Ephemeral harpist and songwriter Tamlyn Magee is all set to release the first single of a forthcoming album.
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Under her performance alter-ego Anactoria, the single with associated video clip is the first instalment of a culmination of work following Magee's recent Create NSW fellowship.
The residency saw Magee undergoing an intense writing and recording mentorship program in Melbourne earlier this year to help hone her self-taught craft.
Magee, who lives in Candelo, was one of only four regional artists to receive the prestigious fellowship, and one of only 20 state-wide.
While acknowledging it is a really difficult time to be releasing new music, oddly enough, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown worked in Magee's favour.
"It worked out pretty well for me as it's all still in this development phase," she said.
"I had all this extra time to devote to writing and developing."
The single's release will also have the continuing restrictions in mind when Magee hosts a live online launch event on July 4.
The track, Good Mind, also has a music video in the works, involving local artists from the district including Mica Mahani and Gabriela Barrios, with Andrew Robinson the filmmaker.
Anactoria is known for her electronic harp, loop pedal and sultry vocals. Magee said Good Mind is "very much in that style" but after hooking up with producers and mentors in Melbourne during the residency there are plenty of layers to her new offering.
"The song is about being an artist, as is most of my music to be honest.
"About what it tales to live a creative life, what it means to do it.
READ ALSO: Anactoria reimagining sound of harp music
"There's a line in it - 'I've got a good mind, but I keep grinding it down to the wire'," Magee said.
"It's about living for the moments where it all comes together, but to get there is a lot of trudging.
"Being an artist involves a lot of hard work to get there that is not seen."
Magee said with music, as with any art, you can only effectively convey what you have lived through, however uncomfortable.
"We lead lives that are not comfortable all the time, living a life out on the edge, but that's what makes it work.
"It's never going to work to say something in a song that hasn't got that authenticity to it."
Good Mind will be officially released on July as part of a live streamed event from the Melbourne studio where it was recorded. Visit Anactoria's Facebook page for details.