“With a vocal style reminiscent of Aurora at her most uplifting, FREE boasts a stirring melody and a rousing, personal and incredibly effective chorus. Listening to FREE is akin to reading a joyous, righteous manifesto on shaking off the emotional and other chains that bind us.”
Reflective, compelling, and utterly captivating, First Nations singer-songwriter and visual creator GLVES weaves impactful tales of her life, exploring her inner emotional landscape to find healing and self-love.
Driven by a deep appreciation of her Kaurareg, Fijian and Polynesian heritage, and a heartfelt longing to further connect with her culture, the Lutruwita-born, Meanjin-residing storyteller harmoniously combines electronic elements, soothing vocal loops, and organic instruments, to create a blend of after-dark and other-worldly, cinematic Blak Folktronica.
With a sense of beauty, ritual, and reverence, GLVES unites her music across all visual mediums including photography, music videos, and social media to showcase her artistic vision; eternally searching for an understanding of her history and the heritage, culture, bloodlines, and stories in which she has descended.
“I am driven to create from my personal story and feel compelled to deep dive and explore my humanity. It is my goal as a creative to champion BIPOC women in Australia and help them be strong in their identities and validate their journeys and experiences”
Following her first six releases and in the last three years, GLVES has received critical acclaim from national and international tastemakers and collected Commendations in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Queensland Music Awards, won Best Cinematography in the 2021 Reels Music Video Awards, an artist spotlight, and multiple plays across Triple J and Triple J Unearthed, Spotify editorial support, and an Emerging Artist nomination in the 2022 Australian Women in Music Awards. She also won Best Music Video at the 2022 Sydney Women’s International Film Festival. GLVES also participated in the First Nations Pathway program created by Mushroom and Coles, with mentoring from Aria-nominated First Nations artist Emily Wurramara. GLVES performed live at Earth Frequency, Splendour In The Grass, and Ministry of Sound Classical, selling out her first headline show in Brisbane.
In 2023, she was a finalist in the Queensland Music Awards Billy Thorpe Scholarship and the Denis ‘Mop’ Conlon Scholarship. She was selected to receive the Liveschool and Spotify First Nations Producer Training Scholarship. She was commissioned to create the theme song for the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards, Sister you are a Queen. She performed live at various festivals, including Dark Mofo and Horizon Festival.
“The big reverby drums and GLVES’ siren-call vocal make this one hit like you’re coming up for air from beneath the rocky waves. You gasp and breathe in every last particle of the life-giving good stuff.”
“On “Heal Me”, the deep bass notes and GLVES dexterous voice that can jump octaves with ease give the song a feeling of vast openness. GLVES’ vocals are nothing short of stunning and they stand front and centre in a swirling and evocative soundscape” - Sarah Zupko, Pop Matters
"GLVES has transcended eras with this visceral production. You're channeling thousands of years into song" Tommy Faith, Triple J Unearthed.
“Love this shapeshifting sound from GLVES. It sounds like she's commanding the currents and spirits into song.”- Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J Unearthed.
“With rhythmic, hypnotic loops and beats that seem born of nature itself, Heal Me has a timeless and tribal feel” - Analogue Trash
