Based on the Podcast Episode: “How a New Mum and Dad Made an Album While the Baby Slept – Mardi Lumsden on Making Slow Emotion“ – Episode 57, The Magic of Songwriting with Francesca de Valence

Award-winning Brisbane synth-pop artist Mardi Lumsden has long been known for her ethereal songwriting and shimmering sonic landscapes. But her sophomore album Slow Emotion came to life in a way that was as delicate and intimate as its title suggests—written asynchronously and collaboratively with her husband and producer, Pennay, in the quiet hours while their baby slept.

Read on or listen to the full conversation to explore the creative journey behind Slow Emotion, and in particular the evolution of its standout track, “nineteen.”

From Folk Roots to Synth-Pop Evolution

Mardi began her songwriting journey with acoustic, folk-based releases. But over time—and through years of writing inside I Heart Songwriting Club—her style shifted. The 2020 release of Hiatus marked the end of a creative chapter, coinciding with the first Covid lockdowns. That album, steeped in dreamy folk with electronic flourishes, laid the groundwork for a bold transition.

With live performance being impossible over those years, Mardi let go of the pressure to recreate songs on stage and embraced the freedom of studio production. Collaborating closely with Pennay, she leaned into pop, disco and synth-forward sounds, allowing new textures to emerge. The result was a lush, emotionally resonant 8-track album that felt both playful and profound.

Songwriting as a Collaborative Dance

What made Slow Emotion unique was its creative process. Rather than writing on her guitar, Mardi often received beat-driven tracks from Pennay and responded with topline melodies and lyrics. These sonic prompts, along with weekly themes from I Heart Songwriting Club, created the perfect mix of structure and inspiration.

“I’m not a great guitarist,” Mardi admits in the podcast, “but Pennay’s strength is production. Writing from that foundation was incredibly freeing.” Their process—writing independently, swapping ideas, and refining them in layers—allowed them to co-create even while managing work, parenting, and sleep-deprivation.

The Making of “nineteen”

The episode’s emotional centre is the deep dive into Mardi’s favourite song from the album, “nineteen.” Originally inspired by a theme prompt and a spark from an earlier discarded song called “Same Stars,” the track draws on personal memories of young love, starry nights, and early romance.

From its opening line—“You bought someone a star from some charlatan on the internet”—to its satisfying, emotionally resonant chorus, “nineteen” went through over a year of development. With input from their wider songwriting community, Mardi and Pennay experimented with chords, phrasing, tempo, and structure until the song landed exactly where it needed to.

A Testament to Creative Collaboration

Slow Emotion is more than just a sonic shift—it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, adaptation, and embracing new methods. As Mardi puts it, the album couldn’t have existed without community, creative constraint, and mutual trust.

In the stillness of night, while their child slept, Mardi and Pennay built a vibrant musical world—proof that even in life’s busiest seasons, the magic of songwriting still finds a way.

Looking for your Songwriting Community?

If you are looking for your songwriting community for accountability, support and guidance to write your next album, check out our Songwriting Club and Courses here.