Bonnie Anderson has made a name for herself in her native Australia, and is looking to do the same in the UK. The singer and actress first shot to fame after winning “Australia’s Got Talent” in 2007 at the age of 12, and in recent years has scored two top 20 hits on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.
Bonnie currently stars as Bea Nilsson in the Australian soap opera “Neighbours”. Last week she released her debut UK single, “Sorry”, a powerful gospel influenced track written about a past relationship. The song also ties in with her character’s current “Neighbours” storyline, with Bea set to perform the song in scenes airing this month.
The official music video for “Sorry” was also released this week:
Here at CelebMix, we got the chance to speak to Bonnie about “Sorry”, her role in “Neighbours”,as well as some of her musical influences! Keep reading to find out more.
You wrote “Sorry” about a toxic relationship that you experienced. Do you hope that listeners of the song who went through a similar experience will be able to relate to the song’s lyrics and message?
“Absolutely. My main hope with this song is to helps others find strength through personal difficulties and challenges. Writing “Sorry” helped me overcome a difficult period of my life when I felt vulnerable and lost; the creation of the lyrics made me feel stronger and fearless. I hope that others are affected in a similar way.”
You currently star in Australian soap opera “Neighbours”, with your character, Bea Nilsson, set to perform the song in scenes airing this month. How does it feel to be following in the footsteps of many other “Neighbours” stars turned singers, such as Kylie Minogue, who have gone on to have long-standing successful music careers?
“It feels very special. “Neighbours” has been around for many years and helped the careers of many famous stars. It’s an exciting place to be and I love that I am learning every day, from both the show and the people.To have the opportunity to share my voice through the show is something I am constantly grateful about. They believe in me and that’s a reassuring feeling. I am very excited about the future and seeing where my involvement in “Neighbours” takes me.”
“Sorry” is also supposed to tie in with Bea’s current storyline in the soap: she had been in a relationship with the abusive and evil Finn Kelly, who is also the ex-boyfriend of Bea’s half-sister, Elly Conway. Finn has also caused trouble towards the rest of Bea’s family: for example, Finn tried to poison Bea and Elly’s aunt, Susan Kennedy. Finn recently awoke from a 4-month long coma after falling from a cliff, not having any recollection of any of the past trouble he caused Bea and her family, and is looking for forgiveness. How much of an impact is the song going to have on the outcome of the storyline?
“It’s been very special being able to share Sorry through my narrative in “Neighbours”. I wrote Sorry three years ago before I was a part of “Neighbours”, so having the opportunity to tie it into my storyline is a bizarre but great feeling. The song is designed to help Bea overcome her fears and take back her power. She has a clear message to get across to Finn, which is important for her to have him know.”
Do you think Finn can be forgiven for all of his past troubles?
“I believe that in time, one can forgive, but it’s not an easy thing to do. There are a lot of conflicting emotions and feelings that Bea has towards Finn and his memory loss and it’s a massive challenge for both her and her family to overcome. I strongly believe that she feels sad for him especially when it comes to his relationship with his mother.”
What is the concept and message of the “Sorry” music video, and how does it relate to the song?
“The video for “Sorry” is all about ‘Truth’ – it’s a statement of love, passion and heartbreak. It portrays a time when you feel like you are on top of the world and madly in love but then it all comes crashing down. We all have moments like this in our lives but, as long as you stay truthful to yourself and take responsibility for your actions then things will become clear and you will be able to move forward from that dark time.
It’s so great to see you come and visit London! What were your thoughts on the city?
“My week in London was truly magical, I saw so many remarkable things! I feel like London is a very special place and, something that seems to shock a lot of people, I also love the weather. The people were very accepting and friendly, especially those who are a fan of my music.”
Is there anywhere else in the UK you’d like to visit?
“I would love to explore more of the country, especially Scotland as I have family there.”
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
“My mother was a singer and always listened to a wide variety of music, from rock and blues, to country and pop. Out of them all, I would say that I’ve always felt most connected to soul music. My biggest music inspirations are Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.”
If you could collaborate with any music artist, who would it be and why?
“I love when I get asked this question and the answer always remains the same. Ed Sheeran – I think that he is an unbelievable artist and musician, and seems like a sincere, genuine person. I would love to work with him, exploring how he produces such great music!”
What are some of your favourite songs at the moment?
“Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of 90s Pop. I love “Where is the Love” by Black Eyed Peas; such a beautiful message. I’ve also been loving Spotify as a platform to discover unheard-of artists.”
When the time is right, would you consider going on tour?
“I absolutely love gigging and touring. Being on stage and singing my songs is an important way for me to share my music with my fans. I can’t wait to get out on the road and make some memories! I would really love to come back to the UK hopefully and get some shows lined up.”
It’s great to hear that you’ve signed a new record deal. When can we expect more new music?
“Oh man! It’s been a really cool year being on “Neighbours” as it’s allowed me to get lots of new inspiration for my music. I can assure you that new work is on its way and that you’ll be hearing a lot more of me… this is only the beginning.”
Bonnie would also like to say: “So much love and thank you for the chat.” We would also like to thank her for giving us the opportunity to talk to her.
If you want to keep up with Bonnie, make sure to follow her on Instagram and like her official Facebook page!
Let us know your thoughts about this chat and “Sorry” over on Twitter @CelebMix!