Capturing Australia’s unique landscape, Wollongong artist Rita B’s new melancholy music video for Travel Companion is a frank reminder of what it’s like to be alone

Words Tanaya Joe Image D.H Norley

Wollongong alternative folk singer Rita B has released her newest song, Travel Companion, which explores the depths of escapism, loneliness and isolation. The stripped-back vocals are accompanied by acoustics, creating a dream-like song that you can sink into. In the film clip, Rita B explores rural NSW, surrounded by fields of flowers, and abandoned buildings, slow dancing alone. Her lyrics are interwoven with these aesthetically pleasing shots that are a raw and honest peek into travelling alone as a woman. With a new EP expected for later this year, we chatted to singer Rita B about her passion for music, the new track and live performances.

How did you initially discover your love for music and when did you decide to pursue it as a career?
I always had an imaginative storytelling type of mind when I was growing up as a kid. I would write short stories and poems in notebooks, and often give some away as gifts to my friends and family. Music came afterwards. I was learning piano and I made the link between music and stories when I was in my early teenage years. I had started learning the guitar and found songwriting from there. I didn’t find my voice until years later! I was way too shy to share it and that was the main barrier. In hindsight, I guess what really helped to push me along and get through high school in general was music class in years 11 and 12. The catharsis it provided. I also had very supportive peers and teachers, which led me to take lessons, and to go on to learn music and performance skills at TAFE. There I gradually built up the courage to perform. The performance element eventually got easier, and I became more confident through the years and now here we are!

With the new song Travel Companion, why did you decide to explore these themes of escapism and isolation alone rather than with the band?
I wanted to write a simple song with a basic chord arrangement. I found during that particular time, my music was straying from the solo singer-songwriter aspect and I wanted to bring myself back to my roots. The themes of escapism and isolation were a consequence of this process.

The film clip was filmed throughout regional NSW, what inspired you to connect with these landscapes?
It was actually the director Maisie Cohen who came up with specific landscape ideas. I was very excited by the prospect of taking the video out onto the road to chase these landscapes. They both felt and looked very remote or abandoned. It definitely added to the theme of escapism and loneliness. We filmed in wonderful rural NSW settings and visited post-colonial towns, where the architecture is very interesting and ended up in the desolate and arid landscape of Mungo National Park. On a separate occasion, we also filmed at The Servo in Port Kembla.

How does this latest track differ from your older music?
I took a hiatus from music from about 2011-2016 until the moniker of Rita B emerged in 2017 with the first album. That album With Pockets Nearly Empty and a Glass Almost Full was recorded by a fellow named Tim Wall who was exceptionally good at capturing a true and natural sound. The music on this album is folk, with elements of country, and the lyrical content portrays a grieving period. My music now has become rockier and darker, and I’ve been working with a different producer, Guy Fenech, to achieve a more layered sound. I imagine the music will always be evolving due to what it is I’m experiencing or consuming at a point in time. I am the type of person who won’t put restrictions on my craft – I embrace the ebb and flow and make what I feel.

What have you missed most about performing live? Any gigs in the pipeline?
I miss the boys from the band so much – Scott Piper and Thomas Fijalkowski. They are so good to play music with. I haven’t been planning any gigs due to the current situation. It’s a little emotional when you have things booked and they are consistently cancelled so I thought I’d just wait it out.

Do you feel like the Wollongong music scene is growing?
I think Wollongong’s music scene has always been unique. There’s something for everyone if you know who’s doing it or where to look. I expect that once the pandemic restrictions ease, the music scene will explode. I’d love to be a part of that and experience it grow.

Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into the music industry?
There’s definitely an art to figuring it out so that it serves you, which takes learning. My advice, I guess, is the connections you make are key, so try to keep them in line with your values.

Watch Travel Companion by Rita B here