This period of your life seems so positive, and Perennial has a motif of healing and mending; was making Perennial like an antidote for the break up?

Yeah in a way! Andy Mak, my producer, Andy’s younger brother Tom who is my co-writer and Jackson Barclay have become such close friends of mine now because we’ve been through it all together. Just being with them and being able to open-up to them and talk about everything I’ve been through. That’s how we’ve been able to make such special songs, by being honest and real. It was a tough period of my life but I’ve come out of it and we’ve created such a special work.

What is the process behind working and collaborating with such incredibly talented artists like Andy Mak and Gossling? What is it like to make these emotive songs with them?

It’s so special. The first time I met Gossling I was fangirling hard, you know, it was so cool. To be able to continue working with her after we created ‘Fingertips’ has been wonderful. For the first few songs on Perennial to have that creative writing touch was so amazing. It was incredible to collaborate with them. I’m really stoked that I’ve found my little nutshell and people that truly get me. There were moments where sometimes I would cry, and sometimes I would be experiencing emotional things and being real and open about that with them was something I really treasure.

In Forbes I grew up listening to and writing folk music and now I’m delving into electronica. I really experimented and had so much fun with them! Every sound that we made had its individual purpose and place in each song.

There’s an array of potent emotions on this album. ‘Regular Touch’ is such a feel-good, girl power song! What was the inspiration behind writing it?

I really love that people are feeling that sense of empowerment now that I’ve released the song. After everything I’ve been through, it’s really, really cool! At the time, it was written at the very early stages of the album. I actually connect to the song a lot more now because at the time I was feeling like I was in the chains of heartbreak and wanting to overcome that, wanting to feel freedom and enjoy being on my own without having that sense of restraint. I wanted to feel worth something, and it’s awesome because now that I’ve released the song I am feeling that in myself. I’m happy on my own. I feel so repaired, so free.

I really love that people are connecting and relating to it in the way that it’s empowering, going “yeah! I’m happy on my own.” Relationships are beautiful and awesome but if you’re young and there are times when you want to get through heartache, then this is the song for you (laughs).

I personally really resonated with this record reflecting on my own break ups. I understood and related to the emotion that you’re communicating with Perennial. What is it like to make such an open and honest record? What do you hope to achieve in giving this to the world?

I guess the main thing with Perennial is vulnerability and being able to recognise it. In the making of this album I’ve developed a sense of acknowledging vulnerability and letting it be a thing that comes naturally and to let it happen. I think a lot of people try to brush it off and get rid of it, and that’s ok, that’s the way people deal it, but I want people to know it’s ok to feel the way you do, it’s ok to wear your heart on your sleeve and be emotional. Be who you are in your special way. Overcoming something is strengthening.

I love that people have connected to it and I’m excited to be able to finally give the album to everyone. It’s not mine anymore, it’s theirs. It’s now their special story of my own to make their own now. It’s a very extraordinary feeling to be giving them something that I’ve been working so hard on and put my heart and soul into.

I noticed that that your Instagram bio reads: “Vera Blue, a project by Celia Pavey”. What does that mean?

When I think of Vera Blue, I think of it as a few people, not just me. It’s Andy Mak, my producer, my co-writer Tom, Gossling, these people that have touched in and out of the project. Because we started it together, the music came before the name. So it’s like we are a special little crew of people that create music about stuff that I am personally going through that’s highly relatable. At the moment, ‘Vera Blue’ is something that’s keeping me busy and focused. Naming it a project also opens-up doors for me to be able to do so many other things. I’ve released records like ‘This Music’ and ‘Bodies’ under ‘Celia Pavey’. Now I can start doing new things and experimenting with new music. ‘Vera Blue’ fits and I feel that this is who I am. I am Vera Blue and this is what I love doing.

With changing my name, it wasn’t about removing myself from The Voice. I’m proud of my experience there and anything I’ve done prior to becoming Vera Blue. I’m not trying to hide. Celia is my real name, you can look me up on google (laughs). The Vera Blue Project is something I hold very dear to my heart.