One of Australia’s finest new singer-songwriters, Gena Rose Bruce has just finished a UK tour, including a date at End Of The Road festival. We caught up with Gena Rose to talk about her new EP, Lighting Up, a set of re-imagined songs from her debut album, Deep Is The Way, released earlier in 2023.
Hey Gena Rose, easy one to start with, how are you today, and what are you up to?
Hello! I’m well but I’ve just woken up so I’m still a little sleepy. It takes me a while to get going, I’m currently drinking my first coffee for the day.
For any readers that don’t know you, please introduce yourself.
My name is Gena Rose Bruce, I am a songwriter from Melbourne, earlier this year I released my second album Deep is The Way, and just recently I released a new EP – Lighting UP.
Tell me something about you that I won’t know.
I’m really into plants, and I’m currently studying Horticulture.
What can you tell me about your recent album, Deep Is The Way?
It has a duet with Bill Callahan!!!
And what’s the story behind the EP, Lighting Up?
I think these days there is a lot of pressure to have something constantly new to promote and what not but it didn’t make sense for me to release completely new music so soon after my album, so instead I wanted to honour the album even more and continue creating from that album.
What was it about the songs you chose that made you want to do an alternative version of them?
I always visualised these songs with strings but I couldn’t make it work earlier on for many reasons, so it was a great opportunity now to revisit them and do just that.
Tell me about the song ‘Lighting Up’.
I originally recorded this song for Deep is The Way, but I wasn’t happy with how it turned out and decided to leave it off the record. It wasn’t until a year later or so I revisited it and recorded it in a completely new way. I think it’s such a lyrically driven song it didn’t sound right having so many instruments on the track – which is what I originally recorded it as – it really just needed to be an intimate stripped-back piece to make sense.
Were there any songs you wanted to rework but you felt just wouldn’t have worked, or were too complicated to do?
No, honestly If I had the budget I would have loved to rework all of them with the Budapest Art Orchestra – maybe one day!!
You’ve toured the UK earlier this year and I see you played The Louisiana in Bristol, one of my favourite venues. How was the UK?
Such a cool venue!! How cool is Bristol?! The UK has left my heart full, I’ve experienced such quiet and attentive audiences, it’s also a crazy feeling meeting people from the other side of the world who have heard my music and bought my record!
You just played End Of the Road Festival, which is magical, how was your experience there?
Wonderful – I have to come back next year and then every year after that, I was blown away honestly. Such a great line of artists, amazing food, and a really relaxed energy whilst walking around.
What’s the best thing about touring?
Best thing is constantly meeting new and interesting people!
And the worst?
There is a lot of waiting around for soundcheck and whatnot.
What does your rider include? And what would it include if you could have anything?
Fresh fruit and nuts and a bottle of Shiraz. Honestly I’m always pretty anxious before a show so I can’t really eat or drink anything but I would appreciate having fresh flowers in the room.
Who’s another artist we should be listening to right now?
What’s the best bit of merchandise you have available?
A tote bag [laughs]
Visit Gena Rose’s website to find out more, including tour dates. Merch is available on the site. You can buy the album Deep Is The Way or EP Lighting Up on Bandcamp or stream it everywhere.
