Hope D: Honest, confessional songwriting from the streets of Brisbane

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Breakthrough 2022

Pick any moment from across Brisbane singer-songwriter Hope D’s musical catalogue and it is immediately clear why her honest, confessional songwriting has been captivating audiences and turning music industry heads since she first arrived on the scene.

A long-time busker and cover artist, it wasn’t until 2019 that Hope D – musical moniker of musician Hope Defteros – began recording her own music, and in late 2019, when she released her swirling debut single ‘Swim’, the attention it received may have seen Hope regarded as an overnight success. But the path to her first single was anything but.

For as long as she can remember, Hope has had music in her life. In fact, Hope has been making music since she was nine years old, turning schoolyard poems into acoustic guitar tracks. The second she turned 18, Hope took to stages across Brisbane, taking her free-flowing lyrics and live looping performances to anyone who would listen. So, you could say, Hope D was always destined to arrive here.

That first single, ‘Swim’, proved to be the perfect launching point for Hope D. Catching the attention of tastemakers and music media including triple j and Spotify, it also saw her taking home the inaugural QMusic Emerging Artist Award, performing at BIGSOUND, Splendour In The Grass, Laneway Festival, as well as headline shows and support slots in her hometown Brisbane. Not bad for a singer-songwriter with just one single.

Hope D – Happy Hangover (Official Animated Music Video)

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2020 saw Hope D build on her stellar record, releasing three more singles – this time with a new sonic direction and a four-piece band behind her – further inviting current and new fans into her world through her honest, authentic storytelling and razor-sharp wit, but this time with an added edge. The year ended with Hope taking out the prestigious Carol Lloyd Award, before the following year began with her second single, aptly titled ‘Second’, landing at #69 in triple j’s Hottest 100.

Those four singles came together to form part of Hope D’s 2021 debut EP, Cash Only. Across seven songs, Hope unashamedly mines her own life and experiences for inspiration, not shying away from some of her darker chapters while highlighting the pivotal moments in her life.

Across it’s almost 30-minute run time, Cash Only sees Hope reflecting on a gambling addiction she developed as a teenager, coming to terms with her sexuality, secret relationships, heartbreak, wild nights out and regret. But most of all, each story is connected by Hope’s bold acceptance of exactly who she has been, and who she is now.

The record is a true reflection of exactly why Hope D makes music – to pour the thoughts out of her head, and to take those universal feelings and experiences and share them with people so we can all feel more connected and less alone. Which is a pretty fitting soundtrack for the current times.

Hope D – Addict (Official Music Video)

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Off the back of her debut EP, Hope took off on a sold-out national tour – playing 19 shows in just three weeks across March 2021. Then, she teamed up with G Flip to co-write her first post-EP single ‘Happy Hangover’ – a track that scored the honour of the #1 most played song on triple j for multiple weeks running and garnered praise from the likes of NME, Purple Sneakers, and Tone Deaf.

Now, Hope D bursts in 2022 with new single ‘Hate Goodbyes’ and a huge national tour to celebrate.

If 2019 was Hope’s introduction, 2020 was her emergence, and 2021 saw her setting the foundations for longevity in the music industry – we predict 2022 is going to be her absolute break out year.

It hasn’t even been three years since her debut single, and thanks to her fiercely unapologetic and honest take on pop-rock, Hope D has well and truly proven that she is a musical force that deserves your attention. As she moves into 2022 and continues building on the impressive foundation that her early tracks and debut EP fostered, the only thing we are certain of is that there is no limiting how far Hope D can go.