Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

My sound used to be very simple, two dimensional and easy to listen to in any situation. It wasn't until my lyrics started reflecting personal stories and emotions that I began making the music sound more complex and harsh to match the story I was trying to tell. So I suppose my sound developed with the more stories I collected and with the expansion of my musical abilities, which has happened relatively slowly over the past 5 years. 

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

As morbid as it is, my greatest source of inspiration is heartache. But not just 'person breaks other person's heart' kind of heart ache, it can come from so many other things. Like I had heartache when writing 'Swim' - yet no one had necessarily broken my heart. And heartache when I wrote 'Second', yet that's a song I wrote knowing I made someone else feel heartache. It's all from a yucky feeling, but it's very refreshing to channel it and write something that makes me feel a bit less yucky. And I like to think that you can feel and hear the discomfort in the music. 

What can punters expect from a Hope D live show?

You can expect me with high energy, jumping on stage with a stupid smile on my face. And lots of beers, and a fair bit of swearing.  

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

My friend Monica Kim graduated from my school when I was in year 10. She was also a musician, of which, I crazily admired. She always frothed my music even though (at the time) my nerves usually took over when I played, which made my performance pretty rough. She said something like 'With every 7 no's that you get, there will be one yes. And that yes will be enough to keep you going'. And that's something I really got to experience in my later years of getting more serious with music. Some people won't get around what you do - and that's okay! Because the people that do get around it, REALLY get around it. And the love from that one person means so much, that it feels like it is love from 7 people :) If that makes any sense haha. Monica really inspired me to do what I love, and what she said has literally stuck with me for 6 years, and I'm sure will never leave me. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Okay I'm going to say Nicotine by Sycco. It boosts my mood and energy levels by 100000% every time. 

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

1000 Sundowns by Emma Louise. Such a beautiful and sad song, my friend Emma Parke agrees. 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

'Solid Gold' by PNAU. My girlfriend introduced me to that one, it bloody gets me GARNNNNNNN.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

It was Dulcie at The Milk Factory in Brisbane's West End! I am so unable to explain how freaking good it was. It The Dulcie girls are so talented and beautiful and so LOVELY! It was the last thing I was able to see before all the gigs stopped due to COVID-19 too, so I'm incredibly grateful that it was such an entertaining and wholesome gig. Had a bit of PCD after it, still do actually. 

Tell us about the bands or people in the Brisbane music community that inspire you.

Honestly too many to name, but I'll touch on a few! Hallie is a dear friend of mine, her drive and the way she is unapologetically herself is so inspiring to me. Sycco for obvious reasons - she is a boss a$$ QWAIN and will rule the world one day, I won't be mad about it. I love Pink Matter so much, their music is incredible and the girls are so lovely! They warm my heart, and make me want to learn jazz scales - which I WILL. First Beige are so groovy, I want to be as cool as them when I grow up. Bridget Brandolini's music is so soothingly beautiful, her writing is very inspiring to me. There are so many others that I go out to see, I was able to see a few bands per week, I can't wait to do that again. Brisbane and the local family is so dazzling, brilliant and supportive, it's so nice to have!  It literally feels like we all came from the same womb ahhah that's so gross to say but I'm going to leave it there.