Alana Wilkinson was born into a family bursting at the seams with talent. Growing up in what she describes as a \u201cvery loud\u201d household in Seaford, Melbourne, the young artist inherited a steadfast instinct to pick up an instrument and experiment with her vocal cords.<\/p>\n
The daughter of a singer (her mother) and a keyboard player (her father), Wilkinson remembers her parents helping her with music homework rather than maths equations when she\u2019d return home from school.<\/p>\n
A little unconventional? Perhaps. But in speaking with Wilkinson and learning of her desire to make a career for herself in music, it\u2019s clear her quirky upbringing has played a significant role in her development as an artist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up in the most musical family,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere really weren\u2019t any other options. I was in a band with a few friends but I kind of always wanted to play solo acoustic and be weird \u2013 that way you have a lot more freedom and you don\u2019t need to march to anyone else\u2019s drum.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rising star \u2013 who has been compared to the likes of Courtney Barnett and Emma Louise \u2013 says she can\u2019t pigeonhole herself into a singular genre.<\/p>\n
A self-proclaimed \u201cmixed bag of lollies\u201d, Wilkinson looks to other artists for inspiration when trying to put pen to
\npaper during the song-writing process. \u201cI like the genre singer songwriter,\u201d Wilkinson laughs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find myself drawn to so many musical genres \u2013 they influence my writing so much and I never know what song I\u2019m going to end up writing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always listening and exploring, not only with new artists but going through and finding those golden, musical nuggets from way back when.\u201d<\/p>\n
The curious songwriter attempts to be relatable, honest and poetic in each piece of music she releases.<\/p>\n
A naturally gifted storyteller, Wilkinson isn\u2019t afraid to start awkward and delicate conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I really like to uncover the things that make us all human, things people don\u2019t necessarily talk about. I have songs about when you have a kinky dream about your friend and don\u2019t know what to do with those feelings. I have tributes to loved ones, songs about getting to know someone\u2026 it really depends on what story I\u2019m trying to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilkinson\u2019s sophomore release, Partner In Crime, evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and adolescent bliss as she pays homage to her childhood best friend who passed a few years ago.<\/p>\n
A poignant testament to the friendship Wilkinson shared with Amy, the song was recently produced into a video clip by Honeycomb Productions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe (Wilkinson and Amy) were just little mischief makers. We got up to all sorts of things. The song is about looking back on the time we had as kids \u2013 it\u2019s like a little time capsule for me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get to remember her every time I sing that song in the fun, childhood sense \u2013 and that\u2019s the picture it\u2019s painted for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilkinson, who will support ARIAwinning artist Clare Bowditch at this year\u2019s Low Light Queenscliff, says she\u2019s excited to be getting back to Queenscliff after having performed at last year\u2019s Queenscliff Music Festival.<\/p>\n
Alana Wilkinson will be performing at Low Light Queenscliff on Friday June 21 at Queenscliff Town Hall. Tickets on sale now via lowlightqueenscliff.com.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alana Wilkinson was born into a family bursting at the seams with talent. Growing up in what she describes as a \u201cvery loud\u201d household in Seaford, Melbourne, the young artist inherited a steadfast instinct to pick up an instrument and experiment with her vocal cords. The daughter of a singer (her mother) and a keyboard […]<\/p>\n