The country may be stuck in a time of social distancing, but that has not stopped singer-songwriter Corey Legge from releasing a new single.
Last Night I Dreamt Of You is the first single from his upcoming sophomore solo album, titled Some Days, and was recorded in New Zealand with award-winning producer Ben Edwards.
"It's a slight change of direction for me, but it's still very obviously my style," Legge said.
The single is filled with smooth melodies and catchy guitar hooks, and is more of a pop song with blues influence as opposed to the music Legge performs in his blues and roots band the Swamp Stompers.
It has already received national airtime, with plays on Triple J and Double J.
"It's a recollection of meeting someone and fond memories of those first few days, as well as missing people when you're on the road," Legge said.
He is originally from Bega and the project has a definite Bega Valley flavour to it - its film clip was made by the region's Tim Winterflood and the drummer on the track is Andie Bilaniwskyj-Zarins who flew across the Tasman Sea to record it with a day's notice.
Legge said when he writes for fan-favourite band the Swamp Stompers he has a few more restraints as opposed to his solo work, as the band plays within a recognisable sound.
"In my solo project I go in with an open mind and write whatever I feel like," he said.
"It's been a great lightbulb moment for me the past few years, not worrying about what I'm writing and why I'm writing it, and just letting it come out onto a page."
Playing solo shows was "very challenging, but rewarding", as opposed to performing in a band with the Stompers, he said.
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"I'm still finding my feet with my solo project, so there's still that nervousness existing onstage and I have to concentrate more on what I'm doing because it's not something I have done in the past," he said.
"But it's all new and exciting."
Legge had to cancel the original tour he had planned for releasing his single due to the COVID-19 pandemic - he even had to postpone a tour to Europe with the Swamp Stompers - but he has been performing livestreamed shows on his social media pages and has been "blown away by the response".
He will do a few more more livestreamed shows over the coming months and has plans to release another single before launching his new album, which he aims to release in September.
Listen to the single on Spotify by clicking here, or buy it on Amazon or Apple Music.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
