Bathurst-based musician Andy Nelson's debut album is on the way, and he is promising a fresh new set of songs that venture deep into his appreciation for folk music.
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The album, entitled Man on the Mountain, features nine songs that showcase Nelson's outstanding penchant for melody and composition, whilst reflecting the growth in his overall sound.
Due for widespread release on Saturday, June 1, Nelson said listeners can expect a mixture of his many different influences rolled into one.
"With each song, you can hear influences such as Iron and Wine, Bruce Springsteen and Ray Lamontagne molded together to determine my own sound," he said.
Man on the Mountain is the first collection of new material from Nelson since his self-titled debut EP in 2017.
A notable track from the EP is 'Little Sweet,' which Nelson wrote about his now three-year-old daughter, Maeve.
While the themes of family are also prevalent on Man on the Mountain, Nelson said the album offers some intriguing new twists on his songwriting style.
"A strong theme on the album is the pursuit of dreams and how it's never too late to follow your passion," he said.
"Other songs are very much open to interpretation and those who have heard the songs have taken something different from them in comparison to my original inspiration."
Nelson recorded the album in Kangaroo Valley with acclaimed producer Syd Green who, as a member of Australian hard rock act Mantissa [formerly Killing Time], opened for acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pantera during the 1990s.
"During the recording process, Syd and I would start playing at 9am and go all the way through until midnight," Nelson said.
"It never felt like hard work and it was a fulfilling process all round."
The album also features the talents of Orange musician Amy Viola on strings, who accompanied Nelson during his performances at last weekend's National Folk Festival in Canberra.
"Amy adds another dimension to the songs and I love hearing her contributions," he said.
Nelson is eager to see how audiences react to the new album.
"I just wanted to make an album that everyone could enjoy and take something from," he said.
"The songwriting process I go through is rather strange in the sense that it starts with a single line that I'll construct an entire song around."
Nelson will be staging an official launch event for Man on the Mountain at the Victoria Hotel on June 1 and to stay up to date, follow his official Facebook page.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
