Emma Donovan is a unique and talented country music artist who seamlessly blends the genre with the powerful protest songs of Indigenous Australia. As a member of the country band the Donovans and the Black Arm Band, dedicated to the songs of the Aboriginal resistance movement, Donovan has made a name for herself in the industry. In addition to her work with these groups, she has also achieved recognition with two Air awards and an Australian music prize for her collaboration with the Melbourne rhythm combo the Putbacks. Her solo discography showcases her versatility, featuring R&B, soul, and roots music.
Excitingly, Donovan will be performing in a headline show at the iconic Sydney Opera House next Friday. She is also currently working on her highly anticipated next album, scheduled for release in 2024.
Country music played a significant role in Donovan’s upbringing, thanks to her mother’s love for artists like Loretta Lynn. In this interview, the talented singer-songwriter shares the story behind a special piece of Nashville merchandise she cherishes, as well as a few other personal items that hold sentimental value.
When asked about what she would save from her house in a fire, Donovan reveals that she has a strong attachment to many sentimental items. Despite knowing she should probably part ways with some of these belongings, she just can’t bring herself to do so. After her mother passed away five years ago, Donovan held onto many of her personal items that held sentimental meaning to her as well. Reflecting on their complicated relationship, which encompassed both sisterly camaraderie and sisterly fights, she fondly remembers stealing her mother’s CDs and wearing her pajamas during visits. If she had to choose one thing to save, it would likely be her mother’s old pajamas, which evoke cherished memories.
Among those sentimental items is a favorite old mug that belonged to Donovan’s mother. This mug holds significance because her mother acquired it during a visit to Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Nashville. Her mother taught her many songs by Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, so the mug is associated with happy memories and holds a special place in her heart.
When asked about her most useful object, Donovan immediately thinks of her collection of teapots. She uses them daily and finds them to be deeply connected to the act of making tea. Growing up, the kitchen table was a central hub of activity, and whenever visitors arrived, everyone would gather there. As she got older, she was entrusted with the task of making tea for her family, which made her feel like a part of the grown-ups. These tea-making rituals created a strong bond with her aunts and grandmothers, and that connection remains to this day. Donovan also shares that her grandmother was quite superstitious and had many sayings related to old customs and beliefs. Whenever a pot of tea was being made, her grandmother would remind her to cover the teapot with the lid, as it was believed that a visitor might be coming soon.
Finally, Donovan talks about an item she regrets losing. Her mother had an old dressing gown covered in frog patterns, which she adored. Green tree frogs were her mother’s totem, and she had an extensive collection of frog-related trinkets, pictures, and paintings. As a child, Donovan would dress up in her mother’s capes and gowns, pretending to be a queen. Now, her own daughters play with her stage clothes, reenacting scenes and songs. Unfortunately, her mother’s gown was lost during her battle with pancreatic cancer, along with a frog ring that was passed down to Donovan. Reflecting on these losses, she realizes the importance of cherishing the memories associated with her mother’s possessions. She recalls her first Mother’s Day, when her mother surprised her with her own dressing gown as a gift. Despite initially feeling indifferent towards dressing gowns, she now values the sentimental significance of that gesture and her own robe.
Donovan believes that losing certain things serves as an opportunity to create new memories and start fresh. She finds solace in the thought that sometimes there’s a reason behind losing items, allowing space for new experiences and connections to be forged.
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