17c起草社区

Kinsela鈥檚 Hotel in Darlinghurst, smack bang on Taylor Square, is no stranger to the weird and wonderful鈥攂ut when Bec Sandridge strides in to chat with the 17c起草社区 about her debut album Try + Save Me, she still manages to turn heads.

Sandridge has a look.听

The singer/songwriter from Wollongong is striking, with her bleached blonde hair over thick black eyebrows. Physically, she鈥檚 a melange of fine-boned features and an almost masculine strength.听

Her sartorial flair is compelling: reminiscent of Swedish pop superstar, Robyn; New Zealand musician, Ladyhawke; and perhaps a touch of Gaga鈥攁ll imprinted with her own unique sense of style. Yet the overall impression is of someone who is very much their own, not an imitation of any other artist. And, despite her compelling image, an introvert.

鈥淢y name is Bec, when I鈥檓 in trouble it鈥檚 Rebecca, I鈥檓 28, I identify as a woman and a queer woman,鈥� she says by way of introduction.

鈥淢usic is my thing but not my only thing.鈥�听

Happily, her main thing鈥攎usic鈥攊s just as striking as her look.

Try + Save Me is an extraordinarily accomplished, polished work for an indie artist鈥檚 debut album.听

The 11-track song cycle is reminiscent, in parts, of Pink Floyd (yes, really), Siouxsie and the Banshees, Prince and the aforementioned Robyn鈥攂ut again, imprinted with her own unique stamp.

鈥淥n a good day, I feel really proud because I never thought I鈥檇 make an album, let alone an album as good as this. Without wanting to sound arrogant, I鈥欌�檓 very happy with how it鈥檚 turned out,鈥� she tells the Star.听

鈥淚f I鈥檓 completely honest, I鈥檓 not much of an album person, and I think that鈥檚 mainly because I鈥檓 Millennial. I鈥檝e always been an EP kind of person, so when I think of having written a whole album, I feel really proud.

鈥淏ut on a more anxious day, I wonder: 鈥業s this a proper album? Is it really any good? Where is this all going to lead?鈥� Mostly, though, I feel excited.鈥�听

Musically, Sandridge describes the work as 鈥渁 mash up between the guitar and the club鈥�.听

Lyrically, the album documents that last two years of her life, which Sandridge says is very hard to do in eleven songs.

鈥淚 feel like I need 100 songs,鈥� she quips.

鈥淚 found it hard to write. I went through a complete classic bad break-up, moved to Melbourne, moved back to Wollongong, got back together with my girlfriend, and it was like a huge jigsaw.鈥�

But now, the album鈥檚 in the can, and Sandridge is ready for her first fully-fledged album to fly. Try + Save Me will be supported by a national tour, which kicks off in Brisbane tonight.

Surprisingly for a Millennial, her tour muse is none other than 鈥�80s songstress Cyndi Lauper.听

鈥淚 saw her two years ago, and she seems to be an artist that is still learning about her instrument, and her voice,鈥� she enthuses.

鈥淎nd when I saw her in the soundcheck she was EQ-ing her monitors and she was very much in charge of her band. To me, that鈥檚 the appeal with people like her.听

鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I want to be.鈥�听

Try + Save Me, the debut album by Bec Sandridge, is released today: Friday, 4 October.听

Her national tour commences tonight at The Foundry, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane and concludes on Friday 8 November at the Wollongong Uni Bar, University of Wollongong. For dates, ticket prices and to purchase tickets, visit .