Growing up in Ulverstone, singer-songwriter Lasca Dry’s childhood was spent spinning records from the 60s and 70s and dreaming of dance recitals.

She created a name for herself as one-half of the folk-rock group The Habits before pursuing a solo career in 2015.

Developing a unique flavour of bittersweet melancholy songs, Lasca has released her first solo album, Sweet Sea Surrender, which explores life’s struggles and learning curves.

Your album was recorded in two-and-a-half weeks, was it challenging recording in such a tight timeframe? I’ve learnt a timeframe is crucial to completing a project. Too often I have let myself go for as long as I feel, and years later I still haven’t completed that goal.

The challenges that come along with time frames are not good for perfectionists, and I am one. Letting go of a few things and keeping my eye on the overall goal; it’s part of the reason I called my album Sweet Sea Surrender. I had to surrender to the idea of imperfection which then leads to the benefits – at the end of the two-and-a-half weeks, I had an album in my hand. Time management and decision making also were part of this.

Your videos incorporate a lot of traditionally feminine elements, like the colour pink, dresses and sparkles; what do those things mean to you? I am still living inside my younger me. I am drawn to anything that reminds me of my childhood.

End-of-year ballet costumes were a highlight of my year, I was definitely one of those kids that wanted to dress like a princess. That’s where my inspiration came from for the video clip Better Than This.

You grew up in Ulverstone, what that was like? Growing up in Ulverstone was very peaceful, I had a wonderful childhood there. Full of after school activities, anything and everything you could imagine, I was a very busy girl. And yes I do feel like
it offered creative opportunities, that or my mum sourced them out for me.

But I was forever involved in eisteddfods, ballet concerts, school musicals, Tas Dance youth performances and the high school concert band. I even got to be an extra on Home and Away for my high school work experience, that one was thanks to my mum!

How did you first get into music? I started piano lessons at a young age, along with recorder, euphonium, violin and flute. My parents seemed to always have people over for parties and fires on the lawn, there was always loud music playing such as The Beatles, Elton John, etc., so at a young age I associated this music with family, happiness, good times and still now this music inspires me.

Australian musicians recently wrote to the Government to extend JobKeeper, is this something you feel is important to discuss? How has Covid impacted your work? When Tasmania went into lockdown all of my gigs got cancelled. It’s important to discuss, because music is a very special industry and helps so many people suffering in our world, especially now.

What did we all do when Covid hit? Baked bread and played music. We need musicians and if they can’t get work in their industry they will have to look elsewhere. Music is just like any job, you have to spend a lot of time doing it, and if professional musicians can’t afford to pay for their food from a gig, then they will look for other work, meaning time for making, recording etc. won’t be there.

When you’re not making music, what are you up to? I’m either watering my sunflowers, cuddling my munchkins (guinea pigs) Byron and Rockie or eating chocolate. I also love acting. I recently filmed a poem written by Sappho, a Greek poet from 630 BCE. She is the first female songwriter that we know of and definitely one of my idols, along with Jimmy Page.