Delta Goodrem: ‘We are such a proud country’
In an exclusive interview, Delta Goodrem reveals how the ‘incredibly raw’ song she wrote about the bushfires came to be and why the Australian spirit can’t be broken.
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As Delta Goodrem watched this summer’s devastating bushfires unfold across the country, she felt heartbroken – and compelled to help. So she wrote and recorded a new ballad to raise money in support of volunteers and the bushfire relief effort.
As she prepares to appear at a star-studded benefit concert with a line-up of local and international performers, the singer talks to Stellar about her “incredibly raw” song, the natural generosity of Australians and music’s enduring ability to heal.
You wrote and released the song ‘Let It Rain’ within days. How did it come together?
It was incredibly organic. Like the rest of the country, I had continual tears in my eyes watching what was happening with the bushfires.
I think all of Australia feels a piece of themselves in so much pain every day watching this crisis. For months now [I’ve seen] these images on the television and in the papers, and of course many people have witnessed it in real life.
At Christmas time, with ash falling around us and smoke in the air, I was thinking about what I could do.
Not long after I was sitting at the piano in the studio and saw the footage of the firefighters in the truck with the fire coming at them while they put their blanket up at the window. That just broke my heart.
My wish at the time was for them to know how thankful we all are for what they’re doing and the sacrifices they’re making for our country. It was like my fingers moved themselves at the piano and these words just came out, to put a call out to the people who were going through so much.
The fires have been so relentless and unstoppable; I was praying and hoping rain would come and help the firefighters.
You didn’t plan on releasing it when you wrote it. What made you change your mind?
I just sang from my heart and put it up on my Instagram account and said, this is how I’m feeling. Then so many people were asking me to release it. On January 1, I was in the studio working and I decided to put everything on hold, record this song right now and put it out to help raise funds.
It was a tangible way I could actively help raise awareness and money, and I also wanted to comfort people through music. It’s incredibly raw. I had a few hours, I sang it from top to bottom with all my heart and soul, recorded it and put it out.
We did a video the same night at 11pm with some friends on iPhones. I was so incredibly touched and grateful that Apple Music reached out to me and said they wanted to support by donating all their proceeds from ‘Let It Rain’ downloads to the bushfire relief as well.
The lyrics are very visual – you sing about “breathing in the ashes of our hometown” – as well as putting in a “thank you to our saviours” and being “grateful for the heat you take away”. Did you have the firefighters at front of mind when writing?
Oh yes, absolutely; they are saviours. They are the ones out there away from their homes and families who are saving the day and giving their all to protect other people’s homes and families.
I really hope they hear that message. I love the idea of people singing that lyric, because that’s how we all feel. They’ve done incredible work, not only for the people but also for the animals.
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You’ve been announced in the line-up of artists performing at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert in Sydney next month. How do you think you will go with performing such an emotional song live?
It’s overwhelming to think of this song that I wrote so quickly, from this very emotive moment and space, getting played at this big event, but it’s the perfect place for it.
And I’ve always believed it’s very spiritual to unite through music, sing together and wrap our arms around each other.
It’s also another opportunity to raise money and give love back to the beautiful land of Australia, and help rebuild step by step.
Celeste Barber is hosting the event, and with the millions she has raised she has really demonstrated how to use social media for good.
She is incredible. It’s been wonderful to watch everyone from all walks of life doing whatever they can, whether it be Celeste or the entire arts community, right through to my local jeweller and coffee shop.
I’ve been amazed to see the generosity, as well as the brilliant ways people have worked to raise money.
You’ll be performing alongside fellow musicians Olivia Newton-John, Guy Sebastian, Queen + Adam Lambert, Amy Shark, Tina Arena, Daryl Braithwaite and many others. Are you looking forward to seeing so many friends perform?
Yes! It’s all the Aussies playing together as well as a couple of international friends. It’s going to be such a special day watching everyone sing through their set list; I’m really looking forward to it.
It’s inspiring to see Australians come together. We’re such a proud country. The spirit of Australia is a real thing and it lives in all of us. This is the perfect example of it – we all come together to try and do our very best in this moment.
‘Let It Rain’ is out now, with Delta Goodrem donating all proceeds to Australian bushfire relief. Fire Fight Australia takes place at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on February 16.
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Originally published as Delta Goodrem: ‘We are such a proud country’