Singer/songwriter Bec Sandridge says being raised in the Illawarra - an area she still calls home - has in some form helped shape her music.
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The singer/songwriter grew up in Stanwell Park and attended the University of Wollongong.
After a period of time living in Melbourne and Scotland, the musician moved to Wollongong about 18 months ago.
"Growing up in a regional area, especially Stanwell Park, there's not much access... In Melbourne you're swamped with industry, venues, mentors and that kind of thing," she said.
"So I think in a way you're kind of forced as a band or an artist to be a bit more creative with what you've got, which I think is reflected in a lot of bands that are coming out of Wollongong at the moment."
The 28-year-old also took inspiration from her personal life for debut album Try + Save Me.
The album will be released on October 4, and features her distinctive voice and unique brand of '80s-inspired, poppy synth-rock.
The album documents her coming out to family and friends several years ago, initially an issue of major contention in her Pentecostal Christian family.
Sandridge has long since healed the rift with her parents, but channeled the trauma of the experience as inspiration on Try + Save Me.
The album's subject matter also covers her relationship breakdowns and mental health battles.
Did she feel compelled to be brutally honest about these topics when writing?
"I feel like for so long in my life I had to compartmentalize my life and try to pretend to be someone that I'm not," she said.
"So I feel when you're getting a platform, or an opportunity to write an album, it's pretty liberating to finally feel like you don't have to compartmentalize my life so much, and you can just be honest and own, 'this is who you are'.
"Not only have I changed, my family's changed and we've grown a lot from these experiences."
The triple j favourite's album - recorded over an 18-month period - follows a series of EPs.
Sandridge worked with Gab Strum (Japanese Wallpaper) and Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy) to produce and perform on the LP.
"With this one, I wanted to try and dig deep and give some insight into my brain," she said.
"I just wanted to be really honest about what I was saying, and I think I did that, so I feel really proud of it.
"I'm think it's a lot more manic than previous work. It kind of pendulums between the calm and (being) on the precipice of a panic attack.
"I feel like sonically it's a bit stressful, but the vision I had was a stressful, anxious German nightclub, but you're still dancing. A panic attack that people can boogie to."
Sandridge will undertake her biggest national tour to date in support of the album, finishing up in her hometown; Wollongong UniBar on November 8.
"I think my family will come along, which will be great," she said of the hometown gig.
"I want to try and bring my Grandma along, because she's never seen me play."
Meanwhile, Sandridge has signed an international agency deal with ATC Live for bookings in the UK and Europe.
She's due to tour the UK and Europe next year, and is already working on more new material.
"It's this weird thing of trying to be present, but also thinking about the tour, and also thinking about releasing my next album next year," she said of writing new songs while her first album still awaits release.
"(The next release) may be an album, or a series of EPs, but I'm keen to work. I get too bored otherwise."