About

Australian folk trio Apolline (pronounced Apo-leen) is an award winning neo-trad band whose intricate arrangements and high-quality performances have stunned audiences since their debut. Known for their creative and nonconformist style, the band utilises a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, Scandinavian folk and a healthy dose of Eurovision to inspire an innovative sound like no other. Whether it be fiery, quick-paced reels or intimate and slow ayres, the group’s technical artistry and creativity consistently wows audiences. Within their repertoire of tune arrangements, Apolline’s music also features original melodies and songs that showcase the member’s deep connection to the music they create and perform.

Growing up on Wurrundjeri Country in Naarm/Melbourne, members Tess (cello), Luisa (fiddle) and Laura (bass) grew up in families already greatly influenced by music. Sisters Tess and Luisa Hickey were exposed to the folk scene in 2011, slowly and steadily falling in love with the musical traditions. Tess and Luisa met Laura Heaney during high school when they played in the Jazz and Symphonic bands together. Before long they inducted her into Melbourne’s thriving folk scene. From then the girls start played together regularly, before making their formal festival debut at the National Celtic Folk Festival in 2022. In their spare time, Apolline enjoys a hot cup of tea while discussing the latest knitting trends, regular rehearsal breaks to retrieve snacks and, of course, listening to Tess talk endlessly about Zelda and Minecraft.

Looking to the future, Apolline makes their international debut at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Ontario, Canada in August 2024. From there, they aim to fortify themselves in the international folk scene, playing festivals around the globe and bringing the sounds of Australian folk to as many ears as they can find.

HOME HOME

Artwork by Emily Wright - Ahki Illustrations

Home Home is the debut studio EP of the Australian folk trio Apolline (pronounced Apo-leen). Known for their creative and nonconformist style, the band utilises a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, Scandinavian folk, and a healthy dose of Eurovision to inspire an innovative sound like no other. Whether it be fiery, quick-paced reels or intimate and slow ayres, the group’s technical artistry and creativity consistently wows audiences. Now, for the first time, the group is releasing a 6-track EP that encapsulates the very best of Apolline's ever-growing and developing sound. The EP works to honour the traditions of folk music while also recognising the contemporary influence of Apolline's Antipodean perspective that helps their own connection to folk traditions grow alongside their music.

Photo by Vanessa Macaulay - Redbook Photography

Tess Hickey

CELLO/ VOCALS

Tess (21) grew up as a classically trained cellist, however, folk music has slowly but surely taken over her playing since she was introduced to it at the Lake School of Celtic Music and Dance in 2011.

Throughout high school, she performed and toured with the Australian Youth Orchestra and was part of the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Accelerando program. She also played tenor saxophone and received a Future Finalist award for improvisation at Generations in Jazz in 2019. This exposure to a wide variety of genres, along with listening to inordinate amounts of Jacob Collier, has contributed to her love of funky chord progressions, which she tries to push as far as she can without getting kicked out of a session.

Tess got her introduction into the festival scene through performing with the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, where she grew comfortable performing on stage and got exposure to endless amounts of wonderful Australian and international folk acts. Since then, Tess’ involvement and influence in the Australian folk scene has only grown, with her learning and spreading the chopping techniques of Natalie Haas and Eric Wright all over the country as well as developing her own.

Tess adores Minecraft and Zelda games and has difficulty trying not to mention either of them in gigs. Her long-term survival Minecraft project is a library inspired by the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin, which has got all the more exciting with the chiseled bookshelves from the 1.20 update. 

Photo by Vanessa Macauly - Redbook Photography

Laura Heaney

BASS/ VOCALS

Laura (22) picked up double bass in year 7, mainly participating in jazz and classical groups throughout her high school year, and was later introduced to the world of folk music. Classically trained on clarinet since the age of 8, Laura was fortunate to have travelled to the US to perform and work with classical musicians. She resonated with the folk community for the first time after attending the Koroit Lake School of Celtic Music and Dance in 2020. As well as Celtic tunes, Laura has a love for minor keys and the haunting aspects of traditional Scandinavian and Eastern European legends and music. She enjoys integrating these styles into Apolline’s repertoire, sometimes creating sets that are a little too spooky. Away from music, Laura is studying humanities and psychology at University. In her spare time, she loves figure skating and doing anything crafty — whether it be pottery, sewing, knitting or wood carving.

Photo by Adam Purcel - The Melbourne Ceili Camera

Luisa Hickey

FIDDLE/ VOCALS/ MANDOLIN

Taking up the violin at age 5, Lulu (18) was first introduced to the world of folk through the Koroit Lake School of Celtic Music and Dance. Throughout 10 years of classical training being her primary focus on violin, Lulu was slowly but consistently exposed to Celtic music attending the Lake school annually. Before long, Lulu left classical music behind to pursue a more creative path in folk music. To Lulu, a world in which she does not have to play Adagio for Strings is an immediate home.

Luisa has spent many years becoming immersed in the Melbourne folk scene, being introduced to the festival circuit through a decade-long membership of the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club. Lulu is also an active member of the Melbourne Jazz scene playing trombone. Through high school, she participated in a variety of musical events including the US Essentially Ellington competition and VCE Top Acts. As the primary songwriter of the group, Lulu writes mostly about the books she studies in Literature (mostly to avoid doing homework). Having now completed High School, Lulu is excited to put into motion all the career action plans she never did and aims to spend her time learning and sharing as much music and art as she can.

In her downtime, Lulu enjoys watching films and television, drinking tea and knitting. While being competent at cable mittens and socks, she aims one day to make a jumper. Lulu’s favourite films are In Bruges, The Castle, and Shrek 2, (if you try and argue that the first Shrek is better than the second, you will lose). Her favourite television shows are Ted Lasso, Dark, Gravity Falls, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Her personal motto is “Patience is the enemy of swag”.