Due to drop her debut EP To The Place in late February, Sydney singer/songwriter Nikki Thorburn took some time to chat with Lost In Suburbia about her imminent release, her bizarre dreams and the songs she wrote as a five year old.

Lost In Suburbia: You’re about to release your debut EP. Can you walk me through the tracks briefly and tell me what they each mean to you?

Nikki Thorburn:
Walking In Circles – this song has always been one of my favourites because it gets people dancing and singing along yet has this darker message below the surface – one of control and regulation which is kind of ironic.

To The Place – I wrote this in a time of my life when I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I am quite a spiritual person – writing this song for me was a way to get away from where I was and getting back to this ‘place’ in my mind, where I could find peace.

Sunshine Freeway – written on a scrap piece of paper on a long car trip north this song is everything Summer should be for me – release and freedom.

Something Strange – I write a lot about a feeling rather than a particular event – I remember when I wrote this song I had this feeling – it was beautiful and strange and heartbreaking and mysterious all at the same time – an acceptance of the beauty that comes with the hurting, the obscurity that comes with the loveliness, the inspiration that comes with loneliness.

LIS: Have you always been a song writer? Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

NT: Yeah I have always been writing stories and humming tunes – my first 2 songs written at about 5 I still remember well… ‘Ball In a Hat’ and ‘Pants pants diddle diddle dump’…more like nonsensical strange ditties which I used to sing while dancing wildly around the house. I recently listened back to my first recorded song written when I was about 7 with Dad, and we were both in hysterics…lets just say that is not for public consumption!

LIS: Who have been your greatest influences musically as well as personally?

NT: Joni Mitchell has always been a huge inspiration of mine. Her altered tunings and incredible poetry are truly unique (A Case of You still brings me to tears) – even talked my luthier Dad into building me a Joni style Mountain Dulcimer which I am really getting into.

Working with Ollie McGill (The Cat Empire) has also had a significant impact on my music, his pure musical genius and passion adding colour and flare and a whole other depth to my songs.

My Dad has also been another huge influence musically as he has always been my encouragement and source of inspiration. Whether it’s sitting playing guitar together for hours out on the verandah or working away at new songs on our small (and extremely ancient)12 track home recording studio, he is the one I have always created music with and taken my ideas too, and therefore the songs I produce are often influenced by him.

LIS: If you weren’t a musician you would be…

NT: I have always had a fascination in the ocean, so I think to be a marine biologist would be amazing (although I don’t have a scientific bone in my body!) When I was a kid I always wished I lived under the sea…I still often have these bizarre dreams where I live beneath the ocean which I guess reinforces my fascination. Otherwise I would love to follow in my Mums footsteps and be a graphic designer and photographer.

LIS: Are you currently looking for label representation, or would you rather go out and do it alone?

NT: For the time being I am doing it independently while I am still in the early stages of my career but hope at some point to be recognized by a label.

LIS: If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be & why?

NT: John Martyn because of his acoustic guitar driven sound but in his later years his jazzy productions which use his voice as an instrument rather than as a feature vocal. The delivery of his songs is moody rather than polished; he didn’t hide in harmonies or pop lyrics.

LIS: What do you hope to achieve musically in the next year?

NT: I really want to experiment with different sounds more – over the last year I did a lot of travelling and was inspired by a lot of world music from different cultures, particularly the rhythms and obscure instruments used in Morrocco. I think it would be fun to incorporate these kinds of stranger soundscapes into my songs.

LIS: What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

NT: What seems mad today may seem genius tomorrow. Talking Heads sum it up perfectly in the title of their album ‘Stop Making Sense.’

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Nikki launches her EP To The Place at Notes on 24^th February 2011. She will be supported by Tin Sparrow & The Young Lions.

Click here to find tickets