Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of the hardest hit areas, so The AU Review has kickstarted a Q&A series “looking past the pandemic”, encouraging creatives from around the world to share their travel hopes, dreams, and the thoughts or things that are getting them through 2020, while also highlighting essential experiences in their own country.
Grace Sanders (Perth, Western Australia)
Having just released a hungry blend of electronica, pop and psychedelia with the irrepressible “Green”, Perth-based artist Grace Sanders emerges as one to definitely keep an ear out for. The hazy, spellbinding single is as infectious as a chart-topping pop tune, but as deft and complex as an under-the-radar neo-soul revivalist cut – a testament to how diverse her style and jazz-tinged vocals can be.
We caught up with Grace Sanders to look past the pandemic.
When travel opens up completely, the first place in Australia I’m going is…
I would love to go to Tasmania for Dark Mofo if its on for 2021! I’ve never been to Tassie but everyone says how stunning it is so would love to visit with the festival or not.
Three spots in Australia I think everyone should visit at least once in their life…
I was born in Melbourne but I’m such a WA lover, all my favourite spots are this side of the sandpit!
Karijini national Park in the Pilbara changed my life; being in such a sacred, ancient place shifts your understanding of this country and the Earth.
Esperance is also breath taking, standing on the beaches there with the pure white sand is unlike anything anywhere.
Last but not least… the Bungle Bungles are also worth a visit, I feel like most of Australia’s best spots are outdoors.
Whenever I have a visitor in my city and I want to show them a good night out, the first place I take them is..
Okay if someone is visiting Perth, there is no better event on a Saturday night than Perfect Strangers at PICA bar. So maybe we could start watching some of the local bands at the Bird in Northbridge and then pop over to PICA.
We’d end the night at…
Probably Connections nightclub if its going to be a big one. Maybe a beach rave after that if there’s one on for the authentic Perth experience.
Most memorable thing I’ve eaten on the road…
To be honest, in Australia I would say the food you most often get on the road is memorable for how UNmemorable it is… just very, very bland all round. A lot of sausage rolls and hot chips. The first time I went to Sydney, I had never tried Krispy Kreme’s so I did get a bit over-excited; ate 3 in about 10 minutes and then threw up on the tour bus twice. That was memorable.
The one international venue I’ve always wanted to play…
Carnegie Hall! Why not! Might be fun! It’s such a legendary and beautiful venue with so much history, it would be an incredible honour to get to play somewhere like that.
The one international destination I’m yet to visit but have always dreamed of..
There are so many! I haven’t travelled as much as I would like yet, but I would love to visit South Korea and Japan. They’re both such beautiful countries with world renowned architecture and a thriving art and cultural scene I would love the opportunity to experience.
The three things or thoughts that are getting me through this pandemic…
I make all my music from home with my producer Zeke, so there are no limitations on our ability to create even if we can’t go anywhere.
I love not feeling FOMO about not going out…shame-free Netflix binges.
I’m lucky to have a big backyard with a home gym, so I intend to get completely buff during COVID and start only wearing sleeveless tops to show off my enormous biceps and traps when we can go out again.
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For more from Grace Sanders follow her on Facebook here.
