SHANE NICHOLSON - Making a new album at peak cynicism and (jokingly) in his 'grumpy old man' stage. Spoilers: it’s positive and mentions love alot!

How do you make a new record during, what my next guest calls his “grumpy old man stage?” Recorded during the 2020/21 covid epidemic and it’s series of lockdowns, he discovered a surprise romanticism and joy, inspired by a cynicism he felt looking at the things we become as people as a community.. and as a music business. 

Todays guest is Shane Nicholson the Australian singer-songwriter from Brisbane. He’s released 11 albums, won 3 ARIA Awards, 11 Golden Guitars, and has twice been named Producer of the Year at the Country Music Awards of Australia. He’s collaborated on incredible music with Kasey Chambers and Paul Kelly and we chat on the phone just prior to the launch of his 2021 album LIVING IN COLOUR. 

Our Ramble chat makes all the stops - chatting about some of his favourites on the new record, finding Harvest on vinyl and it inspiring a cracker song, crossing paths with Paul Kelly in random places around the world -  and how he rents Airbnbs for the night to find time to write songs.

Don’t forget to follow my everywhere @bradleymccawofficial and check out my new album on Spotify and Apple Music. Share us with a friend and follow whenever you get your podcasts!

We start with us discussing the joy of chatting on the phone - with no video - before getting to what it was like making this new brilliant record - on his own in lockdown - I wondered if it took him back to the start of his career in Brisbane, starting out on his own.

Listen to LIVING IN COLOUR

Shane Nicholson 2022 Tour Dates

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Hosted by Bradley McCaw

Sound design by Matt Erskine & Cross Point Solutions

Assistant Engineering by Gilang Candraditya

Theme composed by James Ryan