Amy Shark Almost Quit Music: The Secret Trip That Saved Her Career

Amy Shark is easily one of the most underrated artists in New Zealand. She has so many absolute bangers, and if you’ve never listened to her before, I’d describe her sound as Ed Sheeran-style storytelling mixed with Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams-level lyrics, finished with a subtle touch of Blink-182.

Her brand-new album, Soft Pop, is out now, and it’s genuinely fantastic. It kicks off with 'The Biggest Dick'—a ridiculously catchy song about an ex-boyfriend—and just keeps delivering from there.

Try stopping a girl who’s having a good time.

The crazy thing is, this record almost never happened.

Amy hit a wall with severe burnout. After a massive few years touring, recording, judging Australian Idol, and constantly being on the run, she had completely fallen out of love with songwriting. She didn’t want to face that frustrating process of writing song after song, hoping something good would eventually stick.

Then her husband and manager, Shane, stepped in.

Without telling her, he secretly booked a month in a brand-new studio in Wales alongside Dan Hume from Evermore. Amy wasn’t thrilled about the idea at first, but she went anyway… and it completely changed everything. That trip reignited her creativity, and along came Soft Pop.

In this episode of A Little Bit Extra, Amy opens up about how she found her way through burnout, why rediscovering joy is sometimes the most productive thing you can do, and the mantra that carried her through: "Try stopping a girl who’s having a good time."

We also chat about working alongside your husband, how they make that relationship work, and the hilarious "handover" she’d apparently have to give if she and Shane ever split. (Though she’s hoping that never happens because, according to her, it’d take about a full week).

If Amy Shark isn’t already on your daily playlist, this interview will definitely change that. And if you’re feeling burnt out or stuck yourself, there's plenty to take away from Amy’s journey—because sometimes the best chapter of your life is waiting right on the other side.

Listen to the full interview with Amy Shark on rova.