Wayfarers Home - work in progress

So the current plan is to release a new song around every 6 weeks. The new album is called Wayfarers Home. A nostalgic and reflective look at life, love and also embracing the simple things. Here is an excerpt media release for the first four singles explaining a little about the songs and process.

Wayfarers home

Wayfarers Home taps into a more wistful, timeless feel, traversing a folk-rock soundscape reminiscent of earlier acoustic songs from Led Zeppelin like the ‘Rain Song’ and ‘That’s the Way’. A perfect sound track to a country road trip or campfire jam, Wayfarers home seems to capture the spirit of the north coast hinterland of Byron Bay where it was recorded. Lyrically the inspiration comes from the work of German author Herman Hesse’s, “Wanderings” whose protagonist embarks on a new way of life close to nature, a real theme of the single and upcoming record. 

Says Cheynne: “ The song was written years ago when I first moved to the north coast and I was living on a macadamia farm, experimenting with open tuning on my acoustic guitar. I was inspired by the rolling hills and cascading streams of Possum Creek where I was living. I have always loved the sounds of acoustic Zeppelin and more recently The Tea Party’s acoustic music. I am drawn to the feelings and images it conjures. Nature brings us into the mystic as Van Morrison says.” 

Running My Own Race

In a world where sometimes it can feel everyone wants a piece of you, it can feel good running your own race. Doing things your own way, without the worry of what others may think. This is the premise of a new single from local folk-rock artist Cheynne Murphy who is playing local on Saturday, November 19 at the Bellingen community markets and The Federal Hotel that night. Says Cheynne of the songwriting process: “ The song was written on a camping trip to Moonee beach, on the Coffs Coast. I had gotten up before dawn, went for a hike to a coastal cliff, and watched the sunrise. Breathing in its inspiration. Later by the fire that night this song came straight out after my partner told me to stop comparing myself to others. Its about connecting with your souls dreams and desires. Removing the conditioning from parents, society and not getting lost in what you think others may want”.

Running Your Own Race is an earnest, heartfelt acoustic folk rock song, that moves with a gentle ragged beauty. Musically, open-tuned acoustics, fretless bass, brushes, & slide guitar, gently lift an emotive lyric.

 Recorded in a farmhouse in Duranbah with producer Paul Pilsneniks (Angus and Julia Stone, Pete Murray), Cheynne draws on the incredible reservoir of other creatives in the area to develop his authentic folk-rock sound. “I love the melting pot of talent on the North Coast and it’s great as a songwriter to tap into that. I’ve always used the analogy that producing music is like cooking a good, hearty soup and the importance of getting the spices right and it all working together. We have amazing musical ingredients in this area’. This track also features the dreamy atmospherics of slide guitar by ‘Burning Hands ‘ Kristan Burnard, coupled the bass of Peter Cook and percussion from long-time collaborator Mat Akehurst.  

Candles Burning

Life is short. We are all candles burning down. When we are together with good friends it would seem that time has stopped temporarily. The memories we share certainly burn on. This is the premise of the third single from North coast folk-rock artist Cheynne Murphy’s forthcoming studio album Wayfarers Home Candles Burning. Cheynne shares: “The song was written after a nostalgic trip back home visiting old friends in a farm shed, overlooking the green valleys in the Berry hinterland on the south coast of NSW where I grew up. It seemed at least one point in the evening the place lit up with the joy and laughter telling old stories. I feel many of us have the same experiences when we catch up with close friends and the special things we share together”.

Candles Burning is a sentimental, heartfelt acoustic folk-rock song inspired by harmony bands of old like The Eagles or Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Musically, acoustics, fretless bass, brushes, & slide guitar, gently lift an emotive lyric, showcased by harmonies with long-time collaborator and co-writer Mark Heazlett a regular on the North Coast music scene.