The Veronicas need no introduction – with the Australian sister duo, Jess and Lisa Origliasso, having been a permanent fixture on both the local and global music scene for close to two decades. The two have been the powerhouse singers and songwriters behind some of the world’s biggest pop hits, with 4ever and Untouched, since their release in the early 2000s, becoming quintessential pop ballads, followed by number 1 hits In My Blood and You Ruin Me.
Now two ARIA Awards and countless nominations later, the pair are due to release their first album in six years, Human, with the new era of music set to further cement them to icon status. Speaking to marie claire Australia following the launch of their latest single, Biting My Tongue, the sisters discuss all things Human, returning to what they love most about music and how isolation has garnered a new appreciation for Australian creatives.
Below, read our chat with Lisa and Jess.
What Was The Inspiration Behind New Single Biting My Tongue?
Jess: We’ve been finishing up this album, Human, and the first part of that piece is a big hitter. It’s diving into the very human aspects of emotions on this album, and the different human experiences we’ve been going through. And this one draws on that really peak point of wanting to confess your love for someone that’s really visceral. You’ve tried everything to bury that feeling or keep it in, but now you’re at that point where you need to let somebody know. When we’re creating a song, we really build an entire world around it, so we see visuals and hear production. And Lisa started this song with DNA and then brought this song to me, and it really embodied the spirit. It’s that really fatalistic spirit that become like a bit of a part of how Lisa and I write.
Human Will Be Your First Album In Six Years – How Does That Compare To Other Work We’ve Seen From You?
Jess: I don’t think that we ever think about our albums comparatively to each other. Rather like a cohesive period of time that embodies whatever we were going through at the time. And although we’ve been writing this album over a few years, the majority of it was created in a cohesive time period. It feels like a completion of something. It feels like we had all these mini-bursts through this creation. And that whatever shift needed to happen was completed by the end of this writing phase. And each record has felt like that. But our second record and this record, most predominantly for that feeling.
You’ve Had a Long-Standing Career – Both In Australia And Globally – Has The Way You’ve Written Together Evolved Over Time, And With This Album In Particular?
Jess: I don’t think it’s changed, as far as the dynamic of how Lisa and I love to work. Because it comes down to being as vulnerable as possible. It always has. When we first started songwriting, we were signed as songwriters before we were signed as artists, and it was us sitting on the floor with our guitars. Just writing really personal, intimate thoughts and feelings. Then it’s always stayed that. It’s just that we’ve also cultivated new relationships with different songwriters as well. And we have our really great chemistry with people that we’re working with for this album. Toby Gad’s one of them, and obviously DNA, who we did In My Blood with and Biting My Tongue with. Now as well, You Ruin Me. So when you cultivate that special relationship – because Lisa and I are so comfortable working with each other – when you bring other people in, you have to really trust them as well, because we work so intimately. We’re just really blessed that we’ve had some great relationships with people, and that we continue to be able to create in that safe space.
The Pandemic Has Affected People In So Many Different Ways, Especially Australian Creatives, Has It Changed The Way You’ve Been Creating?
Lisa: It hasn’t hindered anything, but it definitely encourages us to go back to our roots, which is singing and playing guitar. I think, when it all sort of happened, the majority of our live shows did get cancelled. So for us, it became more introspective, and like Jess was saying, the creation process. So rather than focusing on the part where you’re on stage, really just giving a lot of energy out. It actually started to go more introspective again and go back to that space of creation, rather than presentation.
And in every aspect of life, we went through that experience of introspection and starting to grow again from the ground up. We spent more time self-reflecting and growing individually, and really thinking about where life is taking us. Getting back on the acoustic guitars and just writing to write with no real urgency or agenda – rather just to feel that moment. And if this has taught us anything, it’s that you’re just taking day by day and living very much in the moment; because we don’t know what the future holds. And there were schedules, and timeframes and expectation all sort of got thrown out the door and we just kind of had to take it day by day; and to really figure out what…There’s coping mechanisms for that.
Lisa: It was a new experience. To a certain extent, we were saying, we tend to hermit by nature when we’re in creation mode. And then the other half of the year where you become a Veronica, and on your onstage, and you’re giving and all that. But the other side of us is, as Jessy said before, Lisa and Jessica are in creation mode.
So I think the year – obviously, for everyone – it was a bit unexpected, but we believe adaptability is the key to longevity. And you have to adapt in these times. It’s the mindset. It’s the perspective you take and what you do with that time. You can somehow create some sort of positive out of it. It’s a way to adapt and survive. So we’re very thankful for our health, and the time to spend with family, and each other, and to create again.
Jess: It’s is about slowing down a little bit and reflecting, and being able to appreciate a lot. Being grateful for the journey that we’ve been on, the places that we’ve been to in the scene. And then try to find new ways to continue to grow. And that’s so important for everybody, even while with standing still, what ways can we continue to grow: as people, as a community, as humanity? We’re seeing those paradigm shifts greatly in the world right now.
Have You Found A New Found Perspective On The Australian Music Industry And Community?
Jess: Yeah. I think as far as the music community, there is a lot of anxiety at the moment. And I think it’s just about supporting one another. Our scenes have always had that spirit anyway. So that hasn’t really changed, except that I think that it’s just more prevalent than ever. And I’m hoping that, it’s a test on people’s emotional and mental health right now. And I think it’s just really important as a community of creatives that we can all be there for one another, first and foremost.
Who Are The Women Who Have Inspired You Most Throughout Your Career?
Jess: First and foremost, our Mummy has been our greatest inspiration. From the very beginning, she introduced us to a love of music and of everything that has been of value and importance to us. She was quite the activist, and nurturing person, within the LGBT community; within animal rights. Anything that we have grown to value deeply personally for ourselves, and through The Veronica’s work as well, has really been inspired by her head-strength, and her values and morals. So our mums our absolute hero and our greatest inspiration.
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