Describe yourself in ten words …
Optimistic realist with creative ambitions. Sometimes lazy. Inquisitive but sceptical.

What’s a typical day like for you?
I study full-time and work part-time when I’m not prancing around with the four or five bands I’m in, so I don’t really get the luxury of having typical days. My days are defined by whether or not I have to iron my shirt in the morning.

The Gin Club is celebrating its tenth birthday with a re-release of its debut album – what’s your favourite track on the record?
I think I like ‘Rosemary Eden’ the most. It’s just Ola Karlsson, guitar and harmonica, but the performance is amazing. It doesn’t need anything else.

The group met through an open-mic night – what were your first impressions of your current bandmates?
I was pretty much in awe. Prior to this, I used to hang out in the city after school and on weekends just to watch Ben Salter busking in the Queen Street Mall. I always thought he was an incredible talent and under-appreciated by the general public. Then I heard him sing original songs for the first time at the open-mic night and I thought they were some mighty fine coat tails to ride on!

What can you remember about your first gig playing together?
I remember I was in the audience at The Troubadour watching the guys from the open-mic night before they even had the name, but no one could really play drums. So I jumped up and started playing along. It was that kind of vibe back then, still a bit of an open-jam night, so I don’t think anyone minded … I’m beginning to think that maybe my recollection of the evening is like that time Homer and Marge hosted a dinner party and Homer thought he was the consummate host, but really he was dancing around with a lampshade on his head.

What do you love and hate about touring?
The best part about touring is that you’re basically on a free holiday with your best friends and you get to play music every night. The worst part is that after the show, when you’re knackered, sometimes you won’t know if you’ll be sleeping in a bed, on a floor or in a broom closet. But that’s a fairly minor complaint considering the perks.

What’s one song you wish you wrote?
‘Better Be Home Soon’ by Crowded House is pretty perfect, I reckon. Neil Finn is a master of his craft.

What do you imagine your life will be like in ten years’ time?
I will be rich beyond my wildest dreams and lord over a Downton Abbey-esque mansion. Even if they’ve started making those cars that drive themselves, I’ll probably still employ a chauffeur. And a butler. I’m a stickler for tradition. Either that or I’ll be sleeping in a broom closet after a modestly attended gig somewhere in regional Australia.

With seven permanent members, how do you manage to balance everyone’s opinions?
There is a lot of reply-all emailing that goes on. Sometimes we’ll get a text message from our manager that just says, ‘Hey everyone check your email, stat! We need a decision made.’ It’s not uncommon to have 50 or so replies or votes about a topic. Whoever doesn’t check their emails doesn’t get to have an opinion!

You’re playing Black Bear Lodge on Friday December 13, what can locals expect from the show?
Good times and classic hits. Prior to its transition into the Black Bear Lodge, The Troubadour was the incubator for the Gin Club for a long time, so there is quite a bit of nostalgia tied up in the place. As it’s an anniversary tour, we’ll mainly be doing songs off our first album. But we want to play for well over an hour so we’ll fill it out with some of the newer stuff.

Which local creative folk do you have your eye on?
In terms of Brisbane bands, Dollar Bar just released a record which is awesome. Halfway’s new album is apparently a corker although I haven’t heard it yet.

How do you like to start your weekend?
I like to start it with a sleep in. Although the cat rarely affords me that luxury and will paw my face until I feed her. Feed the cat, go back to sleep, wake up. If applicable, deal with hangover by shoving greasy food and several different types of beverage down neck, lie on couch and watch rage.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Slow down, don’t cook, see a live band.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
The free Livespark music and comedy at Brisbane Powerhouse is a pretty great thing to do. Especially if it’s a hot day, because they crank up the air-con and there’s plenty of cold beer. Winning. I try my hardest to not think about having to get up early the next day.

What are you reading at the moment?
I’m rereading Pig City: From The Saints to Savage Garden by Andrew Stafford. Which is kind of fitting, given the current political climate in Brisbane.

What was your childhood dream?
I think I’ve always wanted to be a musician. There are photos of me putting on concerts for 1c with a tennis racket guitar and my dad’s microphone plugged into his guitar amp. I used to sing along to Bon Jovi’s ‘New Jersey’ on cassette tape.

What is success to you?
The benchmark of success for a modern-day singer-songwriter or musician isn’t measured in millions of units sold. I think garnering of respect and artistic appreciation from one’s peers (and indeed heroes), that results in a willingness to collaborate and form symbiotic working relationships, is a better measure of success. I remember Clare Bowditch talking about her measure of success as being a ‘balanced happiness’ whereby one feels peace in their usefulness as a contributor to the arts. That’s pretty spot on too.

What are your words of wisdom?
Don’t do anything you’ll regret, but don’t regret anything you do. (Thanks, Dad.)

Only a local would know … there’s a lovely stretch of greenery for picnics along the river behind the houses on Oxlade Drive in New Farm, and a public barbecue at Sydney Street ferry terminal – not nearly as busy as New Farm Park on the weekends.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Double Shot Espresso, New Farm.
Relax … Cold beer by the river at Merthyr Bowls Club, New Farm.
Dine … Casa Italia in New Farm – amazing food, cheap wine and surrounded by Tony Soprano look-a-likes. Cash only!
Indulge … A trashy movie on my couch with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.
Shop … The stretch of op shop/antique stores at Latrobe Terrace, Paddington.
Catch-up … Share a few meals on a lazy susan with friends at Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant, Fortitude Valley.
Be inspired … Watching an atrocious karaoke challenge reality show on commercial TV inspires me to make real music.