Classically trained cellist, singer-songwriter, and multidisciplinary artist Kelsey Lu doesn't seem particularly interested in doing things the conventional way. There are the morning stretches performed without fail, moon cycles carefully observed, a bottle of patchouli oil that never leaves the bathroom cabinet, and a homemade blend of frankincense, lavender and clary sage reserved for winding down at night. Even their idea of the perfect fragrance belies the obvious, preferring instead to smell somewhere between wet earth, moss and, in their own words, "the interior of a computer". It all paints a picture of an artist who trusts their instincts.

That same intuition shapes So Help Me God, Lu's long-awaited second album, arriving seven years after their acclaimed debut Blood. Meditating on devotion, transformation and self-discovery, the record feels expansive yet deeply personal.

Here, Lu unpacks the beauty products, keepsakes and everyday essentials that travel with them, revealing the small but tightly held rituals that underpin their unorthodox creative life.

Do you remember the first beauty product you were devoted to?

When I was a baby I escaped my baby seat in the kitchen and crawled to the bathroom to open up the drawer next to the sink where my Mum would keep her makeup, managed to pull the drawer out without hurting myself and started eating her makeup. I was devoted to devouring that makeup, I still remember the taste of the lipstick. It didn’t taste good.

What beauty habit have you abandoned with age?

I used to paint my eyebrows with a sort of turquoise mascara.

Is there anything about your appearance you've learned to appreciate later in life?

Everything.

What lives permanently in your bathroom cabinet?

A bottle of patchouli essential oil.

Which beauty indulgence feels completely worth it?

An LED red light therapy face mask... absolutely worth every penny.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

100 hops, 100 ywists, 50 body waves, 100 shoulder openers, 50 chest openers, 100 trunk twists, 50 marches, 50 skiing, 50 dead arms. It’s for stress, fascia release and lymphatic drainage.

And the last thing you do before bed?

I do a Vegus nerve massage using an oil blend I created with frankincense, lavender and clary sage.

Do you have any wellness rituals?

I make music, which is think is the best form of wellness, at least for me because it brings me so much joy. I also love my little witchy rituals around the moon cycles and planetary shifts which help me keep track of what’s happening in my life, mind, body and spirit.

Do you have a signature scent?

It’s usually something earthy. I love smelling like wet rock, dirt, and moss mixed with something unidentifiable and weird – like the interior of a computer.

What have you borrowed from someone else's beauty or wellness routine and kept?

My friend Janicza Bravo used to post stories about her icing her face with these giant ice balls in the morning. IDK if she does that still – she doesn’t post about it anymore – but she got me into it and I love it. Makes me feel alive.

What makes you feel most glamorous?

The perfect cat eye.

When you’re getting ready for a night out, what’s on your soundtrack?

It depends on where I’m going, but it can float anywhere between Deftones to Maxwell to a mix by Crystallmess.

Whose approach to beauty do you admire?

I honestly really admire anyone who’s out here genuinely finding joy in whatever kind of beauty look they’re going for – that includes makeup and no makeup at all.

What's the most valuable piece of wellness advice you've received?

Clean your makeup brushes.