Why release just one single to generate buzz about your new album when you can drop two? Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Shayne Cook isn’t doing things by halves, dropping two new tracks ahead of the October release of his album Epiphonetics.
The first track, “Matters of the Heart” is a sweet folky love song exploring the way the heart can wrestle with the head when it comes to relationships. The demo almost fell through the cracks but album producer Simon Moro saw its beauty and developed it into the special song it is today.
The second track “Stawell Gift” is a little darker and moodier. It’s a personal song that details the story of Shayne’s dad and his adoption was the town of Stawell.
“Three years ago, my brother put out a search for the real parental background of our father. His history was traced back to a Greek immigrant who had previously been the captain of a ship in the Greek prior to emigrating and establishing a restaurant in the country Victorian town of Stawell with his wife. During this period his paternal father had an extra-marital affair with a lady working at the restaurant. Our dad was the result and he was sent to live in an orphanage after his birth,” Shayne recounted.
“Dad’s life parents were Christian missionaries and they originally came to the orphanage in search of a girl for adoption. However, they saw dad standing up in his cot looking at them with his big brown eyes and their choice was made on the spot. Dad had loving parents and a good life with them. Whilst both his biological parents had passed at the time of finding out his background – Dad’s heritage was survived by his half-brother and sister. He now has a great relationship with both and had an instant connection. His half-brother George, as it turned out, is a prominent Australian musician who has played with the like of the Black Sorrows, Zydeco Jump and Robyn Archer amongst many others.”
These songs are so different, but they’re both brilliant. They’ve certainly got me excited for Shayne’s album Epiphonetics, which drops on October 23.
Image used with permission from Annie Johnsson Publicity