“A delectable delight.”
– Calen Le Couteur, Music is My Muse

"['This Is Forever'] is a driving indie mix but the subtleties won me over. Touching stuff."
– Declan Byrne, triple j

"[Our Lady of the Highway] hits a soulful groove courtesy of the Hammond organ and her restrained voice with its sweet, soft, sleepy tones and blurred edges."
– Post to Wire


Longstanding Brisbane folk artist Mardi Lumsden released her debut album “Hiatus” in March 2020, amid COVID-19 lockdown. “Hiatus” is a collection of dreamy folk songs filled with heart, soul and commentary on human nature.

The next step in an already long and illustrious career, “Hiatus” is an eleven-track delight showcasing Mardi's signature ability to weave heartfelt stories together using banjos, keyboards, finger-picked guitars to create a unique genre of dream folk - a fusion of the ethereal atmospheres and textures creating a mixture of dream pop with acoustic-based folk.

Recorded and produced by her husband Andrew Pennay in their converted church-turned home studio, tracks such as 'Juniper Trees', 'Someday' and 'Treasure Like This' are delicate, warm and truly uplifting.

The album's release was punctuated by the focus track 'Fiore,' written in an Italian summer and capturing both the messiness and the beauty of letting go of relationships. "It's about releasing your expectations and accepting that endings also mean new beginnings," Mardi explains.

With tracks 'Heading home’, ‘This is forever’ and a folktronica cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’ played across triple j and double j, the album’s broad appeal is clear.

Community radio around Australia has been strong too, with almost every track on “Hiatus” aired.

Previous success for Mardi Lumsden has included songs from her EP “Wherever you go, there you are” featured on Australian TV shows such as Channel 7's Winners and Losers, ABC's Dance Academy and ABC's Time of Our Lives. Also recorded in a church-turned-recording studio (ARIA-winning producer Magoo's Applewood Studios), 'Classified' from the EP received the Q Song Award in the Folk/Ballad category and was nominated for Song of The Year as well as an Australian Songwriting Association award.

“Hiatus” is out NOW.