Premiere: Get to know Mel Jackson and her new single, Best Friends

Last we heard from Mel Jackson she featured in our 5 Under 500 segment for the single Gone, with our writer at the time remarking it was her "most striking to date". Now a few months down the track we're very stoked to premiere a new track from her - Best Friends. Coming previously from just her and a ukelele to increased instrumentation and band mates, Best Friends continues that evolution with a fuller sound, although still letting her striking voice do the work.

A perfect vibe for those lazy Sunday afternoons over a couple of quiet ones with friends (and a hammock if you've got it), we took the opportunity to help you get to know her a little better too. So take a listen to Best Friends below, along with a few little questions to get you slightly acquainted.

Tell us about about yourself?

I'm 24 years old and I'm a singer/songwriter from Perth. I was a late bloomer when it comes to the music world. My brother's an audio engineer/music genius - when I was growing up he had a recording studio in our house but I was only there to support him and give him my uneducated advice. It wasn't until I was about 20, drunk and singing Sarah Blasko songs that my friend told me I needed to give singing a go.

What kinda tunes we talkin’?

That question always gets me - I'd have to say indie/folk/pop/melodic/rock... I'm loving the electric guitar at the moment.

Writing process:

I started off just singing and playing ukulele (since I'd never played an instrument besides the recorder and it seemed pretty easy), then when I started taking it a bit more serious I started to learn guitar and making basic beats on Garage Band and Ableton. My writing process depends on my mood I would have to say. Sometimes I write a drum beat or write a guitar progression then sing on it, other times I sit and write and wing it. Most of my best songs were created by winging it.

What do you do outside of music?

To get funds I work as a nanny for four families, I also look after people's pets while there on holiday. In my down time I love making clothes, painting, tending to my garden and moving it around 15,000 times to sooth my OCD.

Any shows coming up?

I just had a couple gigs at Indie Bar and Ocean One (my locals), but I'm having a little break to focusing on writing before getting back into gigging over summer.

What’s the rest of the year have in store?

Learning learning learning! As much as possible! And working on a few other artist's tracks as well as my own.

Follow Mel Jackson: FACEBOOK / SOUNDCLOUD