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

I started out playing a lot of folk/pop music on my guitar and I always just put myself in that box. I always felt that there was something more in me just itching to get out... something bigger sounding. One day my publisher set up a co-writing sessions with a writer called Aurelia and she just completely opened my eyes. I’ve always been drawn to soul, pop and swing music (explains the horns) and from that day on I just wrote whatever I wanted to write and stopped only writing folk tunes. Even now I don’t put myself in any boxes as far as what style of music I write. I just do whatever feels good.

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

Imagining the live show is my biggest inspiration. I kind of think of it as a musical. What the set list is like, the lighting, the stage, what I’m wearing, how we structure the songs. The image of me dancing and singing freely on stage singing music that empowers people - that’s what inspires me. I want people to have the same feeling I had walking out of Coldplay's 2012 Mylo Xyloto concert. I felt invincible.

What can punters expect from a Mia Wray live show?

To start with, it’s probably just gonna be little ol’ me stomping and clicking and playing piano. But the goal eventually is BOOM-KAPOW-WOW vibes. Full band with backup singers, and a horn section (obviously). Expect to cry, laugh and dance your little arse off.

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

The best advice I’ve ever been given is by my mentor and publisher Bill Page, "It's good to be good, but it's better to be different". Bill signed me to Mushroom Music Publishing when I was 16 and he’s given me a lot of great advice but that’s the one that stuck. Also songs. Songs are the most important thing. Just write, write, write! All good if you can sing but if you don’t have good songs… forget it.

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

'Daddy Cool' by Eagle Rock. Got no idea what it’s about but something about that song makes you wanna get up and have a bop… and a beer...ss. Beers.

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

'How To Make Gravy' by Paul Kelly, hands down. Can’t believe you even had to ask.

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

'Horses' by Daryl Braithwaite.

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

I think it was The Teskey Brothers at the Forum. Amazing.

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

Aurelia (singer, songwriter, artist) and Andrew Lowden aka Thrones, the producer of 'Work For Me’. Sometimes I think where would I be if it wasn’t for those two constantly inspiring me with their music and encouraging me with mine. I thank my lucky stars for those two everyday.

What are your plans for the rest of 2020?

Writing, recording, rehearsing, not being in lockdown and getting ready for 2021!