Meanjin (EP)
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''Meanjin'' is the third
extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
by Australian singer-songwriter
Thelma Plum Thelma Amelina Plumbe (born 21 December 1994), known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian ( Gamilaraay) singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her debut album, '' Better in Blak'', was ...
, released on 12 August 2022 through
Warner Music Australia Warner Music Australia (WMA) is an Australian division of the Warner Music Group. Warner Music Australia distributes in Australia, and also covers distribution in New Zealand. History In 1969, Warner Bros. Records split and WEA was formed. ...
. Plum has described the EP as a "love letter" to
Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, with Meanjin being the indigenous name for the city. The EP's six songs were written after
COVID Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
forced Plum to leave London for Brisbane while in the middle of writing and recording her second full-length album. Returning to Brisbane, saying, "In strange times you always tend to look back at warm memories for comfort, and when I was confined to an apartment overlooking 'The Brown Snake', I found myself writing music about Meanjin, the place I grew up in and have gravitated back to." Sonically, the EP is inspired by artists Plum was listening to throughout lockdown, including
Phoebe Bridgers Phoebe Lucille Bridgers (born August 17, 1994) is an American singer-songwriter. Her indie folk music typically centers on acoustic guitar and Electronic music, electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has won four Grammy Aw ...
, as well as those she had loved for years like
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( ; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time and the best-sel ...
and
Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1967 by the singer and guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green named the band by combining the surnames of the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassis ...
. The EP will be supported by an Australian tour, with special guests
Graace Grace Pitts, better known as Graace, is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney. She is best known for her vocals on Hayden James' platinum selling single " Numb". It was released in October 2017. Career 2017–2018: ''Self Sabotage'' Gra ...
and
Jem Cassar-Daley Jem Irene Cassar-Daley (born 14 February 2001) is an Australian indie pop singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of country music singer Troy Cassar-Daley and TV presenter Laurel Edwards and is a Maltese, European Australian, and Gumbayngg ...
. At the
2022 ARIA Music Awards The 2022 ARIA Music Awards were the 36th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) and consist of a series of awards, including the 2022 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Fi ...
, the EP earned the Plum a nomination for Best Solo Artist. The EP was nominated for Best Pop Release. At the
National Indigenous Music Awards 2023 The National Indigenous Music Awards 2023 were the 20th annual National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs), and took place on 12 August 2023. Nominations were revealed on 12 July 2023. Performers * Thelma Plum * Budjerah * Barkaa * Kobie Dee * D ...
, the EP won Album of the Year.


Critical reception

Josh Leeson said "The '80s-inspired 'When It Rains It Pours' and ' Backseat of My Mind' are driven by gorgeous melodies and the off-kilter piano ballad 'Baby Blue Bicycle' showcases Plum's stunning vocal, as she tells the story of her childhood neighbour. At six tracks, ''Meanjin'' is short and ever so sweet. Most importantly it leaves you wanting more from Plum." ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' gave the EP a positive review, with Ellie Robinson writing: "Thelma Plum’s six-track ode to the city that shaped her is a compelling listen from start to finish, as the singer-songwriter weaves a rich and riveting tapestry of Meanjin – also known as Brisbane – with considered nods to her most formative experiences, the characters that drove them, and the local flora and fauna that coloured them."


Track listing


Charts


Release history


References

{{Authority control 2022 EPs Thelma Plum albums Warner Music Australasia albums