In just two years, Melbourne based singer/songwriter musician Lisa Mitchell has confidently transformed herself from the introverted, cherub-like teen we all witnessed on Australian Idol into a critically praised artist who has developed her own unique brand of heartfelt, alterna-folk-pop. She's worked and toured with some of Australia's most acclaimed artists and has spent time in the UK working with uber-cool producers and artists such as Ant Whiting (Sia, Zero 7), Ed Harcourt and Sacha Skarbek.

It's been an amazing ride for someone, who, in the space of two years, secured management and released a breakthrough debut EP 'Said One To The Other" which reached #1 on the iTunes Charts. She also opened for artists such as Ben Lee, Tex Perkins and Evermore.

When discussing her new EP 'Welcome To The Afternoon' Mitchell (who is heading back to the UK this year to complete work on her debut album) admits that her creative energy doesn't kick into gear until after lunch. "I'm definitely not a morning person and I find my senses are only just starting to come alive in the afternoon," she says enthusiastically. "I start thinking creatively after 1pm."

But don't think for a minute, that 'Welcome To The Afternoon' is simply a Polaroid snap shot of her working furiously into the night. For Mitchell, it's also a clever metaphor for where she sees herself and her writing. "It also deals with maturing and developing as a person," she says before hesitating slightly. "It has elements of moving on. And it wasn't a deliberate atmosphere thing either. I think those things flowed naturally and organically. It's not moody, perhaps subconsciously introspective."

'Welcome To The Afternoon' highlights Lisa Mitchell at the height of her powers. The EP delivers four beautifully diverse songs, each with their own identity but carrying a common thread that strings them together seamlessly. From the sublime opening moments of 'See You When You Get Here' (the EP's focus track, produced by Ant Whiting) to the new cool-kids party anthem 'Neopolitan Dreams' it swings back again to the achingly intimate 'Far Far Far Away' only to finish with a blast of guitar charged optimism in 'A Little Ramblin Blues For Any Hour,' a free-styling song co-written with Evermore's Dann Hume, who also took on the production duties for the remaining tracks.

Lisa Mitchell will be celebrating the release of 'Welcome To The Afternoon' with one show in Melbourne this May before she heads to the UK to live and record her debut album, due in late 2008.

WED 21ST MAY   NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE
With special guest George Byrne
Tickets from NSC box office (03) 9486 1677
www.northcotesocialclub.com

WELCOME TO THE AFTERNOON available on iTunes and at retail MAY 31