Backseat of My Mind

"Backseat of My Mind"
Single by Thelma Plum
from the album Meanjin
Released27 May 2022
GenreIndie / Alternative[1]
Length4:24
LabelWarner Music Australia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Burnett
  • Horton
Thelma Plum singles chronology
"Go to War"
(2020) 		"Backseat of My Mind"
(2022) 		"When It Rains It Pours"
(2022)

"Backseat of My Mind" is a song by Australian singer/songwriter Thelma Plum, released on 27 May 2022 as the lead single from Plum’s third EP Meanjin.

At the National Indigenous Music Awards 2022, "Backseat of My Mind" was nominated for Song of the Year.[2]

At the APRA Music Awards of 2023, "Backseat of My Mind" was shortlisted for Song of the Year.[3]

At the Queensland Music Awards of 2023, the song won the Pop Award and Song of the Year.[4] By winning Song of the Year, Plum won her first plaque on the Brunswick Street Mall Walk of Fame.[5]

Background

"Backseat of My Mind" was the Plum's first original new music in three years, following her ARIA-winning debut album in 2019 and follows a cover of Powderfinger's "These Days" and Briggs' collaboration "Go to War", both of which were released in 2020.[6]

In April 2022, Plum revealed she had completed "a whole new album and then some", teasing that she would be releasing a new single "very soon". In a cover story for that month's edition of InStyle Australia, Plum said: "I feel like I have like two bodies of work that feel very separate to me, these songs. So, I'm going to try to figure out how to release them this year."[7]

"Backseat of My Mind" was released in May 2022 and is a reflection on where she's been as she moves towards where she's going. In a statement, Plum said "I've spent a lot of time in vans (although not recently lol) and I really wanted to write a nostalgic feeling 'driving' song, which I hope we nailed!"[8]

Reception

Anna Rose from NME said "'Backseat of My Mind' harbours a swoon-worthy effect in Plum's delivery. Coupling dainty pop licks with syrupy and emotive, indie-esque vocal melodies, Plum maintains a cool calm as she sings lyrics of great reflection."[7]

Alex Gallagher from Music Feeds said "Opening as a pensive, piano-driven ballad, Plum's latest swells to a soaring chorus about driving forward and abandoning what you need to, 'As I look in the rear view mirror, I leave it behind / In the backseat of my mind'."[6]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Backseat of My Mind"4:24
2."Backseat of My Mind" (radio edit)3:30

Charts

Chart performance for "Backseat of My Mind"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [9] 40

References

  1. ^ "Backseat of My Mind". Studios 301. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Nominees and Performers Announced For National Indigenous Music Awards 2022". Music Feeds. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "These 20 songs are up for 2023 APRA Song Of The Year". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Thelma Plum Doubles-Up at 2023 Queensland Music Awards". The Music Network. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Thelma Plum Returns With New Single 'Backseat Of My Mind'". Music Feeds. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b Anna Rose (26 May 2023). "Thelma Plum is Back". NME. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Thelma Plum drives towards new chapter with 'Backseat of My Mind'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.