A Quick Chat With Kaurna Cronin
Folk aficionado, Kaurna Cronin, has just dropped his eighth studio album 'Harsh Beauty' and is currently in Europe on a massive 42-date tour. The 11-track album flows beautifully through gravity-defying, upbeat indie-folk to sweet and delicate folk ditties while exploring how the land influences our beliefs and ideals. Despite his close ties and love for the EU, there is no doubt our Australian red soil is embedded deep in this album. We got in touch with Kaurna to find out more about the album, his influences and some other things he loves in life.
Congrats on the new album! Can you tell me what 'Harsh Beauty' is about?
Harsh Beauty is a reflection on how our environment shapes our cultures, lives and personalities; as we leave our mark on the world – so, too, do the landscapes we traverse cast themselves upon us. Touring to many different countries and cultures I am fascinated about how human characteristics and personality traits can be seen in parallel to the physical landscapes of which they are surrounded by. As if we are adapting our social and political environments and aligning our language, visual aesthetics and behaviour to mimic our physical surrounds. With the album I wanted to discuss how we broadly perceive ourselves and the lands we live – and how this land influences our beliefs and ideals. Do the vast horizons we are afforded, permit us to demand more space and freedoms? Does the quiet of our great expanses aid conversation or intimidate? Why are we so drawn to our cleansing oceans – and what does that reveal about us? What impact does our continental separation have on our ability to connect?
What are some of your influences when it comes to music and why?
I am generally influenced by good narrative in songs and overall sonic aesthetics and how these is used to bring the story to life and add depth. I grew up listening to singer-songwriters and folk artists at folk festivals my parents took me to around the country – so I guess that is still my foundation – but I am interested in any music that has meaningful content and evokes emotion.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
It has varied from each album but generally, I am always noting ideas and voice memos from inspiration on the road, new ideas, stories told to me and perspectives or discussions I find noteworthy – I enjoy collecting these thoughts and make time to evolve these into songs which will be refined before bringing them to the band. This album was tracked with live beds and then I pieced together the sonic world around the bones of the song over the following months.
What do you think makes a great song?
To me a great song is simple but has great depth. It provides a new perspective or idea in a thought-provoking way that still feels natural and authentic to the artist.
You're in Europe now on tour. What are you most looking forward to while you are over there?
Connecting with people from different cultures and places is always the greatest highlight of the tours. This new album's themes run parallel to the type of shows and touring we are currently doing – so it feels so natural to be out on the road, meeting people and sharing these songs right now.
When not working on music, what other creative outlet do you have?
I enjoy working with visual aesthetics – I'm not very good and painting or drawing, but I always enjoy it. I also love juggling and poetry.
Who are some EU artists/ bands you've come across that we should check out?
Clare Hastings if you are into more classic folk, Matthew McDaid for more of the alt. country flavour – or you may already know Jan and Josef from AMISTAT if you're into the easy listening side of folk.
Winter or summer and why?
Summer, always summer please. I do love the cosiness of winter - I love making records in winter, dinner parties and brief encounters with snow and keeping warm by winter fires, but winters always seem too long.
What else do you have planned for the year?
After this three month European Tour I'll be headed back to Australia for some folk festivals and shows – and to continue working on an album I started just before I left. I've been playing some of the songs in the van and I'm getting excited to bring them to life on the next record.