Skip to main content

Article: Shannen James Announces East Coast Tour // Ivy League

Dazzling Melbourne pop-folk artist Shannen James’ long awaited debut record Patchwork is out today, alongside the announcement of a headline east coast album tour this April. 

Shannen James will be playing her dazzling new record to crowds at Brisbane’s Junk Bar on April 12, Sydney’s Low 302 on April 13, and Melbourne’s The Bergy Seltzer on April 19.

Patchwork is a record that takes shape from every experience, idea, thought and feeling Shannen James has ever had. Across 12 spirited tracks, it's a collection of songs stitched together, each showcasing different textures, patterns and colours pulled from a lifetime's worth of moments, to create one cohesive record.

A decade in the making – following the alt-pop artist’s beloved EP Arrows, two chart-toppers on triple j’s Most Played list (2020’s ‘Arrows’ and 2021’s ‘Superstitious’), endless weekends cutting her teeth at open mics and in pubs, and the challenge of condensing over 90 shimmering songs to a curated 12 – this moment is one Shannen James is ready to embrace headfirst.

“Getting an album together after such a long time, the main thing was that it didn’t have to be a ‘this’ album or a ‘that’ album; it just had to represent me. I’m an album gal, and I think listening to this record from start to finish feels like a warm hug. It’s something I’d want to listen to driving down the coast at dusk, looking out over the water, and I hope people can go and do that when they listen to it too.” 

– Shannen James

WATCH: Shannen James – 'Headlights'

The first taste of Patchwork was one of Shannen’s most buoyant pop songs to date, ‘Headlights’, born from a studio session with Hatchie and Joe Agius listening to The Cure. “I started creating this idea about relationships you have that are really fleeting because maybe they have to move to the other side of the world; a moment where you fall in love instantly and then they’re gone. It was written during Covid, during a time where it felt like the clock was running out."

Time and personal relationships are throughlines across this record, as is her sense of purposeful warm nostalgia reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. “They’ve got everything I love – it’s pop, it’s rock, there’s country in there, but the sentiment is like folk songs. Then I got really into ‘80s sounds and became obsessed with Tears for Fears, then the first records from The 1975, who also made music really influenced by that era.” Like her own formative listening habits, the MO has always been to allow anything and everything that might excite her to seep in, regardless of category or genre. Now, she names contemporaries HAIM, Maggie Rogers and Kasey Musgraves on an ever-growing list of references.

Shannen’s commanding live performance has culminated in sold-out east coast tours, her first UK/EU headlines in 2023 after catching the eye of UK promoter Communion (Catfish and the Bottlemen, Matt Corby), invitations to showcase at Austin’s SXSW and BIGSOUND, plus supports for Valley, Men I Trust, G Flip, Slowly Slowly, Thelma Plum and Sycco. From emotional ballads to bursts of line dancing, Shannen’s love set captures joy and friendship, being in love and having your heart broken, or breaking someone else’s.

All her hard work, creative energy, and personal growth has led up to Patchwork, proving her journey is one more than worth hopping on for the ride – Shannen James is ready to have her big popstar moment. 


SHANNEN JAMES

PATCHWORK TOUR

Fri 12 Apr | Junk Bar | Brisbane, QLD

Sat 13 Apr | Low 302 | Sydney, NSW

Fri 19 Apr | The Bergy Seltzer | Melbourne, VIC

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Closer // La Boite

 Written by Jake Goodall Get ready for desire, betrayal, love and sex as Closer takes the stage at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre. 24 years since its original La Boite production, Closer returns to the La Boite stage under the skillful direction of Courtney Stewart who happens to also be the theatre's Artistic Director. This production is penned to rival your morals and set your heart ablaze throughout the entire production.  The four lives of Alice, Anna, Dan and Larry intertwine over the course of four and a half years in this densely plotted look at modern love and betrayal. Dan, an obituary writer, meets Alice, a stripper, after an accident in the street. Eighteen months later, they are a couple, and Dan has written a novel inspired by Alice. While posing for his book jacket cover, Dan meets Anna, a photographer. He pursues her, but she rejects his advances despite their mutual attraction. Larry, a dermatologist, meets Dan in an internet chat room. Dan, obsessing over ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Equus - X Collective

    Written by Gabriel Besa ‘Equus’ from The X Collective was a superb showcasing of drama and all things theatre. From the exquisitely put together lighting to the character portrayal of each of the actors, The X Collective knows how to put on a show.    ‘Equus’ is a play written by Peter Shaffer in 1973, where he was inspired after he heard a seventeen-year-old boy blind six horses in a small town in northern England. It then went on to win the Tony Award for Best Play. The play switches from past and present as it acts out previous events that lead up to Alan Strang’s current state. Through the psychiatric expertise of Martin Dysart, we see the importance each character had played against Alan Strang’s life.   The X Collective had meticulously placed this production in the Holy Trinity Hall as it provides a state of eeriness and mystery for the audience. Since the venue strays from the average theatre, portable lighting and set desi...
Post a Comment
Read more

'Hedonism’s Second Album' // Left of Right

  Welcome to the recording studio for “Hedonism’s Second Album,” a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by a rock band. Produced by the independent theater company, Left of Right, this production delves into the inner workings of a fractured rock band. Hosted at the Scouts Queensland’s Wonargo Cultural Centre, an unexpected but fitting venue choice, this performance offers a unique perspective on the band’s journey. Following years of performing in pubs and as opening acts, Hedonism, the rock band, has achieved fame with the release of their debut album. However, they now encounter a hurdle in the form of their second album’s creation. Initially premiered in 2014 at The Loft as part of La Boite’s Indie Season and written by David Burton and Claire Christian, “Hedonism’s Second Album” undoubtedly reflects the zeitgeist of its era. The play does not shy away from depicting issues such as misogyny, violence, selfishness, homophobia, and casual racism. While these them...
Post a Comment
Read more