Rowena Wise creates music that delves into the complexities of life. Blending a folk-inspired sincerity with rich indie rock elements, her songs address intricate themes in an approachable manner, reflecting on the pressures individuals feel to make correct decisions, as though there exists a moral ledger keeping track of their choices. “Life is far more complicated than a simple score,” Wise remarks. “Growth often arises from decisions and situations that cannot be easily classified as good or bad.”
The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter’s latest album, “Bad Things Feel Good*,” encapsulates this concept through its inherent contradictions. The asterisk in the title serves as an “unspoken footnote,” suggesting that not every negative experience offers positive feelings, according to Wise in her conversation with Double J’s Dylan Lewis. “There are numerous exceptions… it opens room for nuance.”
Wise emphasizes her desire to avoid neatly packaged narratives, explaining that the album was crafted during a tumultuous phase in her life, filled with complex emotions surrounding relationships, mental health, and identity challenges. In the title track, she expresses her decision to discard a faulty moral compass in favor of following her heart, underscored by delicate guitar strumming and the evocative sound of pedal steel.
Another notable piece, “The Anchor,” presents a minimalistic yet poignant exploration of love’s weight, illustrating how it can feel overwhelmingly heavy. The album’s coherence lies in the characters within each song, which blend elements of her own experiences with those of others, depicting moments of realization, transformation, and self-discovery.
Raised in Margaret River, Western Australia, Wise was part of a musical family where her father, a luthier, crafted her first instruments. “I feel incredibly fortunate! He’s approaching fifty years of guitar-making.” Her personalized collection includes an acoustic guitar, ukulele, dulcimer, and a violin, which she considers her main instrument. “I believe my melodies are shaped by my background as a violinist,” she notes, having arranged strings for her new album.
At 18, Wise moved to Melbourne and began releasing music under the name Ro. Her debut album, “Senseless Acts of Beauty,” was nominated for the Australian Music Prize, showcasing her skill as a songwriter that continues to evolve. Her ability to articulate challenging experiences in song resonates with fans of artists like Julia Jacklin.
In her track “Diamond in the Rough,” inspired by a friend’s heartbreak, she explores the pressures of trying to meet unrealistic expectations. “I watched her maintain an image of charm and capability while struggling internally. She had defined herself by being exceptional, impressive, and desirable.” The song encourages embracing the liberation found in stepping away from such ideals, with Wise tenderly affirming, “Don’t believe what you’ve been told / You’re made of flesh, you’re made of blood / You are enough.”
“Blood Ties” delves into the experience of a friend grappling with mental illness and an emotionally distant father. Wise reflects, “His father loved him, but lacked the emotional skills to engage in necessary conversations. He grew up in a time when vulnerability in men was perceived as weakness rather than an opportunity to deepen connections.” This dynamic contributed to her friend’s struggle with silence and isolation during difficult times.
Despite her candid exploration of difficult subjects, Wise admits to grappling with her own vulnerability, shaped by a “small-town” upbringing. “It’s crucial to be honest with your loved ones; otherwise, a distance can form. You must open up.”
Collaborating once again with producer Rob Muinos for “Bad Things Feel Good*,” Wise recorded the album at his Collingwood studio, The Ratshack. In just three days, she and her live band—including bassist Rich Bradbeer, drummer Jess Ellwood, and Matt Dixon on pedal steel—crafted each song in close quarters. “We managed to create a vibe together. It was magical.”
The band’s understated support enhances Wise’s emotional delivery, adding an organic quality that complements the intimacy of her lyrics. A steady rhythm section underpins “Unlearning of Love,” which captures the exhilarating yet daunting nature of forming new connections, blurring the lines between platonic and romantic relationships. This song serves as a thematic companion to her previous collaboration with fellow artist Didirri.
Through her music, Wise addresses themes of “unlearning inherited ideas,” giving her work an authentic sense of uncertainty while simultaneously resonating with listeners. Now in her thirties, she recognizes that life often lacks clear moral distinctions, asserting that “people are simply trying to do their best, even if it’s not perfect.”
Ultimately, Wise maintains her belief in the transformative power of music, viewing it as “one of the few magical aspects of life, transcending geographical and demographic divides.” She concludes, “It possesses the remarkable ability to unite diverse groups of people.”
