Israel Cannan Tours Single “Set Me Free”

Few artists invest as much in their creative vision as Israel Cannan. We saw him write, engineer, and play all the instruments on his sophomore album Walk. So now it’s out, you’d think the hard work would be over, right? Not a chance.

Israel’s just released a new single “Set Me Free” and to promote it he’s made this music video. For most artists that simply means time in front of the camera, but that’s too easy. Israel actually directed and edited the film clip too. Is there anything he can’t do?

Apparently not, because now we’ll see him setting off on his first national tour. It all kicks off this Friday in Adelaide. Tickets are available now from the venues for the following shows. If he puts as much work into those gigs as he does everything else, they’re going to be pretty spectacular.

25 February 2011 – Fringe Festival, Adelaide
26 February 2011 – The Exeter Hotel, Adelaide
27 February 2011 – La Mar Sundays, Adelaide
1 March 2011 – Mojo’s, Fremantle
3 March 2011 – The Raval, Sydney
18 March 2011 – The Front Gallery, Canberra
19 March 2011 – Bertha Brown, Melbourne
25 March 2011 – Gallery, Forster
26 March 2011 – The Loft, Gold Coast
15 April 2011 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay

“Walk” – Israel Cannan

Israel CannanThat dreaded lurgy of mind is still hanging around, but I heard once that music is the best medicine. I’m not sure whether the gentle strains of Israel Cannan’s new album Walk are helping me get rid of the germs any quicker, but they’re certainly not hurting matters.

This album is my kind of music, with its lush, organic sounds, honest lyrics, and heartfelt delivery. As each track unfolded I found myself thinking just how good it was. I have some early favourites; I love the jangling rhythm and harmonica strains of “To The Left,” the driving beats of “Let It Rain,” and the slow build and emotional words of “Where the Story Unfolds.”

While these tunes are revving me right now, I have a feeling that my list of favourites is going to change after a few listens. While some of them speak to me more than others in this moment, they’re all brilliant. This is the kind of album packed with songs that work together as a unit, rather than seeming like a collection of singles. And again, that’s back to the honesty of this recording; it seems more like an attempt to document a period of time than an effort to make money.

Mellow and gentle, and above all real, Walk by Israel Cannan is the perfect thing for soothing my current malady.

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Israel Cannan’s Epic Aussie Journey Inspires Amazing Album

Israel CannanI love discovering new music that really revs me. The latest act to get me excited is Israel Cannan, a young singer-songwriter who’s taken a long literal and metaphorical journey to reach the place he’s at today.

Israel released his debut EP at the tender age of 18, but after a few successful tours and radio attention he soon became disillusioned by the corporate machine. And so earlier this year he decided to leave his home in coastal New South Wales and travel around the country.

With little more than a guitar, a beat up old van, and a great friend by his side Israel travelled to some of Australia’s most remote towns, using the money he made from busking to get from one spot to the next. He offered free singles to the people who came to hear him play, and learned a lot about Australia and himself.

From this epic journey came Walk, Israel’s debut album. It’s an impressive piece, especially considering that he wrote all the tracks, engineered them, and played all the instruments.

Israel documented his travels through a series of 22 video blogs, which you can now see on his YouTube page, along with this film clip for the incredible song “Letting Go.” If you love gentle indie folk in the vein of Iron & Wine and Ben Harper, you need to check this out.

Walk is currently available through Israel Cannan’s website and digitally from iTunes. Check it out!


Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting