Seedlings All – Sounds of Oz

British folk darlings Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker have just released a stunning new single “Bathed in Light,” so it’s the perfect time to remind you that they’re here. In our country. Right now. They’ve just played Port Fairy, but if you missed it, there are still several opportunities for you to catch them in the flesh.

Whether you make one of the shows below or not, you’re going to want to listen to this stunning song. “Bathed in Light” is a masterclass in restraint, a dreamy delicate piece that’s utterly captivated me.

“As a performer I’ve always been torn between my need for attention and my fear of how exposing it is, especially as a songwriter. In that 30 seconds before the first note when the audience is silent and the lights are on you, I’m gripped with nerves and I ask myself ‘why do you put yourself through this?’ This song is basically the narrative that runs through my head as I sweat and panic,” Josienne explained. “I want it to go well, and my stage fright has always come from a fear that I’m not really made of strong enough stuff for a performing career but I’ve gone and wasted my life trying to do it and what else would I do and by the second or third note I love it.”

“Bathed in Light” is the latest track lifted from Josienne and Ben’s first album of originals, Seedlings All. Catch them at their remaining Aussie appearances below.

14 March 2018 – Basement Discs instore, Melbourne (12:45 pm) @ 12.45pm
14 March 2018 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
17 & 18 March 2018 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

British folk duo Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker have announced their maiden Australian visit on the back of the release of their new album Seedlings All. It’s a landmark release for the pair, their first album of entirely original material.

“For the first time I’m out there alone with a bunch of songs that expose my insecurities, fears of failure and inflated pride,” Josienne explained. “They deal with my own specific thoughts and feelings about the reality of pursuing this kind of career, the cost to personal relationships, circumstance and lifestyle, and asking the question – “Is this still worth it?” They’re about trying to find an inner balance in an environment that doesn’t provide any balance or certainty. Where one day everything is brilliant and the next day it could all be over. Where one night ends in a standing ovation and the next starts by playing to an empty room.”

The album features the gorgeous new single “Chicago,” about a night in the Windy City that was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

“We drove all day to get to Chicago, we got to our hotel on the outskirts of town and had five minutes to drop our bags and then get back in the car to drive another hour into the centre of Chicago to sound check. We did that, soundcheck went fine, but then NO ONE came to the gig. There was a support act that night who despite being local didn’t appear to have any friends,” she remembers. “It was one of those gigs where you wonder whether it’s even worth going on, but we’re sticklers for a contractual obligation, so we played. After our set one of the guys from the support band said to me that he thought an hour set of our music was “a bit long” because “it’s the kind of music you have to listen to and think about and it’s Saturday and no one wants to do that”. So I was sitting at the bar drinking my quadruple Bulliet bourbon thinking “fuck this, I’m not doing it anymore, the world is not made for my gift!” and then I realised that I was being a knob and that’s just how it is, we’re not the fucking Beatles and we have to start somewhere, we played to no one in the UK and we’d have to get used to it here too. So I wrote this song mainly to have a word with myself about not being a massive diva….”

Hopefully they have a better turn-out on their Aussie dates! Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker will play some of the country’s key folk festivals and a Melbourne show while they’re on Australian shores. Seedlings All hits stores on March 23.

10 & 11 March 2018 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
14 March 2018 – Modern Folk from Britain at Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
17 & 18 March 2018 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba

Image used with permission from Remote Control

Tag: Seedlings All

Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Playing in Oz This Week

Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker Announce First Aussie Shows