From a very young age, Tootgarook singer-songwriter Bonita Habils showed an interest in music. She started taking singing lessons at the age of 5, continuing to hone her vocal skills over the years and eventually becoming a vocal coach for younger students. Crediting her love of music and the arts to her parents, Bonita fondly remembers long car rides with music always playing and after dinner performances in the family room. She said, “My parents always had music playing and my dad likes to do art in his spare time.”
Bonita loves busking and has gained a following singing for passersby around the peninsula. You can check her out at Rye Woolworths, A Good Little Thing in Tootgarook and her local markets in Tootgarook and Rosebud. She has also played gigs at local venues such as God’s Kitchen Mornington, Hawkes Farm Boneo, Sound Bar, Capel Sound, Sorrento RSL and The Pig & Whistle in Red Hill. She said, “Busking has been a valuable way to build on my live performance, which is a much different feel from spending time in the studio.”
Bonita met Magic Mountain Records owners Jack and Matt through a workshop at the Music Industry in Rosebud and has worked on a few songs with them in their Mt Eliza studio. Both individual artists in their own right, Jack (Blue Captive), Matt (Ted Orient) and Bonita have become good industry friends.
Songwriting has become a deeply personal outlet for Bonita, helping her navigate her struggles with anxiety. Four years ago, she added guitar playing to her musical repertoire. Self-taught through Covid, Bonita has a talent for hearing a tune and then just been able to play it. Her songs serve as a canvas for her fears, feelings, and dreams, transforming raw emotions into hauntingly beautiful melodies and lyrics. Bonita crafts music that lingers long after the last note.
As she establishes her position as an emerging artist with a unique voice in the Indie/dark-pop landscape, Bonita’s voice captivates her audience for its depth and authenticity. At just 17-year-old, Bonita’s ability to channel universal emotions into deeply personal lyrics has set her apart as one of dark pop’s brightest rising stars.
Following the success of her debut single, Caught and Released, which amassed over 40,000 Spotify streams in three months and earned critical acclaim on Triple J ‘Unearthed High’ for its sophisticated lyricism, Bonita dives deeper into themes of love, heartbreak, and vulnerability with her hauntingly beautiful new single, Warm Bodies. With its brooding melodies and Bonita’s ethereal yet powerful vocals, Warm Bodies embraces the darker edges of pop music, pulling listeners into an atmospheric soundscape that’s as emotive as it is unforgettable. The track reinforces Bonita’s growing reputation as a storyteller, unafraid to bare her soul.
Capturing the heat of young love, Bonita shares, “Warm Bodies is about the kind of love that leaves fingerprints on your soul. It’s about the heat of passion, loss, and the way those moments can linger long after they’ve passed.” Fans of Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey can easily get on board with Bonita’s soulful narratives.
While Bonita continues to carve her place in the music world with her introspective storytelling and emotionally charged soundscapes, she would ultimately love for her music to take off and resonate with a wide audience all over the world. She said, “Music is where I pour my deepest thoughts, it’s a way to connect with people who might feel the same but don’t know how to put it into words.”
“Music is where I pour my deepest thoughts, it’s a way to connect with people who might feel the same but don’t know how to put it into words
Supported by incredibly proud parents that have only ever wanted Bonita to find her niche, Mum (and publicist), Tonika said, “We have always encouraged our children to follow their dreams and not settle for mediocrity.”
Undertaking year 12 at Padua College this year, Bonita hopes this will be a breakthrough year. However, she is also working towards going to Collarts College next year to continue to develop in performance and learn more of the music industry as she continues to expand her audience.
Warm Bodies is available on all major streaming platforms.
IG: @bonitahabils_music