Musician Vera Blue is best known for her 2017 ARIA-nominated debut album, Perennial. Here, the 32-year-old from Forbes, NSW, talks about the influence of the men in her life, her first heartbreak and her recent marriage.
My maternal grandfather, John Smith, was a boxer who nearly went to the Olympics in 1948, but broke his nose and kept fighting even though he got concussion. He is a very resilient man who had four kids with my grandmother, Janet. Pop has always been a strong figure in my life in terms of ambition and determination.
Pop had a real love for cars and became a mechanic as well as owning a car wash at one point. He is a big lover of poetry, music and prayer. He grew up Catholic and was always giving to the church. He is very funny and would go to local jails and entertain the inmates by performing skits and poems.
Pop also trained me in athletics when I was 10. I grew up with anxiety, and sometimes it would get the better of me. I was about to embark on a big race and when I heard the gun, I got this anxiety-induced stomach pain and couldn’t compete. Pop didn’t judge me. He’d trained me hard, but brushed it off and said it’s OK, onto the next one.
My paternal grandfather, Poppy Elwyn, is quietly spoken and shows love in unique ways. He was a farmer and my dad, Glenn, helped him on the property. They have a mutual love of flowers and nurturing the land.
Dad worked as a horticulturalist and owned Willows Nursery in Forbes [NSW] for 20 years. He is retired now but his nurturing nature has been passed down to me; we show love through care, presence and softness. He’s protective but not overbearing. He also shows his love by putting flowers throughout the house.
Dad met my mum, Donna, at the Royal Hotel in Forbes. She was working as a teacher and would go there on Friday nights with friends. When leaving the pub one night, she knew his birthday was coming up and quickly planted a kiss on his cheek and left.
I have a younger brother, James, a sports journalist who covers V8 supercars and is a rev-head. He is a lot like Dad. James and I would hang out a lot as kids and we both loved Harry Potter. We’d create fantasy games at the nursery together. I also have a sister, Emily, who is two years older than me.
My first love was a boy named Jim. We had our first kiss in the music room when I was in year 10. I was quite shy and remember my heart racing and feeling hot, even with a quick peck. He was a year younger than me in school, and we stayed together for a few years.
When I finished year 12, I moved to Sydney and broke his heart. He was still at school and didn’t love the idea of me talking to other boys. It got messy, and it was painful to break up.
I had another relationship after Jim. That boyfriend was with me when I was on The Voice; we dated for three years. It was fun – he was an energetic entertainer who played drums and we had a real connection. It was a time of personal growth for me.
I experienced a sexual assault when I was travelling overseas in my 20s, after I made my 2017 album Perennial. I was with someone who seemed spritely and fun, but something went wrong quickly. It taught me to be careful, and that some people aren’t who they seem.
I’ve been with my partner, Billy, since 2018 – we got married in January. He’s an audio engineer with an incredible sense of humour, and the most supportive person in my world. I met him at a festival. I thought he was cute – he’s very punk, with tattoos and piercings. We complement one another well.
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Vera Blue will perform at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, on February 27.
Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.
Jane Rocca is a regular contributor to Sunday Life Magazine, Executive Style, The Age EG, columnist and features writer at Domain Review, Domain Living’s Personal Space page. She is a published author of four books.Connect via X or email.
