WORDS BY
Jacqui James
Australian singer/songwriter Shane Nicholson is the first to tell you he has become a little bit more optimistic now he is older, and that optimism has crept onto his latest album Living In Colour; his twelfth studio album which was released on August 20th.
Here is the video for Shane’s latest single And You Will Have Your Way, taken from his album Living In Colour.
On the track Harvest On Vinyl he has the beautiful lyric “Making room for stuff for the kids” which shows where his priorities lie.
However, not all tracks on Living In Colour are rainbows and sunshine! Although he’s more positive these days, he has drawn from the losses of family members and his music counterparts over the last few years to make lyric-rich tracks that make you grab your heart. The Price Of Surviving will touch a nerve for anyone who has lost a loved one, especially to suicide, Shane he has incorporated his positive outlook on life into a mantra into this tune – “But it’s better than taking the other way down.”
I was lucky enough to chat with Shane before the release of Living In Colour and it was a pleasure to do so.
G’day, Shane! Thanks a lot for chatting to me about your upcoming album Living In Colour and all things music.
It sounds like you really owe your kids your changed outlook on life which you say is reflected on your upcoming album Living In Colour. Can you pinpoint the exact moment you sat back and everything changed for you?
I think it has been more of a gradual process. Growing older coupled with being a parent has definitely shifted some of my perspectives on life and what matters most to me. I’m trying to stress less these days.
But in the next breath, you describe yourself as being unhappy with the world around us. I daresay this might be with the politics in Australia?
Sure, but not exclusively politics. I find many facets of modern society quite disappointing, as I’m sure many of us do.
Talking about politics, what would you like to see the government aid the Arts and Entertainment industry sector to get through this pandemic?
The arts industry generates so many millions of dollars a year for the country, I’d like to see the industry support more proportionately balanced. So far, it’s been far below the mark, and the road to recovery will be long.
I’m really sorry to hear about the loss of loved ones in the past few years. Has this also changed your perspective on life as well?
It certainly does. In small ways, and in large ones. The most noticeable change is the growing need to be more connected to the people in your life, and to make the most of the time you get to spend with them.
Being a Paul Kelly fan too, imagining working with him gives me sweaty hands. Do you ever get over being nervous in the presence of greatness?
Yes and no. Most of the time, once you realise your hero is also human, the nerves settle a bit. But every now and then you’re reminded of how important they are to your own story, and that brings fleeting moments of total incredulity and bewilderment.
As a producer in the beautiful Blue Mountains I bet you were (and possibly still are being inundated by artists, who would have sent their “isolation” projects to you?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be working solidly on production projects all throughout this pandemic so far. I count my blessings every day. I’ve recently made albums for Michael Waugh, Camille Trail, Tori Forsyth, Lyn Bowtell…far too many to list. And I love every minute of it.
Giving the current uncertainty of touring Australia to promote Living In Colour, are you planning to do anything online?
We launched the album online on Aug 20th with a special Facebook Live Event, and then continuing to do whatever we can to promote the album digitally. It’s a shame we can’t get out and play live shows at the moment, but I consider this an opportunity to try some new things, and to get back to making new music sooner rather than later.
Thanks very much again Shane for chatting. I wish you all the best with Living In Colour.
You will hopefully be able to catch Shane on the road at one of the following gigs:
Friday Oct 8 – Hardys Bay Club NSW
Sunday Oct 17 – Lizotte’s Newcastle, NSW
Friday Dec 3 – Murray Delta Junkie Joint Goolwa, SA
Saturday Dec 4 – The Barn at Wombat Flat, SA
Sunday Dec 5 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide, SA
Wednesday Jan 19 – Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, Tamworth, NSW
Wednesday Jan 19 – The Pub, Tamworth, NSW (evening)
Thursday Feb 3 – Live at Bundy Hall, Bundalaguah, VIC
Saturday Feb 5 – Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, VIC
Sunday Feb 6 – Caravan Club, Archies Creek, VIC
Saturday Feb 12 – Bowral Bowling Club, NSW
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