Coburg's Deborah Hocking took a big step last year by committing herself full-time to music. 

And she hasn't looked back. 

"It's difficult," she says, "but I decided I needed to give my music a real go." 

A full-time commitment, is not the only musical change Ms Hocking, 30, has had to get used to. With bass player John Dynon and drummer Matt Rose, she's exploring a band format. 

"I get lonely playing songs in terms of going on stage," she said. "There's just you and a guitar, so you have to be creative about engaging and re-engaging the audience."

Ms Hocking says the band is "breathing new life" into her music. But it hasn't changed that music, which has been described as gothic folk. 

"It deals a lot with the not-so-glossy side of life," she said. "It's about being realistic -- life's difficult." 

Deborah will play at Brunswick Library, on the corner of Sydney Road and Dawson Street, in a free concert, as part of a Live at the Library 2 program tomorrow (Wednesday) from 7.30pm. Other performers include Jane McCracken and Musical Odyssey, Kim Salmon and Royal Chord.