Charlotte Varcoe
BLOOD, sweat and tears has been put into Mount Gambier/Berrin musician Kane Stuckey’s first solo album.
Due to be released in February next year, Mr Stuckey has described putting the album together as a “long, hectic journey”.
Mr Stuckey has been involved in the music industry for a number of years through local bands such as Dawn of Serenity in 2009, Stitches in 2013 and Obsidians Curse.
Speaking to The Border Watch, Mr Stuckey said there had been many long nights and days to get everything together for the debut album.
“I have had some great helpers, some people from Brisbane that would look over my work and make sure it was sounding good and they helped co-produce it,” Mr Stuckey said.
“I would write about 30 or 40 songs and get little bits and pieces to put them all together and they helped me piece it together.”
The local musician said developing the album was a “massive learning curve” for him.
“I have written lyrics before and I am comfortable with that and I have been playing the guitar properly for five or six years but I did not know how to structure songs properly,” Mr Stuckey said.
“I have been guided and it has been such an awesome learning curve to be able to come out from no experience to releasing the album.”
The album was mixed and designed locally, something which Mr Stuckey said was important.
“There are so many incredibly talented musicians locally and I get to teach a few who are incredible but the scene is not how it used to be so I am hoping this album inspires just one person to pick up music or start a band and record themselves,” he said.
“This is something I have always wanted to do and when I toured Australia for several months doing shows I started writing little bits and pieces, trying to figure things out and it is something I have wanted to do for a long time.
“This year I finally bit the bullet and left my full time job to pursue music which is what one of the songs on the album is about.”
Since leaving his job and pursuing a career in music, Mr Stuckey said it was “absolutely crazy” while he taught singing, guitar and drums.
“I have been able to spend more time with the family and I have been able to focus a lot on improving my skills and just in the last six to eight months being able to sit down, play and practice,” he said.
“I have learned so many new things that I had no idea I could do on guitar and musically I have just expanded and now starting to bring my knowledge to a new generation of people coming through, wanting to start bands or join choirs is very exciting.”
Mr Stuckey’s official release will be held at The Globe Hotel on February 23, 2024.
