Sabrina Lawrie has been lost in rehearsal when she picks up the phone for our interview. The task? To prepare for her forthcoming shows that’ll see her take her record Hush The Mountain on the road. Luckily for her, she’s found the perfect band to bring it to life with.
“The main thing is compatibility and similar motivations. Similar beliefs too, in what we stand for,” says Lawrie on what makes the perfect band. “Authenticity is really important to me, especially when we’re trying to stand together and deliver something through the music.”
It’s apt that Lawrie brings up the notion of authenticity in music. While the concept often means something different to every artist, the idea of creating music that is a true expression of self is at the core of Lawrie’s new compositions.
“[It’s about] being a conduit to expressing emotions,” she says. “Not just my own emotions, but a narrative to the things around me – things that people are moved by and that they’re passionate about. It’s about finding a clear and true way to deliver that message.”
Clarity and truth are central themes throughout Hush The Mountain, a record that took Lawrie more than five years to complete. Lyrically, the album digs deep into personal experiences and is all the better for doing so.
“The guitar is a meditative instrument for me to release some heavy energy at the end of the day. When I’m in that mindset, music will come out and it will inspire a feeling in me. Lyrics will follow in the footsteps of that feeling. Other times, words will pop into my head and I’ll feel so compelled to write something down. I’ll try and make some music that expresses those words.”
Undoubtedly, Lawrie has overcome significant personal challenges to create this album. For the past 12 months she’s been recovering from a broken back, and rebuilding her life in the process. But like most great art, through hardship comes beauty.
“I fell off a balcony four and a half metres onto a cement driveway. I broke my T12, fractured my rib and broke my left hand – which is the hand that I play guitar with,” explains Lawrie. “It really was a catalyst for changing the direction of my life at that time. I experienced a profound healing journey following the accident that’s brought me to this point in my life now where I feel like I’m more armed and ready to handle whatever the universe throws at me.
“I’m very lucky to be alive. And I’m very lucky not to have sustained any nerve damage or brain injury. There were a couple of months past the accident where I was quite depressed. It was thinking about that and how lucky I am to be alive. That helped me turn around my mindset and look at life in a different way.”
The sound of Lawrie’s creative reawakening and personal journey is audible throughout Hush The Mountain – a record that feels optimistic; brimming with life and depth.
“The direction that the album was taking before I had the accident was a far more masculine, rock-centric vision. After I had the accident, I definitely softened and connected a bit more back to myself. I discovered self-love and the femininity within. That affected the record’s overall vision and as a collection of songs.”
In any case, Hush The Mountain marks a turning point for Lawrie, and a remarkable one at that.
“I’m very excited about how the music I’m about to create is going to unfold, not only musically, but also lyrically and the motivation behind the words.
“I can now see how such a negative experience can be seen as a piece of treasure from the universe or a gift to reflect on. It’s experiencing shadows so you can see the light.”
