Needles In The Hay

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Cheynne murphy is a folk alt-country rocker hailing from the alternative never-lands of Byron Bay, Australia.  Debuting his first EP Firesongs For The Soul at Bluesfest 2009, he has just released a debut album A Horse Called Freedom late 2014 to strong critical acclaim. Country update described the album as ‘at once ambling and cinematic’. Rhythms magazine commending its ‘shimmering production and instrumentation’ and The Courier Mail commented on the ‘tight band, sighing harmonies and evocative guitar’. Paul Pilsneniks (Pete Murray, Angus Stone, Powderfinger, Jeff Martin) has co-produced the album and created some rich sonic textures wrapped around what Fender Australia has described as ‘music in the tradition of other timeless homegrown artists – from Paul Kelly to Pete Murray, the Black Sorrows to the Waifs. Catchy, original and unmistakably Australian.’  

After discovering three chords and the truth in his final year at university, Cheynne dropped the security blanket of his corporate marketing career to his parents dismay, pursuing something far more meaningful at the time…the art of music and the dream of fame and glory. With no previous musical training he started a naïve journey of creative self-discovery and to his surprise, two years later negotiated and secured a worldwide songwriting deal with Warner Chappell, as well as two live performances on national television and national radio airplay on JJJ and MMM. Drum media called the rock album he penned with his band Wingspan in 2000 as: ‘ambitious orchestral rock with rare song-writing genius’. A star was rising. Or was it? Record deal scams, band breakups, management breakdowns and financial desolation had Cheynne running for the rolling green foothills of Byron Bay where he resettled on a farm in a tiny village called Possum Creek. Inspired by his 12 string acoustic guitar and rustic country living, and the arrival of his two young children, Cheynne invested in a new musical connection inspired by the rural vista and the simplicity of the fireside and the warmth of family, friends and harmony.

He recorded his debut solo EP ‘Firesongs For the Soul’ in 2008 and showcased this in the company of giants at the 20th Anniversary of the Bluesfest in 2009. He followed this up with a second EP, ‘Spaces In-between that Rhythms Magazine (2011) described as ‘an unpretentiously earnest sprawling folk rock record’. That EP which was volume II in the Firesongs for the Soul series, was recorded in Cheynne’s beach shack in South Golden Beach just north of Byron Bay with a couple of microphones, a laptop, and a bunch of friends who he says ‘were lured in with the promise of wine and baked dinners cooked constantly throughout the recording process’.  In a sense Cheynne had reconnected to the spirit of what music and collaboration was all about as he recalls: ‘Music has always been an innocent pursuit for me. Its been a constant companion and song-writing is a balm for my soul. I felt I had got ‘corrupted’ by the machinations of the music industry and the desires of 'fame and fortune'. The Firesongs for the Soul concept was a coming home to authenticity once again with the fire a grounding focal point, a hearth for sharing but also inspired by my love of acoustic guitars and harmonies'.

 

The ground work had been laid for Cheynne’s most accomplished creative work to date, the debut LP : A Horse Called Freedom (Firesong For the Soul series Vol III). Joining forces with ex-301 engineer and producer Paul Pilsneniks (Pete Murray, Angus Stone, Powderfinger, Jeff Martin), and a new band to boot, Cheynne has recorded a rich, emotive folk rock album with alt-country influences. Inspired by images of an old Richard Harris movie he watched with his Dad, ‘A Man Called Horse’ (which had depicted a cowboy captured and assimilated into an American Indian apache tribe), Cheynne drew on this indigenous imagery and symbology, integrating these themes with what defines the modern day warrior. Drawing on his own challenges, juggling a blended family with 4 children, 5 jobs, 100’s of students as a lecturer, a masters degree and the ongoing dream (or mirage) of a music career, Cheynne reflects that ‘ life these days demands from men and women a strength, fortitude and resilience not unlike the warriors of old. In a sense it is less about the physical demands but more about the emotional challenges of modern day life. A movement from outer to inner strength’. The resultant album is a conceptual journey of someone coming to terms with the balance of life and the rapidity of change. It also deals with the losses we may face along the way. People close to us, our support network or even the loss of our own identity. For the 4 part 'making of video's' checkout www.youtube.com/cheynnemurphy . 

The Cheynne Murphy Band is touring the album in 2015, featuring Toby Andrews on electric guitar, Mat Akehurst on Drums and Maurice Cernagoi on Bass and recording again at years end. For all further details checkout  http://www.cheynnemurphy.com .

 

FAST FACTS

Born: Nowra, NSW, Australia

Lives: South Golden Beach, Byron Shire, Australia

Credits:           

> Worldwide publishing deal – Warner Chappell /Alberts

> Multiple national television appearances

> Radio airplay – JJJ, 2SER, MMM, ABC Regional /Radio National /

   Community Radio

> North Coast Music Industry Award  (Dolphin Award 2009 ), Multiple finalist

> Musicoz finalist

Festivals:

Bluesfest, Fatherhood Festival,

Bangalow song-writers festival, Neurum Creek folk festival

Supports:

Pete Murray/Tex Perkins /Jeff Martin / Epicure

The Church / Oblivia / Paul Greene / Richard Clapton /

Christine Anu / Choir Boys /Mick Thomas

Past Reviews: 

”Something special” Beat Magazine

“Rare song-writing genius” Drum Media

“Big,warm, sprawling, folk-rock...unpretentiously earnest" Rhythms Magazine

 

A Horse called Freedom Album Reviews:

 

“Classic Aussie folk rock – soulful stories backed with big acoustic guitars, uplifting melodies, driving rhythms, and tasty guitar work. In the tradition of other timeless homegrown artists – from Paul Kelly to Pete Murray, the Black Sorrows to the Waifs…catchy, original and unmistakably Australian.”

 

Source: Fender Australia

 

“NSW local Cheynne Murphy delivers on the promise of his two EPs with a debut album that focuses on earnest singing and song crafting...adroit playing...Burnished Gold is a smouldering centerpiece ballad, showcasing the shimmering production and instrumentation consistent throughout the entire album.The arrangements and performances are accomplished and should appeal to fans of the Powderfinger and Pete Murray school of song based rock.” 

 

Source: Marty Jones, Rhythms Magazine 

 

The resulting sound is true to the spirit of acts such as Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and America. Across the record, Cheynne engagingly clothes the meat and bones of a folk animal with the skin of a rock beast, pulling together folk-like lyrics, gentle percussion, and frequently chiming lead guitar to gently soaring effect...ambling and cinematic...lyrics consistently engaging. Cheynne is at his best when giving flight to an engaging vocal hook scaffolded by a pop-informed rock arrangement (‘Firebird’, ‘Good Feelings’). An impressive debut that captures a strong sense of movement and reflection.

 

Source: Gareth Hipwell, Country Update Magazine

 

"mature folk-rock style with a tight band...songs like Good Feelings, a powerful folk-rock track with sighing harmonies and evocative guitar from Andrews, show how deep the fire still burns" 

 
Source: Noel Mengel, Courier Mail

Needles In The Hay

cheynnemurphy

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