Rachael Brady is one of Brisbane's best kept secrets, who (kind of sadly) we're going to lose if she keeps churning out high quality like this. But on the other hand, you can't deny her debut album, Peace by Peace, is nothing short of exceptional. Her voice transcends magnificent while delivering 11 raw, unapologetic originals revolving largely around her impassioned beliefs in various social issues surrounding our modern lives, much like a young Joan Baez or Bob Dylan might have once upon a time. The ideas presented during the course of these songs are truly inspiring and I encourage all to have a listen. 'Radical Idea' speaks of peace and the heavy-hitting past innovators while 'Dreamin' is an airy sense of freedom. Inspired, inspiring, raw, unapologetic and impassioned: Rachael Brady is poised to become one of our greats. 4/5
-- (Ben Preece, Time Off Magazine)
Shame on us for neglecting this album for so long. CDs often arrive by the boatload and occasionally fine albums by fine artists get lost. Thankfully, Somewhere Sunshine found us. Recorded by eco-warrior, and former Brisbane-ite, Rachael Brady, Somewhere Sunshine is one of the best albums to have come out of our fair state in the last five years. Recorded by Paulie B [ex-George], Rachael wrote the bulk of the tunes with her long-time musical cohort Nigel Kerr. Often performing as a duo, the pair have played everywhere from local haunts to MySpace connecting tours of the USA. The album itself has an ensemble feel and the liner notes reveal a litany of percussive and stringed instruments. The horn lines are all real and there’s a nice Rhodes that occasionally rises to the surface. Opening with the self-penned ‘Am I Disturbing Your Sleep’, Brady starts with a subtle mood and closes the tune with a boom. Her upper register is on display on ‘26’, while the bossa nova swagger of the title track echoes Norah Jones. On ‘No Small Thing’, Brady begins with a nod to Portishead style production, before finding her way in more bluesy terrain. She’s certainly her own woman, but there are textures in her voice that recall everything from Joni Mitchell [‘Prodigal Daughter’] through to Kate Ceberano [‘The Story Of Who We Really Are’]. In short, Brady’s made a superb album, with a positive undercurrent, that deserves to be heard. Check it out. 4/5
--(Sean Sennett, TOM)
....drawing on the best of folk, roots, blues & jazz influences - soul buoying, intelligent, acoustic quasi pop with equal parts grunt and delicacy.....
As far as musical pedigrees go, I guess you could say I'm more like a mongrel half-breed you’d adopt from the RSPCA than a shitzu with papers you’d pay a thousand bucks for.
I didn’t learn 5 instruments from the age of 3 and I’ve never ventured within so much as a hundred yards of a singing teacher. Both my parents play piano but my father is tone deaf and my mother can hold a tune but is, shall we say, rhythmically challenged although not completely bereft. No impressive musical lineage there.
The sum total of my classical training amounts to a few epic screaming matches with my mother at 10 because I flatly refused to go to piano lessons. I won and the lessons stopped.
Still, music lives and breathes in most of us and so I never wandered too far from its loving embrace. My mother says that when I was a toddler, she found me curled up asleep at a gathering on the lounge room floor by the speakers with the music blaring. Another time, when I was around 2, she got halfway down the road with me after leaving a music store before she realized I had a record under my arm for which she hadn't paid. She was too embarrassed to take it back and she doesn't recall what album it was. I figure these moments must speak for something.
Fast forward to what I can only assume was a pivotal moment although none too glamorous….
Pulling beers after having dropped out of University (journalism curriculum/academia induced disillusionment), I was invited mid barshift to sing some acoustic covers – well it kept happening and before you know it 8 years had passed and I’d been fronting a 5 piece party covers band, pumping out ABBA and Black Sabbath, side by side, 4 nights a week, such is the nature of that line of employment.
Between there and here are some gaps I just can’t be bothered filling in for you right now but they’re worth a listen so maybe over a beer or something…..
Anyway, my guitarist and I - songwriting partners and best mates are we and we make music that's sometimes hard to categorize but easy enough to like. You can decide for yourself. We've independently (by choice) released two albums to date and if you'd like to buy one or both then be my guest. You'll be supporting music that's truly independent in every way.
I'm originally from Brisbane but have relocated south to the Blue Mountains as of 08 to get away from the city - think Sydney for those of you not familiar with Australian geography and then think two and a half hours west from there and into the hills.
We are record label-less BY CHOICE so please buy a cd or download some songs and support truly INDEPENDENT music. :)
Dear Rachael, thank YOU so much for the add! Its such a pleasure to listen to your fantastic music and your amazing voice! love it! keep on rockin! Love and Peace from rainy Berlin.. xo
Since our friends on Myspace are so important to us and we appreciate
all of you, we want to give you a chance to show off your favorite
non-human friend!!! We will be starting an album in our pics section
just for our friends... If you want to add your favorite picture of you
and yours, please email the picture to
AnimalRightsCoalition@gmail.com... We don't want to miss any emails, so
please put "Myspace Pics" in the subject line and please include your
myspace url so we can tag you from our page...
If you aren't
interested in having your picture on our page, but have a story you
want to share with us please feel free to post it in our blog or comment section...
We would love to hear it...
We have a very diverse group of
friends and we appreciate and welcome everyone, and strongly encourage
those of you that are not in our area to seek out an organization in
your area... It is amazing what a difference one person can make...
Thanks to all of our friends for showing us your support!!!!
Hey mate. Wow it has been a while.. :) Yes all is well here. New album is on its way. Thats pretty exciting in anna world. How are you doin? Kickin butt??
"From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together, and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being." ~~passion, love, fire and soul...
