This summer, it’s about time that you RISK IT

BIG WETT’s artist name is in itself more evocative of her persona than any punctual description could fend off. Her ethos evokes a plethora of suggestive, lustful scenarios; all of them steamy, and all of them in superlative. Think of a hot-blooded day by the pool, going commando, erotic tension… BIG WETT ultimately impounded the definition of sexiness – but she did it in a bawdy, humorous way. And it’s not that she does not take herself seriously in this emergence, but singing explicitly about hedonistic pursuits is just as fun as acting on them – so why degrade the act by being all grave about it all? We caught up with the rising Australian sex bomb and raised the critical issues of the discourse: what’s sexy, what’s unsexy, and what to do with the most unproductive feelings out there: shame – all in the light of RISK IT coming up and keeping the raunchiness aflame. 

What’s up?

I’m really good! Currently smoking some weed naked in my backyard, so can’t complain – in fact I couldn’t be more grateful to be me and to be talking to you. 

I am jealous and inspired. Is that your ideal summer outfit?

Definitely. But otherwise it would be some bikini, slutty little shorts, sunglasses, a cocktail, beach, swimming, hot people around me, sweaty, fun.

What would a perfect day look like to you?

Either that or being in the studio, writing a song. Or playing a show. Or talking shit with my friends at 6am. Or sleeping 16 hours straight after doing all of those things in one day. Which I have done many times!

Can you guide us around the story of your new sophomore EP ‘RISK IT’?

NO REGRETS feels like I just left my partner at the altar. PONY feels like I’ve done mushrooms in a field. HOLD UP UR BODY feels like I’m at pre’s for girls night. TOP OF THE CLASS feels like I’m on a romantic weekend away with my man. CRAZY feels like I just flipped a table at the RSL. EAT IT feels like I’m naked in a spa bath drinking champagne and about to have a threesome. Do it all, or do none. Either way, you gotta RISK IT. 

I love your very literal take on the story part. What are your expectations and desires with it? My desires are to have my music reach the ears of the people it will connect with. That’s all I ever want for my music because I know that not everyone who hears it will appreciate it, but those who get it really get it. My expectations are that the universe will continue to provide that for me;  whoever, whenever and wherever the time is right.

What are 3 non-sexual-innuendo words that could define your music?

SILLY, FUN, FREE

What/who are your biggest inspirations?

I grew up liking all sorts of music, and I think that reflects in the array of musical genres I’ve released. Growing up I loved everyone from Dolly Parton (what an icon) to Rihanna (bad bitch), Eminem and 50 Cent (smoking apple bongs in high school) to Johnny Cash (singing with my dad on guitar). Synchronized dancing with Backstreet Boys and twerking in a boxing ring with Xtina. I love all different sounds and I always loved dancing, and having a visual performative element to music as well. It’s not just music – I like video games and stand-up comedy and doing mushrooms in the forest. I like sitting on a beach all day and I like discovering a city. I like girls and boys and everything in between. I like coke, beer, and ketamine. I like a sweaty club and I like an empty room… (wait I think I just wrote some lyrics haha…) 

Anyway, the world is an interesting place if we choose to see it as such and be inspired by it, which I’m realising more and more.

We’ll be on the lookout for those lyrics next!! On that note, your entire musical persona is revolving around your unabashed, irreverent approach to sexuality. What helps you keep confident and grounded in your sex-positivity? (especially since backlash can sometimes easily be overbearing)

I grew up in a religious school and did not resonate with rules, religion or being conservative at all from a very young age. In middle school, they passed around an Abstinence Form to everyone to sign, and basically bullied people into signing that they’ll wait until marriage to have sex, and if not they’ll go to hell or some shit. I didn’t even read the whole thing honestly – I just immediately said I wasn’t signing and I got sent to the principal’s office. Ended up getting detention for a month as punishment. It taught me that religion and conservatism use shame, including sexual shame, to control people. We’re taught to see being sexually liberated, to express ourselves, to think politically and socially for ourselves as a bad thing, but I think it makes people resentful and secretive and hateful, and those are the last things I want to be. 

So now I view shame as a defence or deflection tactic – if someone is talking shit about me, what they’re hating is that their own shame is stopping them, that they’re not free to act this way, so they’re trying to pass on that shame to me. I knew BIG WETT would be abrasive for many, so I mostly try not to let it affect me too much.  Recently, someone was trying to slut shame me for sleeping around and being a bit of a brat, but it’s like…. that’s the whole point! …. So thanks for noticing and doing my PR for me!

Exactly!! In light of that, can you define sexy in your own terms?

Confidence, pride, no shame, no judgement to self or others, freedom, dancing, singing, enjoying yourself, giving compliments, smelling good, getting sweaty, being generous of spirit, laughing, being silly, being smart, being yourself.

What are some un-sexy things?

Being rude, scowling, not laughing at jokes, jealousy, not thinking for yourself, not being funny, judging, not dancing, talking shit about people behind their back, being a bad friend, not having fun, being boring.

What would you be if you weren’t BIG WETT?

Miserable.