Newton Faulkner booked to play at Bluesfest 2018

If you were listening for Faulkner, you couldn’t miss him either: a master of sounds coming from all parts of his guitar and attached parts, musically and otherwise.

Ten years ago Australia fell in love with Faulkner at first sight, the single Dream Catch Me from his first album Hand Built by Robots soaring to the top of the charts, his enthralling performance captivating new fans at Bluesfest.

He remembers the introduction to country very well. 

“It was the first territory outside the UK where things kicked off,” he says during an interview in the foyer of Lizotte’s on Wednesday, in Newcastle for a quick promotional hello (and a couple of songs, check them out at theherald.com.au). “It was big before I got here as well. I have no idea how it worked, no idea what to expect.”

“I got here and was looking for a name on a card for someone from the record company and somebody stopped me, and it was like, ‘Are you Newton Faulkner?. I was like, ‘Yeah, but how the f  – – –  do you know?’ That’s ridiculous. I’m about as far away from home as I could possibly be.… you never get used to it, but that was genuinely shocking to me.”

 Since then the Englishman has pumped out five more albums and become a festival favourite around the globe with his rich guitar sound and versatile, original vocal style. He came down under frequently at first, but hasn’t been back here since 2013.

Until now. With a new album, Hit The Ground Running, released four months ago in England, he’s make a point to re-engage with Australia with six side shows on the back of an appearance at Bluesfest.

The album oozes confidence. Produced and directed by Faulkner, the vocals reach new heights, the music is as sharp and tightly directed as ever.

“The new album is the right balance,” he says. “It has enough modern sounds, enough ear-grabbing little noises, to let you know it was recorded last year.”

It’s long (14 songs) and strong, with some vocal theatrics playing off his usual complex beats and sounds. “This album vocally is a whole new layer of stuff,” he spruiks.

There is less collaboration with others, with Faulkner, despite a busy schedule and jumping in and out of writing and recording in his home studio in East London, taking a firmer hand to control the product.

“This has the least amount of people involved,” he says. “I needed to work out exactly how I wanted it to sound, work out the general feel before I brought anybody in.”

There are tones of Beatles’ pop, shades of Paul Simon, some thumping donk-donk, a beautiful harmony tribute to his son, and a whole lotta of Faulkner magic. The self-confessed music nerd offers plenty to satisfy the music nerds in his fan base.