Songwriter Joshua Seymour is a storyteller, an interpreter, and can captivate an audience in any situation. Having spent the last few years as co-songwriter in Melbourne based alt-country band, Cherrywood, Josh has come out swinging with a stunning debut LP titled Rope Tied Hope.
Recorded in Argyle, Texas, sees him put his own Australian spin on Americana, drawing from personal experiences, sometimes hilarious, often poignant fictional accounts, he brings an honesty and frankness to his songs. His distinctive, enigmatic vocal style and unique take on finger picking on both Guitar and Mandolin should see this burgeoning talent considered one of Australia’s most exciting songwriters.
To celebrate the release of this killer LP, Seymour has given us track by track run down of the record which you can check out below.
Two Or Few
“A song that features an opening chord that was new to me at the time, I have since been informed it is a D sus 4. I wrote this song while in Dublin and was thinking of the house we had just moved from in the western suburbs of Melbourne. in this same suburb my grandparents were married as was my father born. it can fit any one of those periods in time.”
Fortunate Glow
“This song was written at night. I recorded it, then forgot about it. When I was compiling songs for the record I found it and sent it through to Jason. He liked it. The song features a Copperphone microphone built and designed by polyphonic spree bassist Mark Pirro”
Don’t Wait Up
“I had an image of working in a remote or isolated community for the sole reason of monetary gain. This, I considered, would have its share of ups and downs. Coach plays a killer bass on this.”
Rope Tied Hope
“Some amazing pedal steel and electric guitar from Burton and Coach on this track. This was an old song with just guitar and vocals which Jason just took and ran with. this track was a lot of fun to make.”
Cold Steel
“A song about small town life. About drug dealers, laborers and being born into it all. Nice pedal steel playing from Burton.”
Train Track Samurai
“I was at Footscray train station, when the train driver announced a delay on account of a “nut, run a muck, with a samurai sword”. That line is in the song. Matt, a friend of Jason’s whom I haven’t chanced to meet, plays a b bender guitar solo, which i wish i could’ve seen, but am happy enough to have heard.”
Carry It Home
“A ballad in 3/4, a love song about enduring the hard times. Bobby used to play piano for Jason’s Dad back in the 70’s, He just played it down with such ease. It was so good we dropped the guitar track and added on;y voice. It’s bobby and his piano that makes that song.”
Nothing To Me Now
“A bitter sweet breakup song featuring hand claps and backing vocals. What more should I say?”
Wish It Well
“I wrote this song on a trip to Galway and during a day upon the cliffs of Moher. A magnificent place that is very popular with tourists and the suicidal. The only song where the mandolin features as a lead instrument.”
Lord, Me Oh My
“These lyrics were written in an ANZ bank on Exhibition St, Melbourne, the music in a house in Dublin.
Another copperphone vocal with acoustic guitar, piano and some high strung electric.”
If This Ain’t What I’m Looking For
“My wife likes the line in no country for old men where Ed tom bell answers ‘if it aint, it’ll do till the mess gets here’. I tried to write her a song based around the same sentiment. Sent it to Jason when he was making the RJV album but they thought it a little slow for them so it ended up on this record.”
Night Long Into Nothing
“Wrote this song after listening to South Sans Gabriel play a cover of the Lionel Ritchie song ‘all night long.'”
Rope Tied Hope Tour Dates
Thu 30 Jul – The Junk Bar, Brisbane QLD
Fri 31 Jul – The Upfront Club, Maleny QLD
Sat 1 Aug – Treehouse, Byron Bay NSW
Sun 2 Aug – Shady Pines, Sydney NSW
Fri 14 Aug – Spotted Mallard, Melb VIC
Sun 16 Aug – Barwon Club, Geelong VIC
