What an absolute treat we have for you! Queenie, the alter-ego of Melbourne musician Eloise Thetford, unveils new single ‘Mama’, a heartfelt tribute to her mother.

‘Mama’ is a passionate and vulnerable letter to her mother that acknowledges how much she gave up to raise Thetford and her brother. Thetford explains, “I struggled a lot after leaving home and trying to navigate the world on my own; this song was a way to express that. It’s basically a thank you in song, telling her not to worry; even though our lives descended into madness and violence and chaos.” The song starts off tender and soft before opening up into a powerful chorus that showcases Queenie’s powerful and gritty vocals. Through ‘Mama’, Thetford says she found a way of “Letting her know we’d always find our way back to our little triangle.”

‘Mama’ follows the release of previous single ‘Not Divine’, a bold and fiery song that captures a relationship transitioning from idealised perfection to the raw reality of human imperfections. On both tracks Queenie’s voice is tender one moment and fierce the next, soaring from Emmy-Lou Harris to Mariah Carey at the drop of a hat. Thetford’s songwriting and lyrics reflect this, “I write kinda sad songs, but in person, I’m pretty crass and silly, so perhaps the message is to be kind and sweet and vulnerable but don’t take yourself too seriously.” Influenced by an eclectic mix of artists, including War on Drugs, Kate Bush, Betty Davis, Tom Waits and Peter Garbiel, Thetford pulls these inspirations together to write about themes of heartache and grief with a vulnerability that draws listeners in.

‘Mama’ reinforces the fiery charisma and emotional depth that is coming to be expected from the powerhouse singer.