Who is Aimée Falzon?
Your mama. Occasional haint of the woods, mountain gremlin. Also known as a composer, singer, performer and maker of things if you can extricate me from these places.
I grew up out bush on Birpai country – a little place called Elands NSW, which you’ve never heard of, but I’m pretty sure it was real. Sometimes I would ride my horse to school or bring one of my many mouse-friends with me. At recess and lunch, us kids would just dissolve into the bush around the school. That country follows me in my music. Even now that I’ve spent most of my life in the city, I feel its tendrils woven through me.
I made two amazing little humans. I grew them in my body, made eyes and fingernails and beating hearts… The usual astonishment. They teach me many things. I learnt via them that I’m neurodivergent (yes, you probably figured that out already and knew before I did too).
I think, were I born in a different place, a different time I would have been a professional wailer or griever of the temple, one who takes the trapped lamentations of their community and sets them free with sound, with music. Perhaps these traditions carry through all my Maltese, Scottish and Libyan bloodlines somewhere – like keeners and iakbyt.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Knowing what I know, now I wish I’d been more of a menace to patriarchal society as a young woman. I was so entirely preoccupied with being a Very Good Girl and doing The Right Thing, that I completely missed the memo on Delightful Havoc I could cause. What a tragedy! May I suggest young women and middle-aged (and older) women form allegiances everywhere to be more of a menace? There is so much work to be done in this area.
Now when I became a mother, I was so concerned with proving my worth, showing that I could do it All Myself that I nearly disappeared entirely, forever. If I was to have that time of early motherhood again I would give myself the utmost compassion, I would bloody ask for help without feeling guilty! I see so clearly how us hyper-independant girlies get so utterly fucked (sorry kids) by motherhood.
I was a pro at doing everything myself, I would pride myself on it, but we are not meant to mother in isolation, it quite literally is killing us. My great-grandmother took her life not long after having her second child, she was so alone, I feel it still in my blood. I have some ancestral reckoning to do around this, this is why I have made my show She Rested, for her, for me and for you – to process the rage and isolation of that time.
Who inspires you and why?
Inanna, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess, she contains multitudes and holds contradictions and she therefore confuzzles the scholars, and that delights me. I’m also inspired by Inanna’s sister Ereshkigal, goddess of the Underworld. What a pair! Spoiler alert – they’re possibly the same being! We get the OG tale of descent and resurrection from these women. Yes, a woman did that first. I’m also very inspired by my bunnies and their binkies, I could watch them endlessly. It is pure joy!
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
See above – encourage young women to be more of a menace! Don’t worry, I’m already doing it. Also I would/do keep making shows and music that tell the truth and set our lamentations free. I make sure that women, femmes and children remain at the centre of what we do. I rest and encourage others to rest.
I remember our thriving systems of community and matriarchy locally, and make that all so delicious and juicy that the patriarchal systems simply become obsolete, forgotten, a sad, unfortunate relic. I would, (and do) grow and share food with my people, eat together, sing together, frolic, make love and frolic some more for good measure.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
A mossy patch of earth under an ancient tree. Could be anywhere as long as I could frolic, eat and make love there. I do also enjoy going to Malta, my dad’s homeland, however there’s not much moss there, very sad. There’s a lot of good swimming unencumbered by sand (if, like me, you find sand to be the texture of the ninth gate of Hell) if you like that kind of thing. I feel a great sense of exhalation and belonging there but also – I’m not quite Maltese enough to truly belong. Nor am I ‘Aussie’ enough to feel like I belong here. But the moss judges not, it is simply green and soft.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Well obviously to the moss under the trees in my yard! It’s amazing. I suppose I might take them on a walk through the Blue Mountains too, on account of me living right here. There’s more moss and lovely trees and mist. So much mist! World Heritage Mist we call it. The Transit of Venus walk is one of my current favourites.
What are you currently reading?
Eros by Zoe Terakes. Oh my goodness! This book is so juicy, so visceral! So much to relate to here. I adore this book! Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly. Needs no explanation. I’ve just started this one, but I have a VERY good feeling that this book and I will become excellent friends. I’m also reading Avatar the Last Airbender graphic novels to my kids. We just finished watching the series. Excellent fun with education on colonialism packaged within.
What are you currently listening to?
I have London by Breathe. on repeat at the moment. Phenomenally talented Australian band, wonderful music. This song makes me remember why I came to the city and what I love about being close to it.
Call from the South by Mara! & Martenitsa Choir. You have not lived until you have listened to a Bulgarian women’s choir. The harmonies get into your bones and re-arrange your soul. This is one of my favourite songs from the legendary Mara! & Martenitsa. I now have the great privilege of having recently joined this choir and I get to sing with this wonderful group of women every week and it is a balm for the soul.
I’m hearing my album I Am Nature Working With You on repeat a great deal as I’m putting together videos for the songs.
Last week I had another great privilege of listening to an orchestra play the music I composed for the feature film The Laugh of Lakshmi that’s currently in post production. That was an absolute dream come true, it is a kind of magic, hearing an orchestra play your music.
Other than that there’s the rather constant soundtrack of “I’m hungry” and “I don’t want to go to sleep” from my kids – very repetitive but surprisingly musical!
Happiness is?
Touching moss in an ancient forest. Bunny binkies. Snuggling, squashed between my kids. Frolics. Haunting said mossy patch. Connecting with my dear friends and we just understand each other no matter how much time has passed. A rare childfree moment with my delicious man… frolicking. Singing across the paddocks to the cattle. Making music that sets something free inside you there, listening.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m premiering She Rested on 26 November, a deeply personal show, a song cycle, ritual and reckoning. Channelling our collective grief, elation and rage from motherhood into music, so we can see ourselves there. I’ve had the great honour of working with the stunning artist, Eddie Abd. She’s created mythic visuals woven through the show. This is what I needed when I was in the early throws of motherhood, lost, I’ve made it for us. She Rested is longing to tour, so I’m going to make sure that happens too.
After She Rested premieres, I’ll be performing as part of the opening events for the Powerhouse in Swell of Stars with my dazzling family along with a gaggle of riotous children. I think it will be a beautiful chaos.
It’s rather a lot in these couple of months with multiple shows and feature film compositions and such so I’m looking forward to a small hiatus with late lunches under a tree, making love amongst the trees, singing things to the hills and hopefully a conversation with a horse here and there, before I get right back into making more music and shows. Come find me, I’m waiting to meet you.
Aimée has written and will perform She Rested – a song cycle, a ritual, and a reckoning, in the Q Theatre – The Joan, Penrith, on Thursday 26 November, as part of the inaugural Superposition Festival. For more information, visit: www.thejoan.com.au for details.
Image: Aimée Falzon – courtesy of the artist