Known previously for being half of Kiwi duo Broods, singer-songwriter Georgia Notts goes at it solo with a completely new and revamped sound. In anticipation for her debut EP ‘Fish Bird Baby Boy’ which lands on October 6th, she has released the third single ‘Oh Lana’ and its one of her most vulnerable and honest yet.. In part informed by her travels – from LA to New Zealand and back again – the track is characterised by its intense emotional intimacy, and Nott’s desire to be true to herself. “‘Oh Lana’ is about my first queer crush”, she explained. “I was probably about eleven and I got into a fight with another kid to defend her honour. I wasn’t sure how to fully express that back then, so this song has, in a way, been my love letter to that little gay version of me”.
Moving away from the electronic pop sounds synonymous with Broods, this track is instead rooted in shimmering guitar-driven melodies that sit alongside a pensive folk and rock sound. Centring around her newfound understanding of her queerness and in part a celebration of her coming out, the song tells the story of her first ever crush on a girl. Lyrically, it delves into a fear that impacted so much of her life and seeks to challenge the internalised contempt and shame she carried into adulthood. The track opens with a gorgeous and nostalgic soundscape reminiscent of the one from 1975’s ‘An Encounter’. It feels incredibly youthful and carefree, a reflection perhaps on the headspace Nott’s is seeking to explore; the naivete of a crush not yet aware that those around you see it as wrong. It builds gradually before the vocals open with:
‘Big beautiful wet eyes. Don’t worry I hit him back for you but he can hit harder. Oh Lana. You cry like a baby; will you be my baby walking home? Don’t know where to start but oh Lana.’
Nott’s lyrics are in reference to a time when she was at school where she got into a fight defending another girl, Lana. Within the opening lines, it is evident that there are so many different emotions going on at the same time, speaking to Nott’s struggle to articulate and express her feelings. There’s an anger directed largely at the bully, a fierce protective instinct, and a real sense of longing. Whilst the lyrics touch on Lana’s emotions, what comes through is Nott’s own vulnerability-her tone though crystal clear is hushed, indicating an uncertainty and helplessness at the situation. She knows that she cares deeply about Lana and is concerned about her, but doesn’t know quite how to comfort her.
There is a breath of a pause before the chorus-a gap in the music that mirrors the space Nott feels between herself and Lana. The lyrics ‘would it be so bad’ are sung twice, once by Nott alone and then again in stunning harmony, indicative of the internal conflict as she grapples with her feelings. The percussion is notedly sparse and the only instrumentation is the shimmering guitar, the intro motif and a thick bassline. Nott’s vocals and lyrics are front and centre and as such the chorus is audibly just as exposed and vulnerable as Nott was at that time.
In the second verse, her tone is noticeably more supported and stronger. Rather than indicating a sense of empowerment though, they speak to Nott’s growing frustration and turmoil with how she feels. As she grows up and the song progresses, she finds it harder and harder to deal with things and expresses a deep rooted distrust in herself. Lana grows up too and appears to be clued into how Nott is feeling – ‘Don’t know how to fool you, oh Lana’. Whether or not her emotional connection or desire for Lana is reciprocated, she believes she has to hide it and has a huge amount of guilt for feeling the way she does. Nott doesn’t necessarily fear rejection; she fears being misunderstood.
While BROODS continues to remain an important feature of Nott’s life, this quiet work on herself and her sound has been invaluable. “I’m always making music to combat, you know, life,” she says. “As I was writing these songs, I was opening old wounds.” It’s an exciting time for the artist; not only does she have the EP coming in the autumn but there’s been some hints about a potential tour in the works too.