r.em.edy Sucks: “I Used To Think Adults Had Their Lives Together”
Who’s going to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself?
It’s a question most of us will have asked ourselves plenty of times. Lacking self-belief sucks, and it can really hamper your personal and professional growth. Melbourne R&B artist r.em.edy is all too familiar with the cycle of self-doubt, despite being one of Australia’s most exciting R&B artists. Late last year, she released her debut EP, Last Summer, and it’s a must-listen for fans of Australian R&B. If you’re a fan of thoughtful reflections on love, then you’ll definitely want to dive into Last Summer.
2023’s been just as busy for r.em.edy: she released the LEYVI-produced ‘Scooby Snack’ in April, while also collaborating with a range of Australian artists, including Martian, MorningMaxwell and Dann Dib. Ahead of her performance at Groove Tunes, an accessible concert put on by Tibi Access, Junkee caught up with r.em.edy to find out about her love of ginger shots, of all things, and hear about her morning routine. As you’ll know by now, this column is a safe space, no judgement allowed! I will say, though: having a crying baby as your alarm clock is hell on earth.
Junkee: A mistake that turned into an opportunity?
Singing wrong! I ran into some hectic vocal problems last year due to not using proper technique, and although it was a massive struggle getting my voice into a state where I could perform again, it taught me so much about my instrument, made me super passionate about vocal health and has given me the knowledge to nurture my voice for the rest of my life.
The worst failure you’re up for sharing, and what you learned from it?
My worst failure to this day is not believing in myself, and I’m still working on it. I still get caught up thinking I’m not good enough for my dreams and not a good enough singer. But I think if you believe in yourself, you can’t fail, you just learn. It’s only when we abuse ourselves with guilt and self-doubt that the things we do start feeling wrong, when in the end all they do is build us up stronger to help us make better decisions.
Anything you used to be wrong about?
I used to think adults had their lives together, but now I know we are all just collectively lying to everyone (including ourselves) and freaking the hell out.
Embarrassing Internet habit?
I am so obsessed with pop culture that half the time I just religiously watch VMAs performances and pop star compilation videos.
Ideal morning routine versus actual morning routine?
Definitely waking up at 6am after a luxuriously long sleep, having the best coffee and acai bowl of my life and heading down to the gym full of energy. Unfortunately, though, it currently starts with the baby in my apartment complex waking me up at some ungodly hour, having the most rancid instant coffee of my life and then getting sidetracked with something on my phone to start my day.
Something very off-brand for you?
I don’t drink alcohol! I think a lot of people that don’t know me very well are quite surprised when I tell them I don’t drink. Living with chronic illness and especially vertigo is like a never ending tequila shot that went down the wrong way, so I decided in 2021 that for my health I’d give up drinking.
Bad health decision?
Going on Hinge dates with men.
What do you waste money on?
An abnormal amount of ginger shots (they taste so good and make me feel like I could kill any germ with my eyes).
Worst procrastination habit?
Being born with an ADHD brain.
r.em.edy is set to perform as part of Groove Tunes, a truly accessible concert put on by live music accessibility advocates Tibi Access. Groove Tunes will take place on June 3rd at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, and the line-up also features KYE, Cool Out Sun, Voli K and Bette Foord.
The event will include Auslan interpreters, accessible + gender-neutral toilets, an accessible entrance and lift and much more. You can learn more about the event, as well as grab final release tickets, here.
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