Multi award-winning Australian singer, songwriter, and producer, Gilli Moon just released her long awaited double album entitled, Beautiful Mess. Just as the title suggests, it is a reflection on career hurdles, new motherhood and of course, the year 2020. While these have been challenging times, for Gilli, they were also moments of growth and she couldn’t be happier to be start this year off with positivity, empowerment and music straight from the heart.

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Q&A With Gilli Moon

Tell us more about your 8th album, ‘Beautiful Mess.’

GM: This is a true aural binge listening experience. Beautiful mess offers two Albums or volumes, each with 12 songs a piece. That’s 24 brand new songs never heard by my fan base. The majority are self-penned, but I have a few co-writers and a couple of covers done ‘my way’. 

What was your inspiration for the album and album title?

GM: It’s been 9 years since my last studio album. My lucky number is 9, so it’s perfect timing. Previous to that, I was an artist and songwriter that continually toured, performed and released songs and albums. Seven studio albums before this in fact. I arrived from Australia 20 years ago and just haven’t stopped creating, but I’ve spent the last 9 years in relative creative pause. Sure, I released a Christmas song now and then, and yes I placed a few songs in film and TV, but I went into a deep freeze on touring, releasing and self-promoting. I pivoted slightly and did what I needed to do. I birthed two gorgeous children – twins, Jackson  and Natalie, in 2013. I also reinvigorated my coaching business, Warrior Girl Creative, and its artist arm, The Creative Warrior Academy, and I went into the studio to slowly, at my own pace and time, record exquisite, quintessential ‘gilli moon originals’ that spoke about my journey evolving from that young and feisty warrior artist to grown-up mother, creator and entrepreneur.  The journey wasn’t easy. It was messy, in all of its beautiful ways. Having twin babies is quite a challenge, and some of the songs will share not only the emotions of being a new mother, but also the struggle of actually conceiving. I also went through quite a journey with my  entrepreneurial pursuits and the music business with all its flaws. What we knew as a thriving  ‘indie music business,” where artists like myself could monetize our wares 100% living off live shows, CD sales and mp3 downloads, all crashed and burned with not only the obsolescence of the CD and stores for them, but streaming, making it extremely difficult for indie artists to monetize.  Can you imagine that once we would make $20 a CD sale at a show and now it’s like .02 cents a song, maybe… for music streams?  

Then 2020 came with the ‘Rona’ as the Aussies call it. My new album needed to wait a little more. I even recorded a song and video in May 2020 called “The Wait,” which was my response to the Coronavirus.   When I finally decided it was time to reveal the album, I made a conscious decision to release it in 2021 as part of a ‘new year of global awakening’.  

2020 was definitely a difficult year. What was most challenging for you and how did you overcome it?

GM: Truly, I can only see the silver linings. That’s who I am. I am fortunate that I survived Covid-19. Touch Wood. I have had friends who have died. So anything that I say here is really moot. I’m just glad that I’m still here.

What’s your favorite single, and why?

GM: I love all of my songs. I will say that the one song that speaks to my emotional journey is I Can Feel. It’s raw. It’s live with my band. It speaks to how you would hear me on stage. And it speaks about my journey of becoming who I am today.

In your opinion, what does a ‘Beautiful Mess’ mean to you?

GM: beautiful mess is not about the mess, but the beauty that is my life. All our lives. I am all of it. The mother, the entrepreneur. The artist. The wife. The adventurer. The Warrior.  It’s because of all of it, that I decided to create an album (actually two), that gives my fans and new listeners a binge listening experience. I didn’t want to do the single releases, and give you a tease. Just like how I splash paint on a canvas, I wanted to throw at you all of it. All at once. Dive into my beautiful mess sonically and swim in it like I swim in my own creativity.