“I like to think of myself as a wildflower even though the Gloriosa lily is not a wildflower…I feel like I’m sprouting up in places that are very unexpected.”
Authenticity has long been used as a marketing buzzword in the music industry, a way for artists (and labels) to differentiate themselves from lesser, more manufactured art. When Djilang/Geelong-based singer-songwriter Wild Gloriosa speaks of authenticity, it doesn’t feel like a gimmick.
Taking cues from R&B heavyweights like Bill Withers, Erykah Badu and Cleo Sol, Wild Gloriosa’s music has a sense of timelessness about it, perfectly encapsulated on her debut EP Growing Pains. Its effectiveness is in its simplicity: tasteful neo-soul arrangements of drums, bass and keys from Jake Amy and Anthony Lidell (PANIA, KAIIT) allow Wild Gloriosa’s vocals to soar, powerful yet understated.
Her namesake, the Gloriosa or ‘flame lily’ is a symbol of prosperity, joy and new beginnings, one that perfectly mirrors the themes of abundance and hope littered throughout her lyrics.
“[Growing pains are] not supposed to be a sad or painful thing, it’s more like ‘this is what you have to go through to get to where you need to be’.”
Though Growing Pains explores some darker topics – ‘In My Body’ is an ode to the artist’’s struggle with depression, while ‘Keep Love Close’ honours a deceased friend – Wild Gloriosa isn’t interested in dwelling in angst. Growing Pains is music for healing, for finding the beauty and lessons learned in times of uncertainty. As she says herself in opening track ‘All Wishes Come True’, “I’m reaching for the sun”; thankfully she’s allowing us to bathe in her light.
Words by Louisa Christie