Georgia June’s new song is about the “perpetual fear of abandonment”

Georgia June’s powerful new song “Don’t Leave Me Hanging Out To Dry” has been in the making for three years.

Georgia June is an up-and-coming alternative band hailing from Sydney. Formed in 2017, they broke into the music scene by performing alongside Australian talents Lime Cordiale, The Preatures and Ali Barter. Georgia June’s sound, which is similar to Methyl Ethyl, Ruby Fields and Alex Lahey, is full of contemplative lyrics, energised beats and catchy choruses.  

Georgia June’s most recent song ‘Don’t Leave Me Hanging Out to Dry’ has been in the works for quite some time, as it was one of the first pieces that the group collaborated on together. Despite the initial draft being written in 2017, the song’s relevance remains for the lead singer of the same name. Although she now has her licence, the “perpetual fear of abandonment” that the lyrics explore is still hanging around for Georgia.  

What is your latest song ‘Don’t Leave Me Hanging Out To Dry’ about? 

I was completely infatuated with someone and after expressing that to them, I was swiftly rejected. I remember walking along Darling Harbour crying by myself, on my way to an impulse dance lesson I signed up for. I felt silly for letting someone into my head, and hurt because I let myself believe in a person that ended up being wildly disappointing. I wrote the lyrics into my notes that afternoon and I still have the original voice memo of me sobbing the chorus melody. You can hear a ferry boat’s horn in the background. But this song is about more than just one experience. I like to cover up my disappointment with jokes and knee jerk reactions. No one likes being let down. That feeling when your stomach hollows after realising that person isn’t going to pull through and show up when you really hope they’d be there. I guess this song is a plea: “Don’t leave me hanging”. 

What was your initial reaction to life in lockdown? 

Denial. I am a goal-orientated person so I went into damage control mode by adjusting plans and trying to think of solutions (as if I could somehow find the vaccine for COVID). Eventually, I accepted it and tried my hardest to stay positive and make the best of the predicament. 

Did you remain creative throughout lockdown, or experience a lull? 

I usually outsource my inspiration from experiences with people, places, moments and life events. But surprisingly, I managed to stay creative through all of isolation without those things. I had a lot of personal hiccups going on which occupied a big chunk of space in my mind. I started having a conversation with myself and I became very self-reflective. It sounds wanky, but it was as if I had been living my whole life with knots in my muscles and I had the opportunity to stretch them out and foam roll. 

What was your creative process like during isolation?

My songwriting process always varies but there’s a general outline I tend to follow. I start with a chord progression and a drum loop, then I go from there. Jack (the band’s guitarist) is really good at executing the sound palette, so I usually send it to him and he puts together a bed track that embodies the mood of the song. From there, I play it in my car and drive around aimlessly. For some odd reason, I write my best melodies and lyrics in transit. 

You can listen to Georgia June’s latest track ‘Don’t Leave Me Hanging Out to Dry’ here.

Styling credits

LOOK ONE
AND OTHER STORIES DRESS, VINTAGE TOP (WORN UNDERNEATH), ASOS SHOES

LOOK TWO
SISTER JANE MATCHING SET

LOOK THREE
MONCLER JACKET, TOPSHOP PINAFORE, SISTER JANE SHIRT (WORN UNDERNEATH)

LOOK FOUR
GANNI DRESS, VINTAGE SCARF

LOOK FIVE
SWOP DRESS