My Brisbane: Singer-Songwriter Thelma Plum Never Wants to Leave West End

But if I died and went to heaven then heaven would be this place.
Maybe I’m smitten, bitten by the brown snake.

In 2022, Thelma Plum released a love song dedicated to Brisbane. An ode to the city, her song The Brown Snake and her EP Meanjin celebrated icons of the city: the rain, the river and the needle from Expo 88.

This year Plum’s releasing her second studio album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back and taking it on the road with a national tour, (including Queensland dates in October and November).

Broadsheet chatted to the born-and-bred Brisbanite about her go-to local haunts, what she gets homesick for when she’s on the road, her favourite local musicians and more.

You beautifully documented your connection to Brisbane through your Meanjin EP. What is your favourite thing about the city?
My favourite thing about Brisbane is the river, the Brisbane River. The brown snake.

What’s something you always miss about Brisbane when you’re away?
I miss how calm it is and how familiar it is. I guess for me there’s something a little bit slower-paced to Brisbane that I really appreciate and that I really miss, especially when I’m away in big cities like New York or Sydney or London wherever.

Tell us about one of Brisbane’s most underrated spots?
Gosh I have so many. I can’t pick just one. Cordeaux Social Club is my local and that’s new-ish. Michael, the guy who opened it is just really lovely. It’s in West End and everyone there has just kind of fallen in love with this place. The food is amazing. And they put together those really good platters that have like an egg and bits – a ploughman’s plate!

Best Greek food in Brisbane is Lefkas in West End. If you ever want to eat the yummiest lemon and garlic potatoes that you’ve ever had in your life, you should go to Lefkas.

Mama Taco. These are all in West End – I should branch out a bit, but Mama Taco is the best.

I should name something outside of West End, but I feel like I barely leave West End. I just love it there. Caravanserai I also really like.

Oh there’s a new one called Gum which people should go to. I’ve only been there once but it’s crazy delicious. It’s where the old Pasta Club used to be.

Do you have a favourite place to eat or drink after a show? A late-night spot?
This is very funny because Brissie past, like 8pm is a bit like, lol. We’re a very sleepy town. I guess after a show maybe The Indian Kitchen in West End because it’s quite easy to get takeaway after a show from there.

What’s the best place to listen to live music or to perform in Brisbane?
I mean, it used to be The Zoo but that’s gone now. Probably the Fortitude Music Hall. It’s just so nice. The sound is so good. That is really my favourite because I am just a sucker for incredible sound.

Tell us about something or someone the makes Brisbane a better place.
My best friend Amy. She’s a social worker and she’s just the best person in the world and she makes Brisbane really nice.

We always ask people what the essential Brisbane song is so if Brisbane had a theme song what would it be?
I’m going to say any Go-Betweens song like Streets of Your Town I mean that’s just the best song ever, slash The Veronicas’ Untouched. A mash-up of The Veronicas and the Go-Betweens? I mean, I would listen to it!

I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back will be released on October 18, 2024. Pre-save the album here.

www.thelmaplum.com
@thelmaplum