Melbourne indie folk artists GraceJean, AKA Fiona Steele and Ailsa Mitchell, are about to be your go-to when you want to mix nostalgia and romanticism. On October 4 the duo will release Long Black Road, their debut album full of ethereal melodies and lively folk-pop moments.

To celebrate, and to make sure you know a little more than the album title come October 4, check out 5 things you didn’t know about GraceJean below Ft. telepathy, an old church, and hot chips.

GraceJean love cats and tea

GraceJean is a Melbourne based indie folk duo made up of Fiona Steele, a cat loving, jigsaw puzzle aficionado and classically trained musician and Ailsa Mitchell, a jazz trained musician with a strong commitment to tea and serious commitment issues when it comes to TV shows.

Their debut LP was written in the Snowy Mountains

GraceJean’s debut album (due for release on Oct 4) Long Black Road was written on a series of song writing trips to the Snowy Mountains in NSW. These Long Black Road trips, consisted of much music listening, car-cramped mandolin playing, tree spotting induced yelling, consequent car swerving moments and, of course, some songwriting.

Their songwriting process is unique

Over the years GraceJean’s writing process has evolved. Originally, the two approached it from the opposite ends of the writing spectrum. However, this has steadily converged into a telepathic spectacle, in which they create lyrics, chords and melody together, whilst performing elaborate sacrificial ceremonies of tea and cookies to the divine creative spirit.

Stream GraceJean’s ‘Turn Away’ below:

GraceJean are BFFs with CERES

In their spare time GraceJean can be found living their best, most cliched, north Melbourne lives. This involves activities including but not limited to: hanging out at CERES, seeing gigs at their favourite venues (Wesley Anne, Thornbury Theatre and Some Velvet Morning to name a few), wearing matching overalls or a pair of high waisted jeans with a secondhand questionably patterned jumper, and discussing life over a tea, Kombucha, coffee or craft beer. With hot chips. Always hot chips.

GraceJean once played a St Patrick’s day gig in a crowded metal barn

They haven’t quite been the same since. Whilst the gig itself may have been a particular experience, the duo did end up working on a cover of the traditional Irish tune ‘The Parting Glass’ in which they were able to draw on their Celtic roots and parent’s extensive CD collections.

Earlier this year they took a trip up to Taradale and filmed a live performance of this in a beautiful old church with help from the brilliant Mardy Bridges. This video can be experienced below.