Aussie expat Shelley Segal's newest single 'Mother' is a touching, poignant tribute to her own mother many will treasure ahead of Mother's Day (and long after).
Originally from Melbourne, the singer-songwriter who has lived in the USA since 2016 has many strings to her bow: writing, recording, and producing – both for herself and other creatives.While in America, Shelley has opened a studio (Secret Sauce Studio & Production House) and is working on an upcoming chamber musical and a music documentary, along with collaborating with Vanessa Amorosi for her 'City Of Angels' release – and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
A haunting yet ethereally beautiful folk-Americana melody evokes an emotive warmth in 'Mother' with the delicate guitar finger-picking and dramatic, spirited strings (provided by her father Danny Segal) adding sentimental charm.
Segal's bruised yet achingly honest lyrics also strike at the heart with riveting precision, the spirit and strength projected overwhelming the senses – a subject matter most will find lodges close to their own heart.
"The start of the song came to me when I walked past my bedroom mirror," Shelley says. "I caught my reflection in the corner of my eye and my first thought for a split second was that it was my mum.
"I'm not sure what it's like for everybody else, but for me, some days I see myself and my body and I feel great, other days I may have negative thoughts or focus on things that I don't like rather than see the whole image.
"When I thought for a microsecond that it was my mum who I was seeing, I realised how differently I viewed the image and how external some of those negative thoughts must be because when the same image is projected in my mind as her, I saw and experienced something completely different."
Ahead of the song's release on Friday (12 May), scenestr is thrilled to premiere the 'Mother' music video today. Enjoy.
"Now in my mid 30s, I'm finally starting to see and appreciate the ways in which I am truly like my mother," Shelley continues.
"In character, in my looks and my body, in the way I laugh, my personality. All these qualities I am now able to appreciate in myself through this new lens because I appreciate them in her.
"I would never accept those hateful messages if they were directed at her. So, I have reached a point in life where I am immune to these harmful ideas.
"I will no longer accept, absorb or give power to these messages when directed at myself since I now see her in me. Her beauty is undeniable, and carrying her beauty myself, means that my beauty is undeniable as well."
Brought to life by creative powerhouse Lex Giana (Conan Gray, NLE Choppa) the 'Mother' clip features VHS footage of Shelley as a young child with her mother interspersed throughout.
"The goal of the music video is to express the journey to unbreakable self-love," Shelley says, "through the love that I have for my mother, from insecurity, self-doubt and self-criticism, to freedom and joy.
"Throughout the video clip there is old footage of my mother and me from when I was a child. It was very special to be able to include these precious moments with my mother; I feel very grateful for the unconditional love I have experienced."
Shelley is set to return to Australia this September for some special performances, while also working with Music To Life to develop her conservation-themed programme The Watershed; a multi-disciplinary project geared at inspiring environmental activism.
