After supporting Paul Kelly at the Sydney Opera House in May and releasing her new EP, 'Meanjin', in August, it was fitting to see inspiring Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum perform on the beautiful stage of the Forum Theatre.
It has been a decade since Plum performed at the Forum as support for Shane Howard and his band Goanna, where she also shared the stage with the legendary Archie Roach. Since 2012, Plum has been evolving as one of the country’s finest young artists.
On her brilliant 2019 debut album, Better in Blak, bold lyrics were channelled through her sublime voice, resplendently gliding across infectious melodies that saw her switch from synth-pop to indie-folk with charming ease. Her debut album included a critique of racism, sexism and shallowness, and explored identity, grief, relationship turmoil and self-worth. On top of that, there was the stunning album closer, ‘Made For You’, that she wrote with Paul Kelly and on which Paul McCartney contributed guitar parts after overhearing the track in producer David Kahne’s studio.
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Before Plum took to the stage at the Forum theatre, two singer-songwriters with enchanting voices and a similar penchant for honest songwriting opened the evening. Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung woman and indie-pop singer-songwriter Jem Cassar-Daley possesses warming vocals that croon and soar atop the soulful melodies of ‘Letting Go’, ‘Changes’ and groove-laden ‘Oh No’ and the quietly affecting ‘Standing Still’ and ‘By The Sea’. Her confidence in performing alone with only a keyboard filled the Forum Theatre with an intimacy usually reserved for those decades older. Even with her county music legend father, it was clear from her set tonight that Jem has been solidifying her songcraft. The singer-songwriter’s lyrics about relationships and anxiety resonated with many audience members.
Sydney indie-pop singer-songwriter Graace was backed by talented musicians, but it was her alluring, soulful vocals that drove the emotive rigour. Her set included electro anthems ‘NUMB’ (Hayden James) and ‘Body Language’, and emotive songs on relationships (‘SOS’ and ‘Sentimental’), mental health (‘Selfish’) and grief (‘Half Awake’, ‘Hard To Say’). The continued popularity of her triple j Like A Version performance of Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ saw her fans sing along rapturously.
In front of a packed Forum Theatre, Plum opened her set with the euphoric ‘The Brown Snake’ (a reference to the Brisbane River) – the opening track of Meanjin and a glistening tribute to a city that she calls home. ‘Backseat of My Mind’, ‘Baby Blue Bicycle’ and ‘The Bat Song’ were stirring in their live performance while her cover of Powderfinger’s ‘These Days’ halfway through the set proved wistful and haunting.
The singer-songwriter’s humour was charming throughout the night, and she ensured that her set finished epically – her witty and infectious ‘Woke Blokes’ launched into a triumphant, empowering performance of ‘Homecoming Queen’. Her soulful vocals and deeply moving ode to self-acceptance and self-love elicited a stirring rapture that had the sold-out venue singing and dancing in solidarity. Unreleased song, ‘Golden Touch’, was particularly moving and the audience listened quietly as her vocals divulged an aching beauty.
Better in Blak – the title track of her impressive 2019 debut album – affirmed the power of protest/political pop songs as the crowd sang along cathartically with Plum. Ending with the witty and yearning ‘Clumsy Love’, the inspiring singer-songwriter’s soulful voice and poignant lyrics moved the audience in this notable Forum performance. A charismatic live performer and affecting songwriter unafraid to submerge in suffering, Plum continues to emerge with newfound potency, finding courage in vulnerability with purposeful artistry.
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