Filly Mack's new single "Back To You", sits somewhere between sadness and euphoria. It’s not about heartbreak, and it’s not about being swept off your feet either. "I wrote this song all about realising you’re starry-eyed for someone and having to deal with the symptoms that come with it," she says. Her lyrics dig into that middle ground, messy and real, and the result is a song that’s raw without feeling heavy, upbeat without losing its depth.
“Back To You” was written as a thoughtful tune that sits close to the chest, but with it’s driving energy, it’s also one of those songs that gets your heart thumping."I produced the track so it shifted from an introspective piano ballad into an indie pop song with a driving energy that feels like a bit of an adrenaline rush," she explains. "It was a fun and tricky little process trying to get both the music and the lyrics to mimic the feeling of mixed emotions," Filly says. "I had to constantly shift between using emotional then upbeat songwriting techniques, and blending them together to create this cohesive sound."
Filly grew up on the North Coast of NSW, where peaceful countryside meets the ocean, and it’s clear that place has left its mark. "I take a lot of inspiration from the quiet moments in life," she says, "and growing up in the Northern Rivers has probably contributed to that a lot with its peaceful countryside and smaller communities." That slower pace bleeds into her process too. "The music I make can come from a place of truth, authenticity and freedom. I think that’s so crucial for any artist to blossom in their creative journey." It’s a refreshing kind of honesty.
If you’re wondering where her knack for storytelling comes from, think of artists like Lewis Capaldi, Gabrielle Aplin, or Ed Sheeran, all of whom understand how to build great songs that feel personal. Piano ballads and folk acts shaped how Filly thinks about music. "I used to hear ballads and laments and feel really deeply about them. I think I was naturally drawn to the depth and meaning they held in them," she says. "When I’m writing a song, it’s my hope that people can feel genuinely moved by the song’s message and relate to it in their own lives. Sometimes all people need is a reason to open a door to their feelings, and if my music can help them do that, it's a dream come true for me."
Filly is hands-on regarding production. "I love being part of the creative process when it comes to making a song," she says. "The production then feels real to me, and like it’s truly coming from my heart and soul." Her process isn’t quick or straightforward. She spends time layering sounds and lyrics, matching them to emotions. "I feel really deeply about each song and how it’s meant to make someone feel, so I put a lot of work into making sure both the lyrical and sonic content reflect the emotions I’m feeling when putting the song together." Filly's music feels personal because it is.
In 2024, Filly placed in the BaySounds Songwriting Competition, something she still seems a little surprised by. "I wasn’t sure about how people would react to the type of music I was creating because it wasn’t heavily layered with a lot of production," she says. She’d worried that, maybe, vulnerability wasn’t what people wanted these days. Turns out it is. "It was encouraging to see how people responded, and it’s given me hope that there is purpose to the music I’m making and the messages I’m sharing with people."
"Back to You" has already hit streaming platforms. Stream "Back To You" on Local Sounds now
https://app.localsounds.com.au/song/filly-mack/back-to-you
SoundVerge Editorial
Independent music journalism
