THERE was a time when Lake Macquarie-bred singer-songwriter Jemima Webber would perform Angus and Julia Stone hits like Big Jet Plane dreaming of the day her own career might take off.
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That day may finally be on the horizon. On Wednesday Jemima released her second single Patient, the first track off her forthcoming debut EP.
The dreamy piano ballad, about coping with one's mental health, has already attracted a famous admirer in Angus Stone.
Patient was recorded at Rockinghorse Studio near Byron Bay and was engineered by Paul Pilsneniks (Silverchair, Powderfinger, Angus and Julia Stone).
Pilsneniks played the track to Stone, who was so impressed he invited Jemima to sing on his band Dope Lemon's cover of The Go-Betweens' classic Streets Of Your Town for the forthcoming Songs For Australia bushfire charity album.
The album is being organised by Julia Stone and features covers of Australian songs by international artists The National, Martha Wainwright and Kurt Vile.
"It's so weird to say I'm singing backing vocals because I was busking Angus and Julia Stone songs when I was 15 in Newcastle and then two weeks ago I was sitting in his living room going, 'what the hell is happening'," Jemima said.
"It's very surreal and such a cool compliment that I'm going in the right direction. Having someone like him to say anything good about my music is unbelievable."
Patient was written two years ago while Jemima was living in London and studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. At the time the 23-year-old was battling her inner demons.
"I never thought anyone would hear it," she said. "It's one of those ones you write for yourself as a little reminder when I was struggling.
"I'm someone who really likes to charge through life and it's the same when I'm struggling with something. I'm like, 'what can I do to be OK tomorrow', but obviously that's not how mental health works. It was me realising I need to take a second and slow down and be kind to myself."
All profits from Patient will be donated to the Black Dog Institute.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
