and it took us nearly a year to do. We released it in September 2019. I wrote a few new songs for it over that time too. I’m glad I didn’t rush it! Part of me was just saying ‘Get it out’, but another part of me was really wanting to take my time.

If you’d like to follow Celeste or hear her beautiful music, be sure to check her out on Facebook, at: www. facebook.com/celestemeinckemusic, Spotify, at: https://open.spotify.com/ artist/6Ew6l6I5SmkTYCGrmVfUJ2 , and Soundcloud, at: https://soundcloud. com/celeste-meincke.