The Long Road to ‘Soliloquy’: Inside Reetoxa’s Most Personal Work Yet
Punk Head:Soliloquy started in 1997 and finally emerged during a global pandemic. How did revisiting your life’s work during such an intense and isolating period shape the album’s emotional depth?
Reetoxa: Compiling , writing and re visiting old ideas during the pandemic was so inspiring. Sometimes I dream I could do it again but I nearly went insane. The nd product is worth it I’m so proud.
Punk Head: Coffee, cigarettes, minimal sleep, and a hospital stay—did creating Soliloquy feel more like art or survival?
Reetoxa: Deffinetly felt like art. I only stopped because my dog would wake me up to be fed. Eventually she figured out she could wake me several times a day and got really fat. One day she could not wake me and started howling. The police came and they were very concerned when they saw me. I hated hospital I wanted to keep writing but it probably saved me.
Punk Head: Orchestras, double albums, decades of songwriting—was there a point where you thought, ‘I’m finally making the album I’ve always imagined’?
Reetoxa: So many highlights but Timor Leste, Erica and the stars and love keeps burning still felt like my song wroting was improving dramatically. It’s the first time I considered myself an artist even though I’d written thousands of songs.
Punk Head:Soliloquy aims to restore the concept of the album as a complete journey. What do you want listeners to feel from start to finish?
Reetoxa: I wanted listeners to think of themselves and their own lives not mine. This seems to have worked hearing interpretations all over the world is facinating.
Punk Head: Melbourne’s music scene is full of talent. How did you assemble this dream team, and what was it like bringing these heavy hitters into your vision?
Reetoxa: I have been trying to find permanent band members for a long time but when Simon Moro explained I would be suited to session musicians for my vision I was surprised but trusted him. Simon hand chose the musicians from his network and I knew they were talented but would we gel ? The answer was yes and I can’t believe they got what was in my head onto tape. I will always be grateful to them.
