A vibrant and deeply personal cross-generational conversation between Australian music icon Marcia Hines and rising New Zealand artist PANIA. The series is produced by Poppy Reid, co-founder and chief content officer of Curious Media.
In a warm, candid exchange, Hines and PANIA explore identity, longevity, creativity, and the realities of navigating music across generations. Their conversation moves seamlessly between humour, hard-earned wisdom, and deeply personal reflections on life, artistry, and staying grounded in an ever-changing industry.
A central theme of the episode is authenticity and trusting creative instinct. Hines speaks to the importance of leading with intuition over outside noise: “I listen to my heart… I don’t sing anything I don’t like, because I’m telling a story and I’m speaking from my heart.” PANIA echoes this sentiment, reflecting on the challenge of balancing external opinions with personal truth: “You can hear all these opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s like what do I love?”
Kindness, humility, and personal values emerge as guiding principles throughout the conversation. Reflecting on a lifetime in music, Hines shares a simple but powerful mantra: “Stay humble. Be kind.” She expands on this through a formative lesson she has carried with her since childhood: “Words spoken in anger can’t be taken back, so when you’re angry, don’t say anything.”
The conversation also delves into confidence, vulnerability, and performance. Both artists acknowledge the nerves that come with stepping on stage, reframing fear as a sign of care and commitment. Hines notes: “If you walk on stage and you don’t care, there’s something wrong… that feeling means you care.” She also shares her pre-performance ritual of grounding herself in purpose and connection: “Find a quiet space… and remind yourself you know what you’re supposed to do here. Do it well.”
Creativity and songwriting are explored as deeply emotional and often unpredictable processes. Hines describes songwriting as an act of observation and empathy: “I sit in cafés and listen to people… everybody’s got a story.” Both artists acknowledge the role of emotion in creating meaningful work, with PANIA reflecting on the difficulty of writing from a place of happiness, while Hines adds, “What else is there but love? That’s what people write about.”
The episode also highlights the importance of growth, learning, and longevity in music. With a career spanning over five decades, Hines reflects: “I’ve been in the industry over 50 years, and I’m still learning.” She encourages openness to evolution, while PANIA speaks to her own journey of discovering her voice and developing her craft in a modern, self-directed landscape.
Throughout the conversation, a strong sense of gratitude and perspective underpins both artists’ outlooks. Hines emphasises the importance of staying present and appreciating the everyday: “Waking up each day and realising hey, I did it again… the little things become the big things.” PANIA shares a similar sentiment, describing her outlook simply as: “Blessed… I get to do what I love.”
Episode 3 of GLOW STORIES is a powerful reflection on artistry, identity, and connection—bridging generations through shared experiences, mutual respect, and an unwavering belief in staying true to yourself.
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