Growing up with my mum and stepdad, music was whatever I heard on talkback radio. I guess my first recollection of music as a child would be my stepdad playing Tequila by The Champs. On Friday nights, he’d turn on this orange and red flashlight and we’d have a little disco in the lounge room.

Casey Donovan. Photo © Karen Watson

When I got to hang out with my father, we’d listen to a lot of country music.

I was one of those 14-year-old emo kids and I listened to gypsy music on my CD player. Music wasn’t something I craved until later in my teens when I started listening to grunge music, metal, heavy metal and whatever my mates were listening to.

I was into John Mayer and singer-songwriters like Kasey Chambers, Tina Arena and Vanessa Amorosi. They were my teachers because I’d sing along to them, and now I have this voice which is a beautiful mix of all my idols.

They include the greats like Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Amy Winehouse. I listened to music that made me daydream, and they were the amazing storytellers of their time.

Aretha came into my life when...