After spending most of her life growing up in North Queensland's rich sugarcane farming district, Tia Gostelow appreciates the tyranny of distance felt by regional artists more than most.
After the somewhat unexpected success of her previous two albums, 'Thick Skin' and 'Chrysalis', Gostelow travelled to the United States last year to work on her third album, 'Head Noise', that's due for release this August."I would say maybe eight of the songs were written when I was in the States, and there's one song on the album called 'I'm Getting Bored Of This' that was literally finished the week before I went in to record," Tia says.
"I went into a session with a really great friend of mine, because I just felt like I could squeeze a little bit more out, and we ended up writing 'I'm Getting Bored Of This' and I think it's one of my favourite songs on the album – it's the song that inspired the album title, 'Head Noise'."
Gostelow spent three weeks working with different writers in the US including former Melbourne writer Sarah Aarons, whose writing credits include 'Stay' with Zedd and Alessia Cara and Flume's 'Say Nothing' among a growing and impressive list.
"I was really nervous going into it because some of the people that I was going to be working with, I'd been wanting to work with them for a really long time," admits Tia.
"Rob Milton ended up being in on that session [with Aarons], and he does a lot of Holly Humberstone's main collaboration, which was really cool.
"I felt like it was the perfect place to just put everything into it and really see what could come out."
Although 'Head Noise' has a release date and Gostelow is ready to drop fresh new music into the world, it's not without some trepidation.
"I think there's always going to be some kind of anxiety about releasing something new. I felt this when I released my second album, because 'Thick Skin' just went so much better than what I thought it would," she explains.
"I also think that the music industry is in a place that I don't think it's ever been in before – I think we're kind of in uncharted territory now, with everything after COVID – so I feel like there's a lot of 'what ifs' and not knowing what's going to happen, and not knowing what the right way to go about releasing new music is any more."
Gostelow's second album, 'Chrysalis', was released during the pandemic, which made national touring difficult. The recent addition of new songs – like her most recent single 'Sour' – and being able to connect with live audiences again has given new life to the music Tia says.
"I feel like it's been such a weird thing to adjust to – I was so used to touring and always being around people, and always having those interactions with people, but we've been away from it for so long so it's felt like it's new all over again.
"Lately, I've been having a lot of really lovely people come up to me – like I had this girl come up to me when I was in Melbourne and she had a tattoo of two of my songs, and that's just something that I'd never thought would happen.
"It's easy to get in your own head when you're secluded from those sort of interactions, but when you do have them, it reminds you of why you keep writing music, and why you keep playing, and it's a really wholesome and humbling thing to be able to play shows again."
This weekend, Gostelow will jump in the car and head a few hours north to Townsville to play East End Fiesta as part of the Tropic Fiesta programme – a trek she made regularly as a music-loving teen.
"I went to Townsville a lot when Groovin The Moo was happening up there," she says. "I remember being 15 and my mum driving me up to Townsville, and being able to see all of these amazing bands there – I saw Billie Eilish in Townsville. That's pretty insane."
This time, Gostelow will be driving up to headline a show at Townsville Brewing Co. as part of Tropic Fiesta, which is one of the largest celebrations of live music the city has ever seen. "I haven't played in Townsville in a really long time, and I'm super stoked to be playing on such an incredible line-up," Gostelow says.
"I feel like it's pretty amazing that a little regional town like Townsville is getting people like Tones And I and bands of that calibre coming to that place.
"Living in Mackay I know how hard it can be sometimes to get artists of that calibre to places like that, so I'm really excited for Townsville, and hopefully this keeps happening every year."
Tia understands and appreciates what the event means for the regional centre. "I think Townsville is home to an amazing live music scene and it just keeps growing and growing, and it's really nice to see a regional North Queensland town getting that kind of support.
"Hopefully Mackay can follow in the footsteps one day, eventually. I just hope that it goes really well, and I'd love to see Tropic Fiesta happen again next year and the year after."
Gostelow says she is impressed by the diversity of the acts on offer, particularly at the East End Fiesta this weekend, which comprises multiple free shows over three nights with artists including Art Vs Science, Pete Murray, Haiku Hands, Bobby Alu, Horrorshow, Ocean Grove and JK-47.
"I was really excited to see there was a country thing going on – I feel like it's a pretty rare thing to find country amongst stuff like this," she says.
"I feel like it's always pretty secluded if it's a country music festival. So I'm really excited about the diversity, and I feel like there's something for everyone, which is really amazing."
As for her faves, Gostelow says she's a huge fan of Clea, so it's "really ideal" Clea is performing right before her on Saturday night. "I've been obsessed with all of the singles she's been releasing this year, so I'm really excited to see her play," she says.
"I'm a huge fan of Donny Benet as well, and it would be cool to see people like Cloe Terare and Greta Stanley play as well.
"There's a lot of really great artists, and I just wish that I had a day off so I could just go and watch them."
Tropic Fiesta runs until 28 May at various locations in Townsville.
Street Beats
Pete MurrayArt Vs Science
Cloe Terare
Comfort Royale
Late November
East End Fiesta
Bobby AluDonny Benet
Eliza & The Delusionals
Greta Stanley
Haiku Hands
Horrorshow
JK-47
Ocean Grove
Sammy White
Tia Gostelow
Clea
Cloe Terare
Genes
Hallie
Jelly Oshen
Mark Lavender
Yawdoesitall
Rainbow Fiesta
DJ Dolly LlamaTropic Sounds
Tones And IIlly
Pierce Brothers
Clews
DJ Dolly Llama
Plus local support acts
