Written for Frooty Magazine, online, published 22 April 2022.
Adding to the success of her debut EP ‘Cash Only’, and previous single ‘Happy Hangover’, Hope D’s latest single ‘Hate Goodbyes’ is a cynical yet upbeat track you can’t help nodding your head to. She describes her lyrics as ‘simple in some ways, while exaggerated in others’, and accompanies them with a pop rock sound to remind listeners it’s all going to be okay.
‘”Hate Goodbyes” was about a relationship I was in for about two years on and off,’ she says. ‘I wrote it because I knew it was a very common theme in some people’s relationships: that on and off toxicity. But you learn so much from it as well, and it’s so human to feel those things and hate having to let go of someone. Because you aren’t just letting go of them: you’re letting go of their family, their friends, their pets, the places you used to go together.
‘I’m remembering [the relationship] in a completely different setting now. But it’s so incredible how emotional we can be as humans and how we can pull connections from anything. We just feel things by hearing things or seeing things or passing something on the street. I’m grateful to be able to feel those things because they’re what make us human. They’re what make the good things good and the bad things bad.’
As far as inspiration goes, Hope says she never knew she was into music until her dad took her to Bluesfest in highschool. Once she turned eighteen, however, the now-accomplished singer/songwriter started gigging out in Valley bars and caught as many live shows as she could — quickly finding herself immersed in Brisbane’s local music scene.
‘I fell in love with being able to see artists and listen to their music, and listening to the stories behind it. That’s when I realised it was what I wanted to do. […] I’m so lucky to grow up here because we have so much live music on, like, every night of the week. It’s the best thing for me, personally. It’s such a serotonin boost. I love meeting all the people and listening to all the music. I think the Brisbane music scene is incredible.’
The release of ‘Hate Goodbyes’ comes as Hope embarks on her biggest tour to date, supported by Melbourne’s Noah Dillon and fellow locals Platonic Sex. She’s already performed shows in Sydney and Adelaide, but has shows scheduled this weekend in Hobart, followed by Byron, Brisbane, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast.
‘I’m really good mates with Platonic Sex. They’re so incredible and so talented and we have the best time together. I’m just so obsessed with their music. […] I haven’t met (Noah) properly yet. […] But in two weekends it’ll be our first show of the tour together, and I’m so excited to be sharing the stage with people I’m such a massive fan of.
‘Last weekend’s shows were so much fun. But I knew it’d be chaotic travelling with the band because we’re also chaotic. We nearly lost our luggage, we practically got kicked out of the first accommodation we stayed at because they double booked us, I rolled off the bed the first night and hit my head on a corner. Every single plane ride we all got cheese and crackers: we were so bloated by the end.
‘But playing with the band in all these different places, and meeting all these people that we’ve never met before, and just being together is so nice. I feel so much closer to them.’
Now, being an advertorial, I only have 600wds to fit these articles in. But FROOTY is a queer mag, and I have it under good authority that it wants to concern itself with how its queer readers interact with the world around them. So we ask our interviewees questions on these things even though, unfortunately, they’re the part that usually gets cut.
When asked if she had advice for young, queer people discovering her music for the first time, Hope says ‘don’t be scared’.
‘Honestly, if it wasn’t for the queer people I look up to, I wouldn’t have come out as confidently as I did or connected to what I knew would be true for my life. Not properly. So all I have to say is find the things that connect to you.’
‘The obvious one is to be yourself. But be yourself when you’re ready to and don’t force it. Make sure you’re doing it for yourself rather than other people. There’s no pressure. Everything’s constantly changing.
‘Even if you say you’re one thing now, however you are in the future, just be yourself and be comfortable, and then you’ll attract everything you want in this world. I know it’s so scary and subjective. But as long as you’re the best you you can be, and fearless in that way, then I think whatever comes to you won’t be scary.’
Hope and company have upcoming shows at the Altar in Hobart, The Northern in Byron, Princess Theatre in Brisbane, Corner Hotel in Melbourne, and Miami Marketta on the Gold Coast.
For more information on Hope D’s forthcoming music and tour dates, find her on social media or visit www.hopedmusic.com for details.
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