POPPONGENE

Poppongene is multidisciplinary Melbourne artist Sophie Treloar, who makes music for moods, ebbing and flowing down the river of figuring it all out. Poppongene’s music is drenched in the sun’s rays but still isn’t afraid to embrace all seasons. With this project, Treloar masters a glistening sound all her own - poppy and phosphorescent, furnished with catharsis.

Poppongene captures the emotional tug of war within all of us. Whilst Treloar remains an optimist, she never shies from candidly expressing the challenges of love and realities of living on spaceship earth. Her simply-wrought pop is flecked with many influences: 70s organs, twanging guitar pop, artful synths and Spector soundscapes nestle up against contemporary influences Deerhunter, Aldous Harding & Sharon Van Etten.

Growing up in Byron Bay and handed a guitar as soon as she was tall enough to hold it, Poppongene has been musically inclined from childhood. Treloar begun her journey with band Sunbeam Sound Machine, heading out on tour and performing at CMJ in 2014 allowed Poppongene to cut her teeth in a live setting and gain the confidence to strike it out alone. Working both solo and in collaboration with a rotation of musical cast mates, Poppongene has become an outlet for Treloar to express personal and universal feels, explore new sonic textures and pave her own path.

Poppongene’s long anticipated debut EP Futures Unsure was recorded with producer Tim Harvey (Jade Imagine, Emma Louise, Gena Rose Bruce, Lisa Mitchell) throughout 2019 predominantly at Sound Park studio and Electric Dreams studio in Melbourne. The EP highlights Treloar as principle songwriter, vocalist and guitarist and welcomes collaborators Gemma Helms (bass), Deeanna Rumsaviche (Juno keyboard, backing vocals), Damien Meoli (drums, percussion) and Tim Harvey on backing vocals and guitar.

Poppongene and producer Tim Harvey quickly established a nurturing, creative and uncomplicated approach to recording Futures Unsure, and the EP’s dreamy and hypnotic textures are testament to this. Wanting to engage her influences but remain entirely unique, Treloar and Harvey begun the recording process by mapping songs out with an initial mood eg. “You're laying in a hammock in your backyard eating Pavlova”. Their collaboration furnishes an entirely bespoke sound, an example of this being Tim’s masterstroke suggestion to use the charming Juno keyboard.

Though tinged with brightness and pop, Futures Unsure ultimately captures the complexity and chaos of emerging red-eyed from a breakup. Relationship breakdowns are like a spinning coin. On one side faced with sadness, grief and frustration. But, once we spin it and ourselves, the underside shows us cathartic release and a rallying call of hope and strength that can come from heartbreak. Like a group of mates swinging to the rescue after a breakup, Treloar’s collaborators give her the support of a thoughtful, subtle wall of sound, allowing her lyrical explorations to remain experimental and honest. From soft and inquisitive to fierce and biting, Poppongene is hip to the Gemini style of processing an event. The EP embraces musical space, allowing thoughts and ideas to breathe through the pain. The process of creating Futures Unsure allowed Poppongene to digest and explore herself and let go of cynicism and allow feelings of optimism shine through. Hearing it will do the same for you.

With Futures Unsure, Poppongene closes a difficult but rewarding chapter in her personal life whilst discovering a newer, queerer self, but as a heartfelt document from this time, the listener is beckoned to walk alongside her on her blooming musical journey. Breaking up is hard to do, but the fruits that fall from the tree can be delicious. Let go of what doesn’t serve you and bite into the excitement of the unknown.

Poppongene’s EP Futures Unsure is out now on Our Golden Friend.