Vera Blue targets bad relationship behaviour in dramatic new single The Way That You Love Me

Vera Blue, the alter ego of Celia Pavey who was on The Voice, has used her new single to target abusive behaviour in relationships ahead of her national tour.

Vera Blue made a dramatic girl power statement with her gold-selling hit Lady Powers last year.

The Australian festival favourite amps up the #MeToo musical commentary with her new single The Way That You Love Me which calls out abusive behaviour by loved ones.

Vera Blue, the alter ego of Celia Pavey who Australia discovered as an ethereal folk singer on The Voice in 2013, has become wildly popular among alternative music lovers, regularly featuring in Triple J’s Hottest 100.

Her dark pop has dared to target contemporary issues from respecting women’s sexuality and bodies to gaslighting and intimidation in relationships.

Vera Blue’s stunning new single targets taking advantage of those we love. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“The Way That You Love Me definitely does relate to #MeToo and the discussions happening around that,” she said on the eve of the single release.

“But for me, it’s more about the behaviours of people coming in and out of your life, friends, lovers, even family.

“That thing where someone in your life that you love, and who loves you, can sometimes treat you like s … and you don’t realise it. Or you do that to them.”

Pavey, who wrote and recorded the song with her close collaborators Andy and Thom Mack in a beachside shack on the NSW Central Coast, said she realised her lyrics had an aggressive edge as they emerged.

“I know that you need me, I know that you care

You don’t make it easy pulling my hair

Holding me under, gasping for air

Now I need air,” she sings in the second verse.

The 25-year-old singer and songwriter said recording her vocals was an emotional experience.

“I find sometimes music is a way for me to say the things I probably couldn’t say to someone who was hurting me,” she said.

“There’s no one right now treating me that way but in the past, this song is what I would have liked to have said.”

Vera Blue wrote the song in a Central Coast beach shack. Picture: SUpplied.

The single was released just two days ahead of the Voice’s finale. Pavey has proven to be the most respected and career-making artist to emerge from the eight seasons of the television talent quest, selling out every headline tour she books and rising to the top of the charts and Hottest 100 with Papercuts recorded with rapper Illy.

She is renowned for her dynamic live performances in spectacular designer outfits. And spinning. Vera Blue loves to spin like a five-year-old on stage.

The dark pop artist is one of the most dynamic performers in Australia. Picture: Christian Gilles

“I only spin around a couple of times in a set. I haven’t rolled an ankle yet — I wear Doc Martins because I’m a little bit turbo on stage to be able to trot around in heels,” she said, laughing.

“There was a moment during this festival I played a couple of months ago and I did a really huge spin during Lady Powers and almost fell off stage.

“I had a good laugh about it but I looked over at my tour manager and he was ‘Bahhhhhh!’”

Vera Blue will launch the single with a national tour which kicks off at the Snowtunes Festival in Jindabyne on August 30. For all dates verablue.com

Originally published as Vera Blue targets bad relationship behaviour in dramatic new single The Way That You Love Me