Emma Donovan
Sooki Lounge (Belgrave, VIC)
Thursday, 1 August 2024 7:00 pm
Celebrated ARIA nominated award winning singer songwriter; Emma Donovan hits the road launching her new album in capital cities throughout June.
The concert sees Emma share songs off her highly anticipated new album ‘Til My Song is Done,’ , out 19 April. Title track and new single – Download / stream here.
Emma explains, “Til My Song is Done is both my new single and the title track of my upcoming album. The lyrics “no rest til my voice is heard” pretty much sums it up. I’ll never stop singing until I can't sing no more. I want to go down in history doing what I love doing; and that’s to sing. I sing for everyone and everything, my kids, my family, my community, my people. My songs are never done. I have a story to continue and finish.
“The song also sums up my life over the past few years as a working mother with young children. I think most hard-working mothers in the music industry can relate to the challenges we face; whether it be life on the road with our children or when we have to leave them to perform and tour. I have come to understand that my songs carry me forward and take me home too.
“It also acknowledges songwriters that have gone before. It feels like history is repeating itself because we are still singing about issues that are as relevant today in this country as they were back then. I wanted to acknowledge how tiring and hard this can be but how writing these lyrics gives me the strength to continue and to keep singing.”
Comprising of 11 tracks, the new album is seen as a return home for Donovan, getting back to the sounds of country and her creative and performing roots, conveying a musical journey from singing those big country numbers as a kid, to joining her family performing church songs at community funerals, to the kitbag of skills picked up her over later collaborations in funk, soul and R&B.
Faced with an opportunity to record her first solo album in 20 years and her first album after 8 years without The Putbacks ensemble, Donovan says she was propelled into some deep introspection.
“I wanted to approach the album as a clean slate, but looking back at what makes me who I am,” Donovan explains. “I began by asking myself, who am I? Who is Emma Donovan? And what do I want to do? I want to be the deadly granddaughter, niece and daughter. I want to make my family proud.
“Til My Song is Done is honouring that legacy of our family country music ways.”
“That's exactly what this album is for me, like if they're proud and they're happy, if the family is honoured, that's all I need to know. And mum would be proud.”
“I know this album is just the start of continuing to stand strong not only for my daughters but for all the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women working in the Australian music industry today.”
All songs were co-written and produced by Emma and Mick Meagher (The Putbacks, The Bamboos, Kate Ceberano, The Pigram Brothers, Ross Hannaford) with the two sharing a powerful, creative connection, harking back to their shared Black Arm Band days.
This exciting album tour follows Emma’s recent, hugely successful national tour with legendary US country star Charley Crockett.
The concert sees Emma share songs off her highly anticipated new album ‘Til My Song is Done,’ , out 19 April. Title track and new single – Download / stream here.
Emma explains, “Til My Song is Done is both my new single and the title track of my upcoming album. The lyrics “no rest til my voice is heard” pretty much sums it up. I’ll never stop singing until I can't sing no more. I want to go down in history doing what I love doing; and that’s to sing. I sing for everyone and everything, my kids, my family, my community, my people. My songs are never done. I have a story to continue and finish.
“The song also sums up my life over the past few years as a working mother with young children. I think most hard-working mothers in the music industry can relate to the challenges we face; whether it be life on the road with our children or when we have to leave them to perform and tour. I have come to understand that my songs carry me forward and take me home too.
“It also acknowledges songwriters that have gone before. It feels like history is repeating itself because we are still singing about issues that are as relevant today in this country as they were back then. I wanted to acknowledge how tiring and hard this can be but how writing these lyrics gives me the strength to continue and to keep singing.”
Comprising of 11 tracks, the new album is seen as a return home for Donovan, getting back to the sounds of country and her creative and performing roots, conveying a musical journey from singing those big country numbers as a kid, to joining her family performing church songs at community funerals, to the kitbag of skills picked up her over later collaborations in funk, soul and R&B.
Faced with an opportunity to record her first solo album in 20 years and her first album after 8 years without The Putbacks ensemble, Donovan says she was propelled into some deep introspection.
“I wanted to approach the album as a clean slate, but looking back at what makes me who I am,” Donovan explains. “I began by asking myself, who am I? Who is Emma Donovan? And what do I want to do? I want to be the deadly granddaughter, niece and daughter. I want to make my family proud.
“Til My Song is Done is honouring that legacy of our family country music ways.”
“That's exactly what this album is for me, like if they're proud and they're happy, if the family is honoured, that's all I need to know. And mum would be proud.”
“I know this album is just the start of continuing to stand strong not only for my daughters but for all the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women working in the Australian music industry today.”
All songs were co-written and produced by Emma and Mick Meagher (The Putbacks, The Bamboos, Kate Ceberano, The Pigram Brothers, Ross Hannaford) with the two sharing a powerful, creative connection, harking back to their shared Black Arm Band days.
This exciting album tour follows Emma’s recent, hugely successful national tour with legendary US country star Charley Crockett.