Nat Allison has today (September 4) released “Think Clearly Now”, the first single from a five-track EP that has been more than two years in the making. In conversation with Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips, Allison discusses the evolution of her voice, the songwriting and recording process behind the new material, and the challenges of independently bringing a substantial new project into the world.
MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Co-written with legendary songwriter and producer Mike Chapman, “Think Clearly Now” has undergone a major transformation since its original demo. Initially conceived as an electronic pop song and running close to five minutes, Allison revisited the track with fresh ears, stripping back and tightening the arrangement with just guitar and vocals before taking it into the studio. The final recording features Allison on guitar, bass and vocals, with drummer Johnny Salerno contributing to the track, alongside keyboards, lap steel and multiple guitar textures. Allison says working with Chapman taught her valuable lessons about songwriting, arrangement and production, particularly the importance of pushing an idea until it reaches its full potential.
The song also highlights a more intimate side of Allison’s voice. Her regular schedule of gigs around Melbourne’s pub scene has helped strengthen and diversify her vocals, while the more spacious arrangement of “Think Clearly Now” allows her to explore nuances that were less apparent in her earlier, straight-ahead rock material. Allison maintains a disciplined vocal warm-up routine before recording and performing, including scales, humming and vocal exercises.
The upcoming EP will feature five songs, with four also receiving acoustic versions. Rather than releasing the entire project at once, Allison is adopting a staggered singles strategy, with tracks arriving every four to six weeks before the complete EP is packaged and released. She has also produced five music videos to accompany the songs. Allison reveals that a significant amount of work has gone into the release strategy, distribution, artwork, photography and video production, with the process involving months of research, discussions and logistical planning.
Alongside her original music, Allison continues to maintain a busy live schedule. She recently performed in Germany, including an appearance at the Cine Rock Festival in southern Germany and a solo show in Dresden, and hopes to return. At home, she continues her regular pub and club gigs, while later in 2026 she will join Suzi Quatro’s Australian tour, including headline shows and Red Hot Summer dates alongside artists including John Stevens, Baby Animals, Rose Tattoo, Screaming Jets and Choirboys.
For Allison, the arrival of “Think Clearly Now” represents the culmination of a long period of work and a significant new chapter in her music. After more than two years spent developing, recording and preparing the material for release, she says her biggest excitement is finally putting the new music into the world and seeing how listeners respond.
Catch Nat Allison on tour with Suzi Quatro, Red Hot Summer Tour and her regular pub and bar gigs