INTERVIEW: SIOBHAN COTCHIN RELEASES ANOTHER HIT WITH ‘JUST THE WAY IT IS’

The third single release by Perth based alt-country/rock singer songwriter Siobhan Cotchin dives into the space left behind after the end of a relationship. Following up on the success of her debut release ‘Tear Myself Apart’ and her second single ‘Do You Know What I Mean?’, ‘Just The Way It Is’  is a song that holds a mirror to the feelings of post-breakup life, with hard-hitting low points and yet also moments of hopeful optimism. It captures the moment of realisation that the person who was your rock is no longer strong and supportive, but is now thin, flimsy and delicate like gossamer.

How has the response been since your first release this year? We have been anxiously watching your journey at Toastys and are stoked to see a stream of singles being released by you.
It’s been so crazy! I’m honestly so motivated to keep releasing music and writing more and more because I think it’s a really special thing to be able to make art and show it to the world. The fact that people actually like the songs makes me so happy because releasing music can also be a scary thing as it’s all straight from the heart.

Covid obviously has restricted musicians and will continue to regarding any tours in the near future. Do you feel heavily effected by this or did you feel like the slow down of covid helped your creativity?
It was a bit of a culture shock when we couldn’t go to or play gigs because it’s one of the best parts about being a musician! However, as an introvert I enjoyed spending more time at home because it gave me time to reset and really think about what I was going to do next with my career. It definitely helped with my creativity in a way because I had a lot of time to think and absorb art that inspires me to write. It’s an amazing feeling to be back on that stage though. I’ve missed it!
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Recorded at Sundown Studio here in Perth, ‘Just The Way It Is’ showcases Siobhan’s songwriting skills. With her ability to break down complex human relationships into simple, easy to relate to concepts, Siobhan’s music comes across as honest, raw and real. Siobhan says, “This song is about the fragility of all human relationships, platonic or romantic. No matter how hard you both try, sometimes there’s a breaking point and two people go from hanging out all the time to becoming strangers. It’s about finding the people that will stay”.
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So many of your lyrics really strike a chord with its listeners because they are so raw and relatable. Have you always written this way or is it inspired?
I adore honest songwriting that is just so emotionally raw. When I write, I just try to articulate exactly how I feel in the best way I can and in a way that’s accessible to everyone so it’s easy to relate to. I’m heavily inspired by songwriters like Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen and I always try to emulate how their songs make me feel in my own songs so people get the same feeling  I do when I listen to my favourite artists. Sometimes I even try to re-write my favourite songs in my own way because I wish i’d written those lyrics!
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Cotchin’s well crafted songs and live-sets have a way of making you think of her old beyond her just 20-years of age. Quickly gaining momentum throughout the Perth scene, Cotchin has supported some of Perth’s heavyweights in names like Spacey Jane, Carla Geneve and Abbe May. With a writing style that echoes the musings of Lucinda Williams and drawing inspiration from the stylings of Bob Dylan, Siobhan’s music provides melodies with a bright and floaty country jangle which leave room for her introspective and storytelling lyrics to draw a listener into her world of self-discovery. ​
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The thing that makes your music stand out in the Perth/indie scene for me is that hint of country style that you rock. Where does that come from?
Growing up, country music was always around because my Dad is such a fan. Those early Taylor Swift records also definitely shaped my adolescence and made me realise the power of songwriting. Country music is just such an incredible genre because it’s all about the story. I love the saying that country is just  “three chords and the truth” because it can be as simple as that. There’s so much power in honest songwriting that makes country music so great.
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“Cotchin is a talented storyteller and musician whose performance blends well-crafted folk ballads with an intimate honesty and vitality that can be seen in both her lyricism and onstage presence. She is Perth’s Missy Higgins and definitely one to watch in the coming years.” - Lachlan Hardman, X- Press Magazine
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We are excited to see your name against so many award nominations this year. How does that feel and how does that encourage your future goals in the industry?
I’m pretty excited too! It’s really an honour to be nominated alongside my favourite musicians in Perth because they inspire me so much. I think when I get nominated for an award it’s just a little bit of reassurance that I’m doing a good job and people like the stuff i’m making. Awards aren’t everything but it does feel so nice to be considered!

Her first two releases have caught lots of attention, resulting in many accolades including a Song of the Year nomination from the West Australian Music Association (WAM); Winner of Fairbridge & Nannup Music Festival’s Emerging Artist Award, and song of the year with local youth radio station ‘Pirate FM’. Her second release ‘Do You Know What I Mean?’ also sat at number 2 on the Triple J Roots Chart for a number of weeks. Siobhan should definitely remain on your radar as an artist to watch in Perth.
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