Originally hailing from Melbourne, singer songwriter Adam Eaton, now lives Norway, but is currently back in Australia promoting and playing shows for the release of his brand debut album “Catastrophes”.
Adam worked with Roger Bergodaz (Tex Perkins, Kim Deal, Jordie Lane), along with Shane O’Reilly (Tex Perkins) together to produce and record. Recorded in just 9 days with no sign of ocean views of the west coast of Norway, Adam, Roger Bergodaz, Shane O’Reilly, trusted friend Chris Paynter and Leena Thavisin created what would go on this beautiful and eclectic release.
Now with the album unleashed on the world, Eaton was kind enough to give us a little personal insight into all the of the tracks that appear on the album.
‘Satellites’
A fun alter ego song, I wrote this in Melbourne about a guy taking things into his own hands, looking after the city by night. It’s my superhero song and has tons of energy.
‘On Your Way now’
One of the most personal songs on the album, it’s about the struggles depression can give. The ending is uplifting and encouraging with beautiful pedal steel by Shane Reilly. We allowed a lot of space in this song, using minimalism to our advantage, like Chris Paynter’s bass work, where less really is more.
‘Walk Out And Lose’
I got the banjo out on this one! Roger and Shane loved that I played so innocently with no sign of it being a hired Nashville banjo gun at all, we thought it gave it some more sincerity without being over the top. It’s about trying to maintain a healthy relationship while at the same time, trying to maintain your own personal health. Filled with regret, hope, and lots of damn pain. Beautiful harmonies sung by Leena Thavisin, as soon as she started singing on it my jaw dropped.
‘Take You To The Ocean’
I call it an ‘over-protective love song’. I think we managed to create a tropical sound with the pedal steel, bass, and drums together. Country in the tropics, is what I think of it when played with the band, a cowboy hat and a Hawaiian shirt? Hot stuff. The band really took this song to a place I didn’t realise it could go, very collective and inspiring.
‘Be Kind’
We went pretty psychedelic with this one, having delays on pedal steel, atmospheric vocals etc. Sung about the fragility of insecurities and the desperation for others to ‘be kind’. I still don’t know how we pulled this off in the studio, but somehow it happened effortlessly and was a lot of fun to make. The drumming by producer Roger Bergodaz is so minimal but allowed the rest of the instruments to move around without getting in each others way.
‘Wait Out’
The first single off the record. It’s a break up song, couldn’t have an album without one. It’s also about the realization of moving on. A great loud band on this one, no one held back, robot guitar sounds, synths, and double tracked vocals. We sat confused about the structure for about half the day, then I re-wrote most of it in the studio, with Roger, Shane, and Chris, pointing fingers at me giving ideas on where it should move. We got there in the end and came up with a sound that I find is quite unique, a loud rocking band, with soft vocals up front that somehow works.
‘Scumbag’
I wanted to turn this into a country/rock n roll song, with guitar licks everywhere. Thanks to Shane Reilly and his practice of country lick shredding from his work with Tex Perkin’s ‘man in black’, he did it, and seemed to be having a hell of a lot of fun while he was laying it down. A song about a guy not suited with alcohol who, unfortunately is the only one who doesn’t understand that.
‘Somewhere Now’
Having the knowledge that your life can change so drastically from where you decide to live it. Embracing the indecisive with the intolerable pain of not knowing. We kept the band minimal to allow the lyrics to have more of the focus. Some quirky licks brought a lighter side to the mood, and the mandolin sits up top with my voice beautifully.
‘So Far Out’
We went pretty wild in the studio here, fast drums and interesting guitar sounds. We experimented a lot with this, originally trying to play it in a country/rock way, but in the end we wanted to make something stand out more and it definitely stands out! It’s a big sound but again with a minimal approach, only having drums, bass, acoustic guitar, electric, piano and vocals on there. They all sit, serving their purpose well.
It’s About two worlds being too distant to meet and understand each other.
‘Do It All Again’
A reflection song, looking back happily, literally wanting to do it all again, with an underlying fear of what’s ahead. Shane played beautiful guitar and Roger’s drumming builds the entire song. Leena’s vocals brought the choruses to life, giving more weight. It sits well at the end of the album. This song came out very quick in the studio, we got onto it immediately, sometimes that does happen!
CATASTROPHES – Available now through Sugar Mountain Records
Listen to the album in full here:
