Black Rabbit George adds a little 'Japanese Vintage' to the Folk n Hell tour - playing Solbar August 16
Five-time finalist at the recent Gold Coast Music Awards, singer/songwriter Black Rabbit George is loved for his brilliant but somewhat dark-tinged and melancholic songwriting style. But a recent experience of unrequited love has inspired an uncharacteristically upbeat, folk-driven ballad that is at once reflective and joyful. Japanese Vintage—released 29 June 2018—is a standout track that is poised to be his most accessible work to date.
In lieu of his forthcoming EP The Cause, which is coming early in 2019, George delivers the uplifting caresses of Japanese Vintage. It’s a song that features the obligatory rhythmic gallop of upbeat indie folk and tastefully introduces a melodic fiddle part, thus dextrously dipping his toe into alt-country territory. Exquisitely weaving a sense of hope with the deep nostalgia of unrequited love.
‘I spent a week with a woman I was romantically interested in, however it didn't quite work out the way I'd hoped. This is basically a song of unrequited love’ says George. ‘I originally thought the song would be so great that I'd eventually win the accolades of the heart I desired. However as these things tend to go, after a few weeks of licking my wounds I realised how caught up in the fantasy I was. So what was a love song turned into a song of loss.’
George’s distinct songwriting talent and storytelling ability is beginning to position him as an eminent and respected musical figurehead in the league of Paul Kelly. Indeed his music elicits shades of such legends as Bob Dylan and Rufus Wainwright. George employed his usual DIY approach in recording this song, then transported the files to production specialist (and parter in Tijuana Cartel crime) Carey O’Sullivan for the final treatment.
‘We recorded Japanese Vintage while I was on tour. It was a little difficult to get the musicians in when I needed them, so we ended up stitching it together over email. Phoebe recorded the violin in her bedroom in Perth and uploaded it, while the drums were recorded by Carey O'Sullivan in our studio on the Gold Coast while I was on my way to Europe, thank God for the modern world!’
The Black Rabbit George trio will hit the East coast road for a series of tour dates in August. The tour, presented by PS Music Group, will be formally announced on the 26th June. Drummer Adam Felton (Ash Grunwald) and OJ Newcomb (Band of Frequencies, Xavier Rudd) on the double bass, will lend their talents to the equation.
Stream 'Japanese Vintage' below, and go check out Black Rabbit George at Solbar on Thursday August 16th with Sunny Coast favourite, Karl S. Williams, and Fraser & Stone.