Alongside her musical partner Lucas Goodman, Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervey creates soulful jams that feel like a throwback to the sunny hedonism of the 70s. Say hello to celebrating the good times, and to hot-blooded escapades on the dance floor! Inspired by powerful females like Blondie’s Debbie Harry — and powerful felines alike — Lion Babe alchemizes elegance, strength and sensuality into one irresistibly slinky pop act. Here, the golden goddess of rhythm shares what it means to have soul, the symbolism of her spirit animal and more.

MUSIC IS FAM
Music is my family, music is my home, music has always been there when I’m feeling happy or sad. Music is my memory of the most important people in my life.  I think people listen to music to be inspired, to fill a void in themselves if they can’t express something. Sometimes a sound or a song will trigger a memory or keep something safe, like a smell does. But music is stronger, your mind goes somewhere when you hear it!

BE A BODY
I feel the most comfortable and natural while dancing. I don’t like sitting still. I see the world through dance and always have. It’s a way for me to stay in touch with my child self, my actual soul. When the music turns on, I turn into my inner goddess. I lose all my inhibitions. I let loose and I feel free. Dance is my heartbeat, my soul. It’s the most honest expression of myself. Everything else goes away, and I just move with the world, and the wind and the sand and the sky — just be a moving body.

THE MANE EVENT
The lion is my spirit animal, it’s been my spirit animal since I was a teenager and went to South Africa and saw a lion and ever since then, I felt that I carried that type of persona. It’s a reminder of what strength and pride in yourself can do. A lion is strong, a lion is graceful, a lion is resilient, a lion is proud. A lion is confident.

WHAT IS SOUL?
Everyone has soul. It is honouring your ancestors, your history and your heartbeat and what really drives you. Soul is having love for yourself and for others, and being able to express that honestly.

RAW POWER
I feel very natural being a leader. I don’t really care about attention. I’m comfortable with it, but it’s not my goal. I love to connect with people. Through being a dancer and the release you get when you perform, it’s a feeling you feel, but you’re sharing it with someone. It’s very vulnerable, but it’s very powerful. I only long for that. Much more than “being noticed.”

KNOW THYSELF
It’s important to own yourself, your individuality, your uniqueness. To know there’s no one else like you. You need to trust yourself and honour yourself. I’m a growing woman, and I’ve learned that is just so important to own. I’m the only one out here that is me, so that gives me confidence, because no one can be me even if they tried.

"Be yourself, take risks, and have fun. Have a lot of fun! If you’re not having fun, it’s time to mix it up."

LET GO
I’m a firm believer in serious play. I’m constantly using my imagination and being creative, taking risks, and not thinking about things that much. These things help me appear to be powerful and in control, which I am, but it’s because I allow myself to let go of trying to be powerful and in control. (Laughs.)

LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY
The 70s, the past…those are the people I carry with me in my music. Those are the people I try to emulate because they were freer in their expressions of themselves. In the past, musicians were individual, they wanted to stand out and do their own thing, and that’s what I respect. That’s the kind of artist I want to be and I am.