WILSN Announces New Album 'Bloom' Out October 17
A heartfelt ode to female friendship, 'GIRL' sees WILSN's gorgeous, honeyed vocals shining over warm, soulful production.
"'GIRL' is a love letter to the kind of friendship that runs deep, the ride or die kind. It's about checking in, showing up, listening and loving your friends through the chaos of life, even when words don't come easy.
'The song started with a gorgeous instrumental idea by Melbourne based production house Frollen Music Library. Made up of Henry Jenkins, Darvid Thor and Hudson Whitlock all legends of the Melbourne soul and funk scene in their own right, playing in bands such as Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo. Together they have been working on sample creation that's been used in songs by artists like Leon Thomas and Schoolboy Q. I was super inspired by their instrumental and love my melody and lyrics that came from it. It felt instant and super natural." - WILSN
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'GIRL' is one of the many standouts on WILSN's new offering Bloom - the classic soul album she always dreamt of making. Recorded live and to tape at Hive Mind Recording in Brooklyn, NYC, alongside a dream team of musicians who have played with the likes of Mark Ronson, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and modern soul superstar Jalen Ngonda, it finds WILSN channelling the spirit and sound of late-60s soul to create something both timeless and of the current moment.
'This is such a dream record for me. I'm still pinching myself that I got to record it in New York with a bunch of my favourite soul musicians,' WILSN says. 'Literally every time the band played through one of my songs for the first time, I was like: this is what I came for.'
Bloom was produced by Stephen Mowat (Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Gretta Ray) and Billy Aukstik - the co-owner of Hive Mind and an esteemed producer and trumpet player in his own right. The ensemble took an old-school approach to recording, with the band members all together in the same room, feeding off each other's energy and vibe.
'This is how a WILSN record is supposed to sound,' she says. 'Since I was a kid, I've been captivated by soul music - the emotion, the power, and the stories woven into every note -and I always strive to create music that not only reflects my own truth but also pays tribute to the stories and voices that built the foundation I'm standing on.'
WILSN's recent releases 'The Way' and 'Keep Walkin'' have reached a whole new wave of fans on social media, amassing millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, and resonating across the globe with people of all ages and genders. Her songs have received support from triple j, double j and community radio locally, along with spins from BBC Radio 2 and 6Music, and playlist adds to Apple Music's Soul Revival, New In Indie and Spotify's Soul 'n' the City, Dinner Chill Music and more.
Now, the near arrival of Bloom sees WILSN truly blossom into the fullness of her musical powers, cementing herself as one of the most essential voices in a new generation of Australian soul singers in the process. As a key line in the album title track states, 'I think I've had enough life lessons, I'm ready for the flower to bloom.'
MORE ABOUT WILSN…
Originally hailing from Geelong in Victoria,WILSNmoved to Melbourne to study jazz at the Victorian College of the Arts. She signed a deal with US publisher Pulse, prompting a move to America, where she spent two years working with Grammy-Award winning songwriters honing her craft, before being asked to join The Teskey Brothers on their 2020 tour of Europe and the UK, playing to sold-out crowds across the continent.
Since thereleaseof her debut album, Those Days Are Over, in 2023 - a record bursting with jaw-dropping vocal performances and fusing modern soul, pop, jazz and Motown – it's been a big couple of years forWILSN. Her debut album won the AIR Award for Best Independent Soul/RnB Album or EP and was also nominated for the Australian Music Prize, she's sung alongside Jimmy Barnes and Budjerah and shared the stage with contemporary heroes like Allen Stone and she's played at Bluesfest two years in a row. Alongside her success asWILSN, she's also been amassing praise as a songwriter, winning the 2025 Vanda and Young Global Song Competition with 'Give You Love', a song she co-wrote for Jessica Mauboy and Jason Derulo.
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[20 August 2025] Melbourne/ Naarm-based soul Queen WILSN (aka Shannon Busch) today shares exciting news with her fans, with the announcement of her sophomore album Bloom to be released on Friday 17 October. The album announcement is also accompanied by the release of new song, 'GIRL'. A heartfelt ode to female friendship, 'GIRL' sees WILSN's gorgeous, honeyed vocals shining over warm, soulful production. "'GIRL' is a love letter to the kind of friendship that runs deep, the ride or die kind. It's about checking in, showing up, listening and loving your friends through the chaos of life, even when words don't come easy. 'The song started with a gorgeous instrumental idea by Melbourne based production house Frollen Music Library. Made up of Henry Jenkins, Darvid Thor and Hudson Whitlock all legends of the Melbourne soul and funk scene in their own right, playing in bands such as Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo. Together they have been working on sample creation that's been used in songs by artists like Leon Thomas and Schoolboy Q. I was super inspired by their instrumental and love my melody and lyrics that came from it. It felt instant and super natural." - WILSN Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'GIRL' is one of the many standouts on WILSN's new offering Bloom - the classic soul album she always dreamt of making. Recorded live and to tape at Hive Mind Recording in Brooklyn, NYC, alongside a dream team of musicians who have played with the likes of Mark Ronson, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and modern soul superstar Jalen Ngonda, it finds WILSN channelling the spirit and sound of late-60s soul to create something both timeless and of the current moment. 'This is such a dream record for me. I'm still pinching myself that I got to record it in New York with a bunch of my favourite soul musicians,' WILSN says. 'Literally every time the band played through one of my songs for the first time, I was like: this is what I came for.' Bloom was produced by Stephen Mowat (Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Gretta Ray) and Billy Aukstik - the co-owner of Hive Mind and an esteemed producer and trumpet player in his own right. The ensemble took an old-school approach to recording, with the band members all together in the same room, feeding off each other's energy and vibe. 'This is how a WILSN record is supposed to sound,' she says. 'Since I was a kid, I've been captivated by soul music - the emotion, the power, and the stories woven into every note -and I always strive to create music that not only reflects my own truth but also pays tribute to the stories and voices that built the foundation I'm standing on.' WILSN's recent releases 'The Way' and 'Keep Walkin'' have reached a whole new wave of fans on social media, amassing millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, and resonating across the globe with people of all ages and genders. Her songs have received support from triple j, double j and community radio locally, along with spins from BBC Radio 2 and 6Music, and playlist adds to Apple Music's Soul Revival, New In Indie and Spotify's Soul 'n' the City, Dinner Chill Music and more. Now, the near arrival of Bloom sees WILSN truly blossom into the fullness of her musical powers, cementing herself as one of the most essential voices in a new generation of Australian soul singers in the process. As a key line in the album title track states, 'I think I've had enough life lessons, I'm ready for the flower to bloom.' MORE ABOUT WILSN… Originally hailing from Geelong in Victoria,WILSNmoved to Melbourne to study jazz at the Victorian College of the Arts. She signed a deal with US publisher Pulse, prompting a move to America, where she spent two years working with Grammy-Award winning songwriters honing her craft, before being asked to join The Teskey Brothers on their 2020 tour of Europe and the UK, playing to sold-out crowds across the continent. Since thereleaseof her debut album, Those Days Are Over, in 2023 - a record bursting with jaw-dropping vocal performances and fusing modern soul, pop, jazz and Motown – it's been a big couple of years forWILSN. Her debut album won the AIR Award for Best Independent Soul/RnB Album or EP and was also nominated for the Australian Music Prize, she's sung alongside Jimmy Barnes and Budjerah and shared the stage with contemporary heroes like Allen Stone and she's played at Bluesfest two years in a row. Alongside her success asWILSN, she's also been amassing praise as a songwriter, winning the 2025 Vanda and Young Global Song Competition with 'Give You Love', a song she co-wrote for Jessica Mauboy and Jason Derulo.
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