BEING the youngest of 10 children, Julitha Ryan was able to pursue her passion for music without anyone having a say.
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"I don't think my family really cared what I did, as long as I kept out of their hair," Ryan said.
But being one of 10 children has not implied that Ryan would also be raising her own large family. Instead, Ryan feels like she is living the life her mother may have lived had she not had to raise so many children.
"I'm single and have no children. I have never been in a position where I thought I could have music and a family. I prefer the late nights," she said.
"My mother was a great piano player and I have often felt I'm living the life she might have lived if she was free."
Ryan's musical career thus far has seen her perform as a member of several bands including Hope Addicts, Barroworn, Neo Penguin and Ballarat's own The Dead Salesmen. But her debut release as a solo artist, entitled The Lucky Girl, is an album she was able to take in the direction she wanted.
The record sees her share 45 years of personal experiences - love, loss and heartbreak - through 12 songs meticulously penned over four years. Ryan said there were many different moments from her life which inspired the tracks on The Lucky Girl.
"On the most obvious level, my mother died, the band I had been with for 10 years came to an end, and I was feeling a little washed up," Ryan said.
"I started the record with no idea how it would turn out. Some of the songs are inspired by a particular person who broke my heart and I found singing about it lessened the pain.
"I didn't want the album to be a finger-pointing exercise though but I had some pretty decent experiences which gave me material to work with."
Tomorrow night, Ryan will unite with nine of her plutonic brothers and sisters to not only stage a musical extravaganza but to recreate her childhood years.
"I'm extremely excited about bringing the show to Ballarat. I'll be playing with my incredible nine-piece band," she said.
"I just can't wait to share my beautiful band with all my great buddies."
THE INFO:
What: Julitha Ryan
When: Friday, December 21 at 8.30pm
Where: Portico on Sturt, Sturt Street.
Tickets: $10