Indie musician Stella Donnelly rejects activist label

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

By Jamie Finn

Since emerging onto the indie-pop scene in 2017, Stella Donnelly's songs have become symbols for social change. Many people first heard of her when the song "Boys Will Be Boys" became an anthem for the #MeToo movement. Yet the Australian never intended to be the voice of a movement. Ahead of her show in Seoul on Dec. 6, she told The Korea Times why.

Donnelly's music is deceptively personal. Her lyrics explore her experiences of the world ― in particular, her experiences with men. And even more particularly, her experiences with terrible men. This led one critic to describe her first full-length album, "Beware of the Dogs," as "a musical encyclopedia of male assholes." Yet, even though she writes from what she describes as "a very personal place," her songs often touch on near-universal themes.

"Music for me is always about whatever is going on in my life at the moment of writing a song," she said in an interview. "Sometimes I am experiencing something that many other people can relate to, which I guess makes it seem like a social movement song, but it always comes from a very personal place."

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

The singer went one step further, seeming to actively push back against the label often thrust upon her and other women in music who sing about their experiences as a "social-political activist."

"Of course," she explains, "I am concerned about the social welfare of others, but I am singing about my life. I am not intentionally trying to harness social welfare when I write music. That just seems to be how people interpret them."

It's unsurprising that writers fall into the trap of interpreting her music this way, though. Her songs often cut through the misogynistic bullshit with laser-focused precision. Her critically acclaimed debut album unapologetically explores themes of toxic masculinity, abortion, racism, climate change and victim blaming. "Boy, if you touch her again / I'll tell your wife and your kids about that time / 'Cause this is not '93," she sings on "Old Man." Thanks to lyrics like "'Cause it's our words that'll keep our daughters safe" (taken from the same song), many of Donnelly's songs have become anthems for gender equality. In particular, "Boys Will Be Boys," a song that was written about a cliche often used to justify violent and destructive behavior, became a very real part of the #MeToo movement.

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

Despite touching on similar themes, her recent album, "Flood," feels more personal and introspective. It explores the singer's endeavor to find safety in a world that makes you feel so vulnerable. Donnelly argues there's a very simple reason why it feels more personal: "I play piano on this one! All of my music has been personal. I think to some listeners, it sounds more personal because I play the piano which I feel is a far more honest instrument than a guitar. You have nowhere to hide!"

The decision to start playing piano came from a place we're all too familiar with ― it's a skill she picked up during the pandemic. Donnelly is from Australia, a country that experienced some of the most extreme lockdowns. Luckily for her fans, she chose to use this as an opportunity to work on her music. "I had more time on my hands at home during the lockdown. I started playing piano more and more, so that was how the songs came out!" she said.

It was during the pandemic that Donnelly managed to connect to nature and found her new love ― birdwatching. "I love birdwatching," she said. "It's such a simple and easy way to find awe in every day. Looking at them through the binoculars in such great detail that you can really see the vibrancy of their feathers and movements: it's such a beautiful activity." Donnelly's newfound passion even prompted her to make the cover of the album a picture of birds.

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

So what can fans in Korea expect at her show on Dec. 6? "They can expect to see a band of people having a great time!" Donnelly answered. There's also a good chance that the band will have some very full bellies, too, since the thing she is most excited about when she comes to Korea is, you guessed it, "the food."

Despite being a card-carrying Australian, Donnelly sings with a distinctive British twang. As well as being a nod to her musical hero, English folk-punk icon Billy Bragg, this accent is a result of the singer's Welsh upbringing. Donnelly spent some of her childhood in a small part of Swansea, Wales, and loves to perform there whenever she can. "Wales is my favorite place to play live. It's a country where I spent time growing up as a child. I get to see my aunts, and it feels like a second home."

She added, "I'm really excited to play in Seoul, though. Who knows, maybe it will be my new favorite!"

She'll be at Rolling Hall on Dec. 6, with local artist eundohee opening.

Jamie Finn is chief editor of Platform Magazine.