Photo Credit: Reuben Moore
Nervous, to say the least. G Flip is about to debut her live show to the US in a string of three shows. One in New York City and two out in California. While she’s definitely got butterflies this multi-talented singer, songwriter, guitarist and impressive AF drummer are ready, but don’t expect to see her out and about. Her focus is set on these shows going right. She notes her perfectionism does have some leeway, “When I tour it’s all about work so I don’t normally get a chance to see anything but if I do get a chance I will run straight for it!”
Running straight for it. One can say that’s been G Flip’s thing since the start. After losing her musical muse, her music teacher, she jumped headfirst into making a legit career out of her skills. G Flip came up drumming but soon enough she was teaching herself every other aspect of the game. Now she’s making moves and heading straight for the well-deserved gold.
Kendra: If we’ve learned anything from teen movies and tropes, the band kids are typically on the strange side because their life revolves around practice and marching. Was that the case for you when you were dubbed “drummer girl” in middle school?
G Flip: I was definitely on the strange side. I was Orchestra Captain and an absolute music nerd back in school and I’m proud of it. Being strange is a blessing! I’ve always been drawn to people who a deemed “strange” in my life. My family is all strange, my girlfriend is strange and all my besties are strange. Strange all the way.
Kendra: You did have an ally in your drum teacher. Is there something you do when you perform that is a personal homage to her and all she taught you when you were growing up
G Flip: Yes, my drum teacher Jenny Morrish was my biggest inspiration. She was my idol and as a kid growing up with her teaching me I thought she was the coolest living thing on the planet and I wanted to be just like her. In homage to her, I named my drumkit JEROMO (JEnny ROse MOrrish) which was my nickname for her.
And if you weren’t aware my drum kit’s a little different than most. You know when you go see a band and their band name’s printed on the front of the kit? Well, imagine that’s a giant face like an emoji that moves and smiles and expresses emotion throughout the set. That’s my drum kit and he is alive and he travels the world with me with Jenny’s spirit in him.
Kendra: Ultimately her passing drove you to go for your dreams harder than ever. You spent a good deal of time as a touring musician. There are positives. The travel and being paid to perform, but what are some pitfalls of it all?
G Flip: I’d say some of the pitfalls would be being away from home for so long, sometimes I just wanna be in my home studio with my instruments. Also now and then you just need a mummy cuddle and if it’s not mum it’s not the same! It’s still the best job in the world and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Waking up in new cities and meeting new people every day is such a blessing!
Kendra: When the time came to do your own thing, what was the hardest thing about tackling the self-taught route?
G Flip: The hardest thing was remembering to eat! I’d spend up to 16 hours, some days, in my bedroom studio teaching myself. I honestly would forget to eat. Was very common for friends and family to text me, “Have you remembered to eat?”
Kendra: You had to wear all the hats and then some with your music. Which includes “Killing My Time.” When you do have a day off away from music, what do you do too, in fact, kill time until you’re writing and creating again?
G Flip: If I have a day off, which is very rare, I will normally spend time with my girlfriend, friends or family. Normally doing nothing in particular other than just enjoying each others company. Go to a show, get drunk at a bar.
Kendra: You’ve got your first US shows coming up in NYC, LA and San Francisco. What date are you most nervous and/or most excited about?
G Flip: I’m a perfectionist so I’m always a little nervous that something might go wrong on the technical side but it is completely overshadowed with excitement to play my first US headline shows. I’M VERY KEEN!
Kendra: Then come February you’ll be back home in Australia playing a string of shows. Do you ever toss any covers into the mix for the hometown shows?
G Flip: I haven’t yet but it’s something that is definitely on my mind, I currently have a list of songs in my phone that I wanna start experimenting with arrangement-wise to see if anything sticks. We will see…
Kendra: Other than those shows and a date in the UK, what’s going on with you in 2019?
G Flip: I feel like 2017 I built my dream from the ground up in my bedroom. 2018 I introduced myself and in 2019 and onwards I plan to execute a lot of dreams I’ve had for a long time.