Tash Sultana, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and ARIA winner, needs a break. In November they posted an announcement to their 1.2 million Instagram followers declaring they were taking some time off. “Been on the road for 10 years and this last tour has been going since 2021,” Sultana posted. “I’m taking a break to adjust to normal life and to spend time with all things important to me.”
One of their first gigs “post the post” is as official pride ambassador for the Australian Open 2024, which culminates in a performance at AO Pride Day on January 25 at John Cain Arena. Broadsheet meets the star at Melbourne Park’s new bar overlooking one of the courts. It’s a roasting-hot and humid summer afternoon, and Sultana is feeling the heat in long check pants, a thick brown tee, and a cap emblazoned with a yellow smiley face. They are smaller than you might expect, with perfect skin, an array of piercings and dazzling white teeth.
Sultana is buzzed because today is the launch of their own line of alcoholic and non-alcoholic seltzers called Lonely Lands Liquids, which will raise funds for their I Am Me Foundation. “We aim to provide grants for the LGBTQI+ community, specifically targeted at gender-nonconforming trans people to be able to aid in financial assistance for surgeries, treatments, therapies, all that,” they say, proudly balancing a can of passionfruit seltzer on their knee. “It falls under the private health sector and is really, really expensive. That’s what stops a lot of people from going through with HRT or top surgery, therapy, all of those things.”
Sultana has a deadpan, dryly hilarious, don’t-fuck-with-me energy that’s easy to like. Famously discovered while busking on the street as a teenager, they have been playing huge shows like Coachella since their track Jungle shot them to fame in 2016. Now it’s finally time to escape the album-promo-tour grind. Being the Australian Open’s pride ambassador is a chance to raise awareness of LGBTQI+ issues, particularly in areas such as international sport, and perhaps sell some seltzers.
“[LGBTQI+ issues] are widely accepted in the entertainment industry, but sport is not like that,” they say. “There are no openly gay male tennis players – and they’re there, let’s be honest! I think that sucks that they feel they can’t come out because they might lose [their] fan base or sponsorships and all of that. Sport is a little more conservative, especially the tennis. And so being the pride ambassador, I am the least conservative person you’ll ever see. I'm just a rainbow enigma that’s here to shine a little light.”
Sultana is gender-fluid and prefers to use they/them pronouns. “I feel better about it, mainly because I hated the way people would say ‘female producer’ ... I was just like, why do things have to include gender? Because you would never say, like, ‘male drummer’, ‘male guitarist’, or ‘male bass player’, but everyone will say, ‘female producer’. And I hated that. I’ve never been feminine. I’ve never been girly. I’ve always been a tomboy. I’ve always felt this way.”
Sultana grew up in a Catholic Maltese family and describes their late grandfather as “literally the Pope incarnate”. “I kind of wish he was alive to see me now because I wonder how he would be about it all. Because when it’s someone that you love or are related to or is close to you [that comes out], it challenges your belief system.”
The Australian Open appearance will be one of just a handful of shows they’ll perform this year. After 10 years of touring, Sultana admits they need to chill out. “The thought of having to do everything that’s involved in longer global tours, it’s too much. I can’t even think about it … it’s gambling a lot all the time. And I just need to break from the world.”
Sultana has a house in Melbourne down the road from their studio. Where do they like to hang out? “I love Supernormal, Ichi Ni and Lam Lam in Northcote,” they reel off. “Vietnamese is my favourite food, [Lam Lam is the] best pho in Melbourne.” They don’t trust anyone to make coffee for them, so they make their own mushroom tea. They’re getting into cooking and growing veggies and want to start seeing more live music. They’ve been listening to a lot of jazz lately and are even planning to record a wild stunt video series (think Jackass). “I mean if I die, I’m dead. I’ve had a good life,” they say. It’s hard to tell if they are joking.
“I’ve had the spotlight in one area for a long time,” says Sultana. “It was awesome, and I’m so stoked for everything it’s done for me. But realistically [it’s] set me up to step back and do other things. I really want to put my heart and soul into this charity and our drinks company because it’s beyond just being another business. You know, it’s for a purpose.”
And are they a tennis fan? “I have a tennis court in my backyard.” Do you play? “Nah,” Sultana says, and bursts out laughing.
Get tickets to see Sultana at the AO Finals Festival Pride Day.
