The Gold Coast reveals another emerging musical talent with indie singer-songwriter Amy Elise.
Amy has just turned 17 and isn't even out of high school yet, but she has already built a firm foundation for her flourishing music career."I think I'm just a teenager trying to write relatable songs to make sure I can express things that are happening in my life and allow people to relate to that in their own way," Amy says.
"A lot of the things might be expressed in a teenager's eyes, but the messages and the lessons can definitely apply to anyone through any walk of life."
Amy released her debut EP 'Growing Pains' last year and found a reasonable response that encouraged her to keep writing and recording.
"Obviously, I'm not a massive artist or anything," she says, "but everyone who listened to it said they were enjoying it, and it was really nice everyone saying their different favourite songs and why they liked them.
"It was a really good experience to have that out there and get all that feedback."
Amy's follow-up is her new single 'Only 16', released in June. The song touches on feeling alienated from your peers when you're the youngest person among them, and looking forward to achieving life's little milestones, like getting your licence.
With a promising music career ahead of her, Amy must balance her professional life with that of an everyday teenager, and that means graduating high school.
"Until I'm out of school, I've always told myself school will come first," she says. "Because it's really important to make sure I've got my basic education at least before I do anything.
"I don't do too many subjects that require constant studying, so I've found myself being able to take gigs where I can."
Meanwhile, in the studio Amy has been working with local Gold Coast producer Benny D Williams. "He's amazing," Amy exudes. "Producing anything with him is such a great experience, and we're on such similar wavelengths.
"I've produced pretty much all of my songs that I've released with him, and he just gets exactly what I'm trying to do and also brings some amazing ideas that I never would have thought of to the table.
"He is such a talented person, and he has definitely helped me develop not only skills but ways of looking at things, and different ideas."
Although we won't see a debut album from Amy Elise this year, she does have plans to release more singles in the coming months. She will also work once again with QUT on their 'Vermilion High' record; while earlier this year, she was one of the youngest 2021 Queensland Music Awards finalists.
Writing songs as a teenager with a teenage sensibility, the music Amy is producing now will in time serve as a type of journal as she continues to develop her songwriting craft.
"I'm sure I'll look back and go: 'Those are some interesting decisions I made'," she laughs, "but I think that's all very important as developing who you are as a person.
"And what would teenage life be without looking back and going, 'ooh, I don't know why I did that'?"
Amy Elise plays King Lear's Throne (Brisbane) 11 July and supports Chutney at BBQ Bazaar (Gold Coast) 17 July.
