“Classic Aussie folk-rock – soulful stories backed with big acoustic guitars, uplifting melodies, driving rhythms, and tasty guitar work. In the tradition of other timeless homegrown artists – from Paul Kelly to Pete Murray, the Black Sorrows to the Waifs…catchy, original and unmistakably Australian.” Source: Fender Australia

Cheynne Murphy is a heartfelt, folk-rock singer-songwriter based in Northern NSW, Australia. Born in Nowra, just south of Sydney, Cheynne had no music training, and in his final year of a marketing degree, he picked up a guitar. Upon discovering three chords (or four) and the truth, he set about writing his own simplistic versions of ‘songs’ and discovered he had a knack for melody and songwriting.  Three years later, he had signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG, performed on national television and abandoned corporate aspirations, emerging as a frontman for seminal indie rock acts Mama Bird, Spinifex, and later, Wingspan. Management, record contracts, and touring commitments unfolded in quick succession due to the commercial strength of the songs, but ultimately the band imploded like all good rock and roll clichés in a haze of scandalous deals, legal battles, hidden agendas, and dodgy managers. This had Cheynne running for the rolling green hills of the Byron Shire where, with his trusted 12-string acoustic in hand, he resettled on a farm and started a family.  

A new musical journey inspired by the idea of sitting around campfires, singing songs with nothing but acoustic guitars, a few friends, and the crackle of a fire was the inspiration for his first official solo release "Firesongs for the Soul" which he debuted at Byron Bay’s 20th Anniversary Bluesfest in the company of giants such as Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. Jack later asked a local guitarist he was jamming with if he knew Cheynne because he had been playing the EP on high rotation in his car after being given the CD. The EP was later re-released as an album in 2020 winning the North Coast Entertainment Industry Awards (NCEIA) for folk & country and going top five on the national community radio charts in Australia. Cheynne’s following album "A Horse Called Freedom" produced with Paul Pilsneniks (Angus Stone & Julia Stone, Bernard Fanning, Pete Murray) earned a songwriter of the year nomination on the North Coast as well as national airplay on Triple J's "Roots and All" program. He also toured this album to heartland China as a special guest at International music festivals in Chongqing and Shanxi in 2016 and 2017. Drawing on his Irish-Australian heritage Cheynne explored an Irish-folk rock sound in his critically acclaimed third album Celtic Heart, written after a family trip to Ireland.  The latest album "Headlights and Goodbyes" (2021) traverses a folk and acoustic rock terrain and features the inspirational and soulful guitar work of internationally renowned Canadian artist Jeff Martin ( The Tea Party). 

In essence, Cheynne is a songwriting journeyman, who has settled comfortably as a self-releasing independent artist, playing locally on the North Coast scene, often at the popular community markets. Cheynne has just released his 5th studio album Wayfarers Home saying: “The album was intended to capture the wandering, free-spirited nature of the wayfarer. Inspired by the hills of the Byron Shire , it attempts to explore meaning in life and its inherent adventure.” The single Sameside was featured on ABC radio as part of a community flood fundraising event.  You can stay connected with Cheynne’s latest activities or contact him here.

200 Words

Cheynne Murphy is a heartfelt, folk-rock singer-songwriter originally born in Nowra (South Coast, NSW) and with no musical training he discovered his voice and "three chords and the truth" at the end of a university marketing degree. Two years later he had abandoned corporate aspirations and signed a world-wide songwriting deal with BMG publishing where he is still signed. Cheynne’s songs seem to effortlessly traverse the musical terrains of pop, folk-rock and alternative country. He has been described by Drum magazine as "a rare song-writing genius”; Rhythm Magazine as "big, warm, sprawling folk-rock, and Country magazine as ambling and cinematic but unpretentiously earnest".  Free-to-air TV performances, national radio airplay, and a string of songwriting awards led to him debuting his first solo release "Firesongs for the Soul" at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest in the company of giants like Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. His last album "Headlights and Goodbyes" featured the inspirational guitar work of Jeff Martin (from The Tea Party). Cheynne has just released his latest LP Wayfarers Home and features long-term collaborators and trio members Mark Heazlett (guitar and vocals) and Mat Akehurst (drums).  

FAST FACTS

Born: Nowra, NSW, Australia

Lives: Casuarina, Northern NSW, Australia

Credits:           

Bluesfest Artist - 20th Anniversary Festival

Multiple live national television appearances (Channel 10 ground zero music show)

2016 Songwriter of the Year Finalist - North Coast Music Entertainment Industry Awards

Worldwide publishing deal – BMG

National Community radio top five release (Australia)

Radio airplay – JJJ, MMM, ABC Regional /Radio National

Musicoz finalist

Festivals: Byron Bay Bluesfest, Fatherhood Festival, Bangalow song-writers festival, Neurum Creek folk festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk festival and more

Supports: Pete Murray/Tex Perkins /Jeff Martin / Epicure / The Church / Oblivia / Paul Greene / Richard Clapton /Christine Anu / Choir Boys

Venues: The Zoo /QPAC (Brisbane), Annandale Hotel, The Basement,

The Hopetoun Hotel, The Roundhouse, UNSW bar, Excelsior, Cat and Fiddle etc (Sydney), The Espy (Melbourne), Transit (Canberra)

Reviews: 

”Something special” Beat Magazine

“Rare song-writing genius” Drum Media

“Big,warm, sprawling,folk-rock, unpretentiously earnest" Rhythms Magazine

‘Tight band, sighing harmonies and evocative guitar” Courier Mail

“adroit playing...Burnished Gold is a smouldering centerpiece ballad, showcasing the shimmering production and instrumentation consistent throughout the entire album.The arrangements and performances are accomplished and should appeal to fans”

Country Magazine