THE isolating nature of the COVID-era caused many people to reflect on their lives and personalities, and it was no different for Amy Vee.
The uncertainty of lockdowns and gig restrictions, coupled with parenting and academic study in psychology and mental health left the Newcastle singer-songwriter feeling like she was stretched in various directions without an anchor.
Those feelings were channelled into Vee's new single Only Just.
"I feel like this song is probably the most truthful and accurate song I've ever written about my own personal experience," Vee said.
"I tend to write in a fairly abstract way lyrically, and with this I really just drew on my direct experience of being this person who wears all these different hats and different roles, but I don't feel like I belong in any particular camp."
Only Just resulted out of a songwriting regiment Vee's imposed to challenge herself. She would write a song per week, a previously alien concept for the ethereal indie-folk artist.
"It was actually quite freeing in a lot of ways, because you just had to strip away all of those constraints and doubts," she said. "I'm the kind of person who will just pour over ideas and whittle away at them until they say what I need to perfectly.
"When you have a deadline you have to just get it out and you have to accept whatever comes out is what is it, which in a way, made it more authentic."
Only Just is due for release on Friday and draws influences from powerful female artists PJ Harvey, Joan As Policewoman and St. Vincent. It was recorded by Newcastle producer Gareth Hudson at his Hazy Cosmic Jive Studio.
SMITHIES IN SPRING
AMID all the bleak news of gigs cancellations over the next fortnight due to COVID-19's reemergence in Sydney, there was some daylight this week.
Melbourne yob-rock heavyweights The Smith Street Band announced their return to Newcastle's Cambridge Hotel on September 15.
Wil Wagner and the band were last in Newcastle in November 2019 during he Supercars when they performed at 48 Watt Street. Since that time the five-piece have released ARIA No.1 album Don't Waste Your Anger (2020) and their live album Unplugged in Wombat State Forest (2021).
Melbourne punks Money Boys will be joining The Smith Street Band for the tour, which also includes an Entrance Leagues Club show on September 16.
BLUESY DIESEL
THE dreaded "C word" might have drawn a red line through Diesel's sold-out shows at Lizotte's over the weekend, but thankfully fans have a new record coming to ease the pain.
Diesel's Alone With Blues will be released on July 16 and will be Mark Lizotte's first completely solo album of his career.
The ARIA award-winning singer and guitarist performed double bass, blues harp, cello, percussion and more on the 11 tracks, which was recorded alone at his Sydney studio during the 2020 COVID lockdown.
TEENAGE DADS GIG
MORNINGTON Peninsula psych-pop band Teenage Dads will play their biggest headline show in Newcastle on August 22 when their Cheerleader Tour comes to the Cambridge Hotel.
With a sound that could be described as a cross between The Strokes, The Growlers and modern Australian indie, Teenage Dads have been creating a buzz, especially since they joined Lime Cordiale in Michael Chugg's stable.
THOMAS ROVES PAST
MICK Thomas & The Roving Commission's gig on Sunday at Lizotte's was one of the many unfortunate shows cancelled by the latest COVID-19 outbreak.
On Wednesday the Weddings Parties Anything frontman announced rescheduled dates for his NSW and ACT tour in December, but unfortunately Newcastle wasn't on the itinerary due to a lack of suitable dates. Ticket-holders can arrange a refund at their point of purchase.
STILL AUSTRALIAN
FORMER Newcastle-based country musicians Troy Kemp and Katrina Burgoyne have lent their talents to a new cover of the iconic Peter Allen song I Still Call Australia Home.
The pair joined other Nashville-based Australian country artists Kristy Cox, O'Shea, Travis List, Camille and Stuie, Jedd Hughes and Sam Hawksley on the track, which was recorded to provide solace to the thousands of Australians still stuck overseas during the pandemic.
"The last 18 months have been hard on everyone, but especially hard on us expats who are stuck on the other side of the world from our loved ones," Cox said. "Recording this track gave me a glimmer of home - I hope it does the same for anyone else who is in the same boat and reminds everyone back home just how much we all miss and love them."
NEW TIME FOR TYNE
IF you have tickets for rising indie-rocker Tyne-James Organ's postponed gig at the Cambridge on Friday, mark down Friday, September 17. The show has been rescheduled.
