The New Graces are excited to be embarking on their first tour this week, accompanied by a brand new single - and perhaps a rabbit.
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Candelo musicians Melanie Horsnell, Robyn Martin and Kate Burke have been keen to hit the road ever since forming and releasing their acclaimed debut album, Seasons, in May last year.
Hopefully COVID-19 won't get in their way this time around.
"It was a crazy thing to be putting an album out during lockdown," Horsnell told the Bega District News this week.
"Then across December and January we had 15 shows cancelled - every time it broke your heart."
"It's super exciting to be hitting the road," Martin added, "although I'm still working out the logistics today."
During the interview, Horsnell realised she still needed to organise what to do with her pets, joking that "Bunny" might end up joining them in the van as they tour regional NSW.
The choice of regional venues all within NSW was a conscious decision given uncertainty around the pandemic situation, but also that's right where the trio of singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalists feel right at home.
"Country towns are the best places to play," Horsnell said.
"You really feel how much people want to be at a concert and relieved to be listening to live music - how good it is for your mental health."
To launch the tour - which begins Friday at Smokey Dan's in Tomakin - the four-time Golden Guitar nominated group released a new single, the first of three from their Open Heart Sessions.
How Am I Supposed To Be A Mother was written by Horsnell and recorded on Mother's Day 2021.
It's a raw and melancholy tune, with honesty and vulnerability shining through gorgeous harmonies as only these three songbirds know how to do.
"Kate and Robyn had already written beautiful songs and I felt under pressure," Horsnell said.
"Then by candlelight around the kitchen table that night all the feelings of that day came out, the disappointments and the stress - and the love.
"All the worries one has, and then the beautiful things our children say to us when we really feel like giving up hope.
"You worry if you're being a good mother - they don't know about all the other things going on in your head."
Pre-save the single on your favourite streaming service here
Robyn said calling it the Open Heart Sessions was a little tongue in cheek at first, but more and more came to symbolise the trio's new work.
They each wrote a piece to share for the recording session - Martin's and Burke's will be revealed later in the year.
They have also penned four songs apiece for a new album. The deal was that whichever of the three wrote the song had final say on the creative elements.
"It was fun to collaborate. It felt pretty easy," Martin said.
"Everyone has such great ideas and individual strengths that we can add to a piece."
How Am I Supposed To Be A Mother has Horsnell's emotion-filled vocals accompanied by mandola and bazouki, while Burke provides melody with her fiddle and a percussive counter-melody on guitar. Martin underlines it by bowing her double bass.
Footage by Tim Winterflood captured during the intimate Open Heart Sessions accompanies the new single.
The New Graces regional tour begins Friday, June 25, at Tomakin, and will conclude back in the Valley on July 11 at The Lush Factory in Tilba.
For the full list of dates, visit www.thenewgraces.com.
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
