With 2019’s “Better in Blak”, Thelma Plum launched into the world an anthem for the ages. A proud Gamilaraay woman, Plum has accumulated trophies like the rest of us collect handshakes, including the coveted Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. A plaque in Fortitude Valley’s Brunswick Street Mall bares her name, a permanent reminder that “Backseat of My Mind” won Song of the Year at the 2023 Queensland Music Awards.
With her second full-length album, I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back, Plum ripped off the band-aids for a raw assessment of life, carried by her unmistakable, country-flecked vocals and catchy melodies. It spawned standout track “Freckles”, which was a worthy winner of Best Single at the recent 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards.
The singer-songwriter admits she offers an apology too often and has “often felt misunderstood. It’s something I’ve felt maybe for a long time, you know, for my whole life. It’s a feeling that… goes with shame.” No apologies are needed. Plum is one of Australia’s finest. —Lars Brandle
Read an exclusive interview with Thelma Plum below. Check out the full Future of Music 2025 list here.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: What are your dreams and ambitions?
Thelma Plum: Obviously, the goal is that my music resonates with people. I feel quite misunderstood, often, and it’s something I’ve felt maybe for a long time. For my whole life. It’s a feeling that… goes with shame. When writing a lot of these songs [on I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back), there’s a hope that if you listen, you might understand me a little bit more.
It’s not like I haven’t written about trauma before, or the things that have happened in my life. But it does feel like this is maybe a little bit more intimate. Especially songs like “All the Pretty Little Horses”. I speak about the things that happened to me when I was a kid. I feel quite proud of myself for sharing those parts of me.
You’ve joined the Go-Betweens and the Saints to become one of the most important storytellers of Brisbane with “The Brown Snake”.
Brisbane is – shock horror – my favourite city. It’s a great city, but it’s funny. Everyone was so hard on Brissie, it’s almost like it went too far. I attended West End Primary School for a bit and my mum and I lived in share houses when I was a baby. I was born at the Mater Hospital as well. How can you not love Brisbane?
The Olympics are coming to your hometown in 2032. Can you see yourself performing at the Opening or Closing ceremonies?
I’m really excited about the Olympics. I don’t know where I’ll be there though – probably on the fourth album, maybe. I would have to look at the state of what’s happening. There was a lot of Mob that were really unhappy about [the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games]. My family included. We’ll see where we’re at, and then I will act accordingly.
At the Sydney Olympics, they pushed a lot of Mob out of Sydney and sent them off to Lismore and different places. We don’t have a great track record for doing things like that. So I hope that that doesn’t happen in Brisbane.
