{
  "id": 11845437,
  "title": "How non-monogamy and mental health shaped Rowena Wise's songwriting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/how-non-monogamy-and-mental-health-shaped-rowena-wises-songwriting",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-04T04:20:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-04/rowena-wise-bad-things-feel-good-album-tour-non-monogamy/107176152"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rowena Wise crafts music that reflects the complexities of life, weaving together indie rock and folk elements to explore the nuanced grey areas of human experience. Her second album, Bad Things Feel Good*, embodies this approach, as Wise herself explains, \"I just decided I was in this head space of Actually I don't want to tell a clean story about who I am, about morality or love. I'd like to sit in the grey area a bit.\"\n\nBorn and raised in Margaret River, Western Australia, Wise grew up surrounded by music, thanks to her father who is a luthier and has been crafting guitars for over five decades. Her own musical journey began at 18 when she relocated to Melbourne and started releasing music under the mononym Ro. Her 2024 debut album, Senseless Acts of Beauty, was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, solidifying her reputation as a gifted songwriter.\n\nBad Things Feel Good* is a reflection of Wise's personal journey through relationships, mental health, and identity crises. The title track, for instance, deals with the idea of letting go of one's moral compass and following one's heart. Another track, The Anchor, portrays the heavy burden of love, while The Anchor is a tender, spartan tune.\n\nWise's songwriting often involves personal experiences, such as the experience of a close friend struggling with mental illness. The song Blood Ties, for example, tells the story of this friend and his emotionally repressed father, who grew up in a time when showing vulnerability was considered a weakness.\n\nWise's latest album features a live band, including bassist Rich Bradbeer, drummer Jess Ellwood, and pedal steel player Matt Dixon. The production by Rob Muinos at his Collingwood studio, The Ratshack, resulted in a rich, organic sound that complements Wise's emotive vocals. A recurring theme throughout the album is the unlearning of inherited ideas, which Wise believes is crucial for personal growth and authentic living. Despite the album's introspective nature, Wise remains optimistic about the power of music to transcend boundaries and create a sense of unity among listeners.",
  "summary": "A changed perspective on the rules of love, mental health and estrangement makes the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter's new album especially gripping.",
  "key_points": [
    "Rowena Wise explores grey areas of human experience in her music",
    "Live band on latest album emphasizes unlearning inherited ideas for personal growth"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Embracing life's complexities and rejecting clear moral narratives marks a shift in Wise's songwriting, allowing her to explore themes of identity, love, and mental health with greater nuance and authenticity.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}