The release of Fallon Cush's 2019 album, Stranger Things Have Happened was to have been the next step in their progression, with the band preparing to head to Melbourne for shows when the Covid pandemic lockdowns forced the cancellation of their plans.
Mental health issues are spoken about far more frequently than they once were but for Steve Smith, the head honcho of Fallon Cush, the breakdown he suffered at the beginning of 2020 came as a complete shock. Left with crippling anxiety, Smith stopped work, become increasingly isolated and barely pickup a guitar as he disengaged with the world.
Following a period of recovery and change, Smith and Fallon Cush unexpectedly re-emerged in 2023 with the single ‘Grain Of Salt’. Performed by Smith and Josh Schuberth who also recorded, mixed and mastered the track, 'Grain Of Salt' proved to be another soulful, melodic gem from the band with Backstreet Mafia describing it as "alt-country / indie rock at it’s most enigmatic and imperial."
Now the band proudly unveil the second single from their forthcoming five track EP Tricks.
'Hang On To Me', which premiered on Backseat Mafia, is a song that again finds Smith seemingly effortlessly crafting a sublime vocal melody in his affecting and unassuming style. Complemented by equally emotive pedal steel and keys, the warm and breezy country rock song explores the theme of self-care, with a real emphasis on the 'me' of the title.
"I was addressing the song to myself from me but trying to do it in such a way that it could’ve been from someone else as well." Smith reveals. "At that time I was trying to be kinder to myself and the song was a bit of a statement that I’d look after myself better than I had been and that if I did, I’d get through."
Expanding on that theme, Smith looks ahead to the silver lining that is the new EP, where he faces the struggles he's worked to overcome and in turn created some of his most important and personal music.
"I wanted this record to reflect what I’ve been through," he states. "I’ve had to pare things back, try to get rid of all the noise and work out what’s really important to me and be content with a simpler, less complicated life. We’ve taken a ‘less is more’ approach, aiming to create space by focusing on what is necessary to support the songs. It’s the record I’ve always wanted to make."
Mental health issues are spoken about far more frequently than they once were but for Steve Smith, the head honcho of Fallon Cush, the breakdown he suffered at the beginning of 2020 came as a complete shock. Left with crippling anxiety, Smith stopped work, become increasingly isolated and barely pickup a guitar as he disengaged with the world.
Following a period of recovery and change, Smith and Fallon Cush unexpectedly re-emerged in 2023 with the single ‘Grain Of Salt’. Performed by Smith and Josh Schuberth who also recorded, mixed and mastered the track, 'Grain Of Salt' proved to be another soulful, melodic gem from the band with Backstreet Mafia describing it as "alt-country / indie rock at it’s most enigmatic and imperial."
Now the band proudly unveil the second single from their forthcoming five track EP Tricks.
'Hang On To Me', which premiered on Backseat Mafia, is a song that again finds Smith seemingly effortlessly crafting a sublime vocal melody in his affecting and unassuming style. Complemented by equally emotive pedal steel and keys, the warm and breezy country rock song explores the theme of self-care, with a real emphasis on the 'me' of the title.
"I was addressing the song to myself from me but trying to do it in such a way that it could’ve been from someone else as well." Smith reveals. "At that time I was trying to be kinder to myself and the song was a bit of a statement that I’d look after myself better than I had been and that if I did, I’d get through."
Expanding on that theme, Smith looks ahead to the silver lining that is the new EP, where he faces the struggles he's worked to overcome and in turn created some of his most important and personal music.
"I wanted this record to reflect what I’ve been through," he states. "I’ve had to pare things back, try to get rid of all the noise and work out what’s really important to me and be content with a simpler, less complicated life. We’ve taken a ‘less is more’ approach, aiming to create space by focusing on what is necessary to support the songs. It’s the record I’ve always wanted to make."