For a band that redefined a quintessentially Aussie sound on their 2014 classic “Any Old Love”, Queensland’s Halfway travelled halfway around the world to record their forth studio album The Golden Halfway Record in Nashville, Tennessee, to create another step in their Australian sonic journey. The album met critical acclaim upon its release in 2016 and is continuing to produce gems like the latest single “East”. A slower cut from the album and the only track to feature the distinct lead vocals of Chris Dale “East” introduces some subtle production tricks and has distinctly different sound from the rest of the record. The accompanying video which can be viewed below takes you on a journey to Nashville during the albums recording through a collage of images which are an extension of the collection displayed on the album sleeve.
Forming in 2000, Halfway boasts members including ex-Go Between John Wilsteed, singer songwriter Luke Peacock, Ben Johnson, Dublin-born brothers Noel and Liam Fitzpatrick and Rocky trio John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin. With a trilogy of albums with critical acclaim and a bunch of Queensland Music Awards already under their belt, Halfway drew a line in the sand with their forth, 2014’s concept album ‘Any Old Love’ which catapulted the band onto the national stage with five star reviews, national airplay and the AIR Award for Best Country Album. The album explored the life of a washed-up jockey living in outback Queensland, exploring the psyche of small-town rural Australia through songs delving into self-identity, depression, disconnection, hope and anxiety.
The Golden Halfway Album has reclaimed the band’s love of rock while retaining the country feel of a group of troubadours ready to not just tell their story, but continue to tell the story of Australia. Says Halfway’s John Wilsteed: “The band is like a face, showing all the stuff that the years have piled on. One day you’re just a kid, screaming around in the summer dark, and then you do what you do, roads less travelled or waking up in the ditch, but keeping on. Then every now and then, in the midst of it all, you look in the mirror and it’s all there. These albums are like those mirror moments.”