INTERVIEW: Doolie releases debut mixtape 'hope u like my mixtape': "I hope the mixtape makes people feel empowered and strong whilst also making them feel nice things about their lovers."

Queensland artist DOOLIE recently released her debut mixtape ‘hope u like my mixtape’, an outstanding collection of ten pulsing, electro tracks which explore the complexities of love and emotion in a way we can all connect with, a theme perhaps more relevant than ever today in the increasingly fragmented world we now inhabit in the wake of coronavirus. Recorded over a period of 12 months, DOOLIE worked on the mixtape with some of Australia’s premier producers, including Kilter, POOLCLVB and Paces. “It’s been such a journey to get to this point, these songs represent different times in my life and have come together as a soundtrack I wish I had. I hope they connect with anyone going through a similar time in their lives,” she says. “The collaboration process on this mixtape has helped me grow so much personally, as well as a songwriter. I’m so thankful for all the amazing people I’ve worked with, and who’ve been part of the process with me.”

Off the back of the release of her mixtape, we sat down with DOOLIE to find out more about her music.

Hi DOOLIE! Thanks for taking the time to chat to us. How is everything going for you in isolation lockdown?!
Hey hey! I’m definitely missing my pals and my fam. But at the same time it hasn’t been too bad! I’ve had some time on my hands to work on music, and get on top of a lot of things. I’m really just trying to take advantage of this time.

If we take it all back to the beginning, what part did music play in your life as a kid growing up?
It played a huge part in my childhood. I was that kid running around her house pretending to be on a stage, or in a music video, and I would always be singing out loud when listening to my music in public. Still do that tbh! I started writing songs when I was really little, it just became a habit from such a young age. One of our family friends actually let me record at his studio when I was like 6, looking back on the song it definitely wasn’t my strongest ha ha, but at the time I thought it was going to take over the world.

Who were the artists that inspired you, or you rocked out to in your bedroom when you were younger?
Avril Lavigne, Kylie Minogue, Gwen Stefani and ABBA, I wanted to be like them so bad. I wanted to dress like Gwen and Kylie, write bangers like Avril, and have parties like ABBA. 

Was there a moment when you decided you wanted to pursue music as a career or did it just happen organically?
It was like 2015 when I showed my singing teacher at the time one of my songs, and she helped me get into a studio. So I started writing with more of a purpose around then, writing every song with the thought of ‘this songs going to be heard’. In 2016 I won my first award at the Queensland Music Awards, so after that I got a band together and started working more on my live show and my looks! From there, I’ve just been rolling on trying to take advantage of each opportunity that crosses my path.

Congratulations on the release of your debut mixtape ‘hope u like my mixtape’ it’s pretty amazing! Why did you choose to go down the mixtape route?
Thank you! It just seemed like the right call to make. I’ve been releasing singles, and writing new ones too, it felt like a good move to finally release a body of work. A mixtape was a good way to have all of my released work together and have a few more new songs mixed in.

Can you tell us a little bit about the creative process behind the mixtape?
2018 was when I first started writing in the studio and not just in my bedroom. All of these tracks were produced by different producers, so when I started thinking about how I'm going to release these, a mixtape just started making more sense. I guess for me the mixtape is a showcase of the eclectic kind of work that I’ve enjoyed making and writing over the past few years, with each song being a pinpoint to a particular time or feeling. It's supposed to take you on a ride rather than telling one specific story.

There’s a bit of electro, a bit of pop, a bit of R&B in your music, where do you think your music naturally sits?
I’d say probably pop. I’m really loving this groove of just writing from my heart and being versatile. It’s kinda cool that people are starting to recognise my music because it’s “DOOLIE” and not necessarily because my songs all sound the same or come from the same place.

Is there a message, or theme, in ‘hope u like my mixtape’ that you hope your listeners take out into the world?
The title is just me, I wanted to make it feel personal and lighthearted, like a pal giving another pal a burnt CD on the school bus. There are sort of two themes throughout the mixtape though. It’s a balance of being a little needy and lusting over someone versus rising above other people who put you down, or who have doubts about you. I hope the mixtape makes people feel empowered and strong, whilst also making them feel nice things about their lovers.  

It is such a crazy time we are living through now, what advice do you have for people on how to navigate this sometimes very scary new world?
I think it's really important to accept and acknowledge what's happening, and that's my first step in moving forward. Try to put a new light onto the situation. It's a really scary and unfortunate time at the moment, but I feel somewhat grateful that I’ve had the time to really work on myself, and get to focus on what I really love doing. I know a lot of other people haven’t been as lucky. I think things are going to be different for a while, and I just hope we can continue to have compassion for each other.

It is such a crazy time we are living through now, what advice do you have for people on how to navigate this sometimes very scary new world?

I think it's really important to accept and acknowledge what's happening, and that's my first step in moving forward. Try to put a new light onto the situation. It's a really scary and unfortunate time at the moment, but I feel somewhat grateful that I’ve had the time to really work on myself, and get to focus on what I really love doing. I know a lot of other people haven’t been as lucky. I think things are going to be different for a while, and I just hope we can continue to have compassion for each other.

There has been a lot of discussion over the last year or so on gender equality in the wake of #metoo. What are your thoughts on gender equality and sexism in the music industry?
I could write a whole essay on this so I’ll try and keep it short! Obviously things haven’t been great for women for a looooong time in the industry, but movements like #metoo just prove how important it is to stick together and to tell our stories. We should all be able to work towards our goals with confidence and without fear.

Who knows how the rest of the year will pan out, but what else do you have planned for 2020?
More and more music. I feel like I’m just getting started ha ha!

‘hope u like my mixtape’ is out now via etcetc music. You can stream and download it here

To keep up with all things DOOLIE you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter