To his door: Jan Juc singer sits down with Paul Kelly

Jan Juc’s Jasmin Powell enjoys listening to music almost as much as she loves playing it.

The 15-year-old Sacred Heart College student first picked up a guitar when she was seven, eventually throwing her hat in the ring and discovering her vocal talent before her 10th birthday.

Having recorded her first song “Fake Friends” with Surf Coast musician Tommy Castles in July, Jasmin was certain that achievement would be the highlight of her year.

While it was a major breakthrough for the budding young artist, it led to an opportunity most Australian music lovers dream of.

She was contacted by the ABC’s Behind the News program, who had stumbled across her music profile on triple j Unearthed.

It was here that she was asked to be involved in a story about Australian Music Month (otherwise known as Ausmusic Month), not knowing what it would entail.

“I was like, ‘yeah that’d be really cool’, and after a couple of days they gave me call and they said I was going to be interviewing Paul Kelly. I was really excited and shocked,” she said.

“It was pretty scary at the start.”

An excited Jasmin travelled to Bakehouse Studios in Richmond earlier this month to meet the legendary singer songwriter for a two-hour long exchange of advice, ideas, guitar playing and singing.

Much of their conversation centred around poetry, a lasting influence on Paul’s renowned storytelling ability.

“We talked a lot about his new book (Love is Strong as Death) and about poetry… we talked about how poetry was an influence on music, and his music is very much about storytelling,” Jasmin said.

“We also talked about his tour and I asked him about his songwriting, which was really important because he’s such a great lyricist. He gave me some tips.”

In the interview, Paul revealed he started playing guitar at 18, and that he had always intended on being a writer and began writing prose poems at 21 which soon turned into songs.

“I think songwriting’s just a matter of keeping your ears open. If I think of a line for a song, I try to write it down straight away, because otherwise I forget it,” he told Jasmin.

The “Before Too Long” singer said he’ll never get tired of playing “How to Make Gravy”, describing it as an “unusual” song that broke the traditional formula for songwriting.

Jasmin, best known by her stage name Jasmin Adria, said releasing a music video for “Fake Friends” was next on her agenda.

“I think I want to write and record more music and store it up and hopefully release an album or EP soon.”

She will play at Wave Music Co’s “Christmas in the Parking Lot” this Saturday, November 30 alongside artists including Bec Goring, Finnigan August and Bones and Jones.

Her band Fahlu will also play at this year’s Carols by the Sea Torquay. “Songwriting with Paul Kelly” was aired on November 19. Watch it now via abc.net.au.

To keep up to date with Jasmin Adria, find her on Facebook and Instagram at @jasmin.adria.music.