Merry Christmas Sounds of Oz readers! I hope however you choose to spend it, you’re happy, healthy, and surrounded by love. I couldn’t let the day go past without spreading a little musical cheer, so here’s “I Love Christmas, Too,” the first track from Golden Guitar-winning trio Bella in two decades.
Many years might have passed, but the harmonies from Lyn Bowtell, Kate Ballantyne, and Karen O’Shea are just as magical as ever. I also love the lyrics which reference uniquely Australian traditions like enjoying peeling prawns and playing backyard cricket.
“It’s been such a joy to come together again with a song we all wrote, inspired by our own experiences of Christmas Down Under,” Lyn said.
Kate added, “We felt there was a real gap in Christmas music that truly reflects an Australian Christmas.”
Karen said, “I love a white Christmas song as much as anyone, but here in Australia it’s all about the air-con and a good barbie.”
Merry Christmas music lovers. I hope this track finds a place on your festive playlists!
If the buzz surrounding the Australian premiere of The Golden Bachelor has taught it’s anything, it’s that Aussies want to hear from people who’ve lived a life. The Taylor Swifts and Sabrina Carpenters of the world might dominate the charts, but there’s perhaps a more important place for releases from seasoned talents like Lyn Bowtell. At almost 50, Lyn is sharing some of her most personal stories with the release of Paper Cuts.
The album’s name is so telling. Some say paper cuts are the worst kind. They sting while the rest of the world barely notices. But they heal, and you keep moving forward. In that spirit, Paper Cuts explores themes of pain and resilience.
Lyn eases us into the gritty stuff with the fun single “Cold Shiver” and uplifting blues number “I’m Here.” But by the time her Bella sisters Kate Ballyntyne and Karen O’Shea join her for “I Don’t Want to Stay,” she starts peeling back the layers. Lyn wraps some of the hardest-hitting words in upbeat music. The ukulele in “Small” feels playful, but its lyrics exploring insecurities are so vulnerable and relatable. “Scene of the Crime” has a cool country-rock feel, but it tells a powerful personal story drawn from Lyn’s own experiences of domestic violence, coercive control, and alcoholism. Paper Cuts also has some beautiful quiet moments, including the piano ballad “Ordinary” and the uplifting acoustic “Ride.”
There seems to be so much of Lyn in this album that it’s interesting that the final track, “Paper Cut,” is the only one with a solo songwriting credit. However, when talking about “Scene of the Crime” she explained that the song was too raw and personal to finish alone. I imagine many of the tracks had a similar songwriting journey. Lyn’s collaborators have helped her create an album which shares so much wisdom and makes a profound emotional impact.
Paper Cuts is out now. Lyn is currently on tour to support its release. See her anywhere you can.
Lyn Bowtell is back with “Cold Shiver,” a brand-new track that showcases a brand-new sound for this acclaimed singer-songwriter. I’ve always appreciated her superb lyrics, but her gentle country-folk music rarely grabbed me. This has much more of a ‘70s country-rock feel and I’m here for it.
The song came out of a Victorian songwriting retreat hosted by Carter Carter. Lyn worked on the song with Carmel Charlton, Elissa Parsons, Jenny Churchill, Lea Groves, Michelle Walker, and Melanie Gray. That’s a serious collaborative effort, but it’s paid off.
“We had a spare hour, so I threw it out there, ‘Let’s write something!’” Lyn said. “At first, they looked at me like I was mad, but we split into melody and lyric teams and just went for it. No pressure, no rules, just pure, spontaneous creativity. It was winter, and the working title was Cold Weather, but what we ended up with was something none of us could’ve written on our own.”
“We imagined a guy meeting a girl at a ski resort,” Lyn explained. “She was just after a bit of fun, but he fell harder than expected. There’s no bitterness in it, just a wistful kind of hope. That feeling when you remember someone and, out of nowhere, you get that chill… a cold shiver. It’s playful, nostalgic, and a fun to perform.”
Lyn is gearing up to release her next album Paper Cuts in the coming months. She’s got a stack of gigs coming up, including some shows to promote that album, so catch her anywhere you can.
Lyn Bowtell made a splash on The Voice in 2017, but she’s been far from idle since that show propelled her into the spotlight. While she plays to smaller crowds now, she’s been releasing some incredible music. Her latest single “Woman to Woman” is the perfect reintroduction to her talent.
When so many young starlets dominate the charts, it’s so exciting to hear music from a mature woman sharing her experiences. Diverse voices are so important. It’s a timely song which speaks of the importance of real human connection in the digital age.
“I hope listeners to ‘Woman To Woman’ might be a little less influenced by social media in their everyday life and consider going to the source of information before they cast judgment on people,” Lyn said. “It’s great to be able to reach out across boundaries and borders to talk to people, but social media does come with negative effects as well and we are understanding that more and more now. I’ve never had anything particularly damaging said to me on social media, although there were a few moments after The Voice, but I’m lucky in that respect. Country music people are usually friendly, supportive and good-natured. Words can be so hurtful, faceless lies are painful. Don’t fool yourself into think that it’s nothing when it might mean something to someone else.”
“Woman to Woman” comes from Lyn’s forthcoming album, appropriately titled Wiser. She’s touring all over the country at the moment to support its release. See her at one of the following gigs:
24 April 2022 – The Longyard, Tamworth
12 May 2022 – Lizotte’s, Lambton
14 May 2022 – Halekulani Bowling Club, Budgewoi
15 May 2022 –Leichhardt Bowling Club, Lilyfield
26 May 2022 –The Front Gallery & Café, Lyneham
27 May 2022 – Tumut River Brewing Co, Tumut
28 May 2022 –Bowral Bowling Club, Bowral
29 May 2022 – Joyce Wheatley Community Centre, Kiama
17 June 2022 – The Beer Shed Brewing Co, Leumeah
18 June 2022 – Muswellbrook RSL Club, Muswellbrook
19 June 2022 – Armidale City Bowling Club, Armidale
22 July 2022 – The Press, Tamworth
23 July 2022 – Glen Aplin Hall, Glen Aplin
24 July 2022 – Dalby Events Centre, Dalby
27 & 28 July 2022 – Oodies Café, Bundaberg North
29 July 2022 – Maleny Community Hall, Maleny
30 July 2022 – GTM Music Studios, Beaudesert
31 July 2022 – Cabarlah Hall, Cabarlah
4 September 2022 – Mantra, Yarraville
9 September 2022 – The Wesley Anne, Northcote
10 September 2022 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
11 September 2022 – The Old Church On The Hill, Quarry Hill
15 September 2022 – Murray Delta Juke Joint, Goolwa
16 September 2022 – The Wheatsheaf, Thebarton
17 September 2022 – The Barn, Wombat Flat
14 October 2022 – Nethercote Hall, Nethercote
15 October 2022 – Murrah Hall, Murrah
Image used with permission from The Country Journo
