Penelope Austin was born in the southern Highlands of NSW but, from the age of 15, has led a nomadic life travelling the world, most recently basing herself in New York City.
She has since returned to her native turf with stories from the road and songs of lust, loss, rage, fire and reflection. Her latest song is the upbeat 'Dynamite', featuring 18-year-old, up-and-coming hip hop artist Baro.
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Now, Penelope shares her favourite memories.
1. My mother
I wouldn't say she was careless, it was more that I was an oblivious child, which was particularly highlighted one day, years ago, when we were painting our house. I accidentally swallowed a few mouthfuls of turpentine presuming it was water. Although this memory appears to be an undesirable one, it was in fact my first memory of feeling completely protected. I was rushed to hospital and was in and out of consciousness, with a mask on my face and tubes in my side... going... going... The last thing I remembered was her holding my hand and when the doctors tried to pull her away she wouldn't let go. She didn't let go.
2. Christmas Eve in New York
I fled to New York with $150 in my pocket, a beat-up guitar and a wealth of hope. I took a cab to my friend's bar which cost $60, which, after the exchange rate, left me with peanuts. She asked me how much money I had knowing that I hadn't come from a good place. Without even thinking, she went to the safe and pulled out a thousand bucks. She told me to pay her back one day. It was the beginning of my New York City love affair.
3. Lost in Paris
I flew to Paris to meet my aunty. We had arranged to meet in a certain place, however I had no map, very little sense of direction, no phone and I barely spoke any French. When neither of us arrived at the correct meeting place, panic ensued and we both screamed around the city trying to figure out where and how we were going to connect. As fate would have it, in the suburbs, far away from our designated meeting spot, we both turned a corner at exactly the same time and ran into each other in a rush of profuse apologies. It was my first memory of believing in the power of fate, laughter, red wine and cheese platters!
4. Morphine
I woke up from my surgery surrounded by my best friends who were bickering among each other while I was blissfully high thanks to the morphine. This also made me oblivious to their carry on and I was loving that. It was like a scene from a bad comedy.... One friend was being scolded by the other for eating my hospital food, another was freaking out about a spider that crawled over her arm en route to the hospital, another was bitching about work and all were talking about men... who phoned back.. who never did. It was a chaotic mess. But the drugs made everything fucking good.
5. Kissing
Kissing him for the first time and realising I was going to love him forever. In that instant, he made up for all of the many homes that I have lost.
'Dynamite' featuring Baro is available now.
