Melbourne soul artist WILSN has released “Big Star”, the final preview of her forthcoming album Bloom — a sharp-tongued critique of an ex wrapped in smooth, sophisticated soul.
The track, co-written with longtime guitarist Steven Veale and produced by Stephen Mowat and Billy Aukstik, puts razor-sharp wit centre stage as she takes aim at an ex-partner’s inflated ego and underwhelming reality.
“‘Big Star’ is about someone obsessed with being perceived as a rockstar… but in reality they’re still living at home, coasting on their parents, and pretending to be a big deal,” WILSN explains. “It’s a slightly savage look at the gap between this person’s image and reality.”
After establishing the chord progression with Veale, WILSN allowed the track to sit untouched and ruminate for several days. The breakthrough came during a two-hour flight to a performance, where the melody and lyrics crystallised mid-flight. “I hummed it out in near silence, the only noise being the plane engines and it just clicked. It was basically written above the clouds,” she explains.
Recorded at Brooklyn’s renowned Hive Mind Recording, “Big Star” benefits from the expertise of an ensemble featuring musicians from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Thee Sacred Souls, Charles Bradley and Jalen Ngonda’s bands. T
The single arrives as WILSN continues building significant momentum this year. Her previous releases, including the brassy “The Way”, break-up anthem “Keep Walkin'”, and the heartfelt tribute “GIRL” have collectively amassed millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, setting the stage for a highly anticipated album drop next month.
Come October, she may very well be cemented as one of Australia’s most compelling soul voices, with the title track containing the prescient line: “I think I’ve had enough life lessons, I’m ready for the flower to bloom.”
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WILSN’s “Big Star” is out now on all platforms via Mushroom Music. Listen to/purchase it here.
