bear x medhanit

I was first introduced to Medhanit’s music in 2023 at Party in the Paddock. I was parked in a broken Kmart camping chair, sipping an unholy hot mix of vodka, vodka, lemon lime and bitters, and vodka out of a crumpled Mount Franklin bottle, eating more than my fair share of Cheezels, and convincing myself my blisters might magically heal if I just stayed still long enough.

It was that rare festival moment when you realise you don’t actually have to be anywhere for a while - you’re the perfect temperature, still relatively clean, all your friends are accounted for, there’s still ice in the esky, and somehow you’ve timed your last bathroom stop right after the port-a-loo cleaning crew.

Then Abi cut through it.
“Alright kids, you’ve got about ten minutes to rally before Medhanit.”

“Who?”

“You’ll love her.”

And she was right.

Within minutes, we were locked in - completely hypnotised by this absolute diva in a tennis skirt, bouncing across the stage with more energy than the entire crowd combined (and trust me we were bopping). Rested feet suddenly felt irrelevant. That set kicked off a full-blown love affair with her track Cold.

Medhanit’s first single Her landed in 2019, kicking off a seriously strong catalogue. Since then, she’s moved from strength to strength - touring with PNAU, lighting up festivals across Australia (Party in the Paddock, Sweet Relief, Party in the Apocalypse, Falls Festival), supporting heavyweights like Vera Blue, Genesis Owusu, and Holy Holy, and performing her first headline show late last year - all while steadily releasing more of her own bops along the way.

Here’s Medhanit:

Give us an elevator pitch.

Hi ! My name’s Medhanit, I’m a 20-something year old songwriter who calls Lutruwita/Tassie home. I write music you can dance or cry to (or both) and I run mostly off hot chocolate and the OG barbie movies. I love creating visual and sonic worlds for my writing to exist in, and I currently live in Naarm/Melbourne.

Was music always something you wanted to be involved in? Did you have a backup plan? Or all in?

I grew up in and around my dad’s music shop, which has been in the family for 4 generations now. Entire collections of Taylor Swift piano books would disappear off the shelf for the afternoon, victim to a primary school kid who had 3 hours to fill between school pick up and dinner time.

Mum worked as an early childhood music educator too before studying nursing, and close family friends taught me guitar and piano. Though I actually spent most of my time in a ballet studio until I was around 17, music and writing remained intrinsic to who I was. So much so, that by the time my gap year rolled around I decided to give it all a proper go … I’m still on said gap year seven years later.

Is there a specific career moment where you thought to yourself “is this actually happening?!”?

In 2022, Holy Holy asked me to join their Like A Version of Post Malone’s ‘Sunflower’, which was a surreal experience. Visiting the ABC studios with a band that had so graciously extended a corner of their world to me was such a kindness I’ll remember forever! I also had the opportunity to tour with PNAU as one of their live vocalists for a few years alongside one of my best mates Chloe Wilson (half of Sumner). I learnt the ropes of both national/international touring and had the pleasure of playing a packed out Sidney Myer Music Bowl on NYE.

Medhanit with Holy Holy in the ABC studio for Like A Version in 2022.

3 songs that belong on every road trip playlist…

Returning - Juice Webster
April - Armlock
Even When I’m Leaving - Wishlist

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue their passion, what would it be?

I think it’s really valuable to find anchors and outlets outside of your passion, especially if what you’re pursuing is within a creative field. There is so much inspiration, comfort and context to be found in collecting memories and feelings with friends, family, nature and rest. And honestly, a good therapist goes a really long way too.

It’s no secret that Cold is my favourite song of yours. What is your favourite?

I love that you love Cold ! My favourite is Not About Dancing (Monday After). I co-produced the track with JT Mcrae, and shot the cover art with one of my best Tassie friends Niamh Hilder. The production explores so many different textures and I like that the lyrics use the analogy of movement to portray closeness to someone.

What’s next for you?

Right now I am working on finishing off 3 singles! One of which is kind of delicate piano ballad, which would be my first release in that style. I’m really excited about that because that’s how I grew up writing, and how I write when I’m home. I had the pleasure of featuring on ThatBoyKwame’s recent album ‘these are just my thoughts’ on a song we co-wrote called NOMATTER, so look out for more news soon around his upcoming tour.

My next meal will probably be chocolate digestive biscuits.

Name one artist that you think is wildly underrated right now.

MIGSY ! I’m biased though because he’s my literal brother and I hear the songs he’s working on 100000 times a day. He’s only 16 and he makes the most vibrant, unpredictable tracks. Super bass heavy and experimental !

What is your ideal festival time slot?

Sunset is my dream set time !