If you're a keen observer of Melbourne's music scene, you might recognise BUMPY as the lead vocalist in soul/psychedelic outfit Squid Nebula and as a performer in the First Nations collective DRMNGNOW. Lucky for us, she also makes music as a solo artist, treating our earholes to a raw, soulful sound. Before you press play, get to know BUMPY below. 

Hi BUMPY! How did you get on this path called music? Music has always been a big part of my family time – we’d pull the guitar out and have a jam at every occasion. The more I listened, composed and performed, the further I went down this magic rabbit hole.

What can we expect from a BUMPY show? I really enjoy changing my ensemble to suit the gig. Whether I perform solo, in a trio, with backing vocals or in a full band, you can always expect my family to take up a third of the venue and sneak into the green room to hang.

How do you look after your voice? I overworked my voice at uni and had to rest it for quite a while, so I quickly learnt that you have to listen to your body. The voice isn’t something external – you can’t just buy some new strings or get it serviced. I don’t push it when it’s tired, I avoid talking over the music in the venue before the gig and I always warm up!

What do you do when you’re not making music? I work part-time in cultural safety, attempt multiple DIY projects, spend eight hours cooking one meal and have silly times with silly people.

Any fun facts about yourself? When I was little, I was constantly running into everything: ironing boards, car mirrors, tables, doors. That’s actually where the name BUMPY came from.

What makes you feel powerful? Sharing my vulnerabilities through music has allowed me to nurture feelings that can sometimes swallow me whole. I think it’s incredibly powerful to connect with others in this space – performing feels like you can communicate anything and influence how the audience feels.

Who would you most like to collaborate with? At the top of my list are queen Erykah Badu and Sampa the Great.

Favourite dad joke? What do you call a donkey with three legs? Wonky.This chinwag first appeared in frankie 99 (Jan/Feb 2021).