About the Artist
Kaurna Land/Adelaide-based dream-pop artist effie isobel (she/they; name stylised in lowercase) is celebrating the release of her debut EP Libra Rising, inviting you on a journey into a world that, thread by thread, she has created devotedly by hand, lead by its focus track ‘Honey Drunk’ - an ode to the transformative experience of queer love after years of compulsory heterosexuality.
‘Honey Drunk’ tenderly shares the feeling of rebirth and transformation when you experience your first committed, queer love, contrasted with a history of being confined to compulsory heterosexuality. It’s the difference between speaking of being with your lover as “pure and clean / like bleach and ice” versus, “sacred,” “sweet,” “the tide unto the sea.” effie isobel says, “This song feels very vulnerable to share, the verses of this song were written with a sense of lightness reminiscing on what it feels like to kiss your lover, tipsy after the bar. When I sat down the night after to write the chorus, I felt a layer unfurl. Suddenly the song was about the warmth and confronting intensity of loving someone in a way that isn’t performative.” Her vulnerable and raw vocals with vocoder moments meet resonant guitar tones and warm synth pads, creating a sound that is at once intimate, luscious and luminous.
Produced by effie isobel, Benny Tamblin and Mario Späte (Ziggy Ramo, Electric Fields, Montaigne), Libra Rising explores themes of transformation, empowerment, momentum, sapphism and tenderness; works which come to life through confessional lyricism and melodic songwriting backed by her ethereal and euphoric dreampop production. It features her 2025 singles ‘Higher Ground’ and 'Moon Made' - the video for which brought through effie’s queer and gender-non-conforming identities and Greek migrant heritage and won Best Music Video at the 2025 SA Music Awards, marking her first accolade win - recent single ‘Hidden Treasure’, and unreleased fan favourite ‘Slow Motion’, and was recorded at Pretty Good Studio on Kaurna Land.
Founded in 2023, effie isobel is the passion project of a girl with a Libra rising and an inclination to feel it all a little too hard. With inspirations spanning beabadoobee, Slow Pulp, Snail Mail, Mazzy Star and songs I Saw The TV Glow and Scott Pilgrim Vs The World - where sweet, femme vocals meet expansive band backdrops - she blends candid lyricism with warm vocal tones and lush, gritty dream pop instrumentation.
