Indie favorites Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird release their latest album Smiles Of Earth; their most stylistically cohesive, organic and collaborative statement to date. The record exudes warmth and showcases an increased use of horns across 10 gorgeous songs; ranging from observational, whimsical and quirky to deeply moving ruminations on love lost (and found). It includes the singles, ‘When This Is Over’, ‘Bluestone’, ‘Red Dirt Angel’ and new single ‘Every Morning, It Breaks’.
“Like most albums, Smiles of Earth has been a labour of deep love. Thwarted by lockdowns and the creative process itself, we attempted to make this record in numerous ways. Thanks to the patience and dedication of the band members, as well as the nurturing talents of producer Stephen Charles, the album was finally realised at The Aviary in Abbotsford, Melbourne. The inner themes of peacefulness and positive perspective truly levitated the performers throughout the recording process and they embodied its spirit wholeheartedly.
I think that spirit is now undeniable in the sound of the album. In a word, this album was written to make you smile”. Lachlan Rose (frontperson – Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird).
Smiles Of Earth was produced by Stephen Charles and Lachlan Rose with additional engineering by Harry Leithhead and Guy Faletolu. Award-winning engineer Matthew Neighbour (Matt Corby, The Avalanches, Middle Kids) took the final reins for the mix and it was mastered by George Georgiadis.
“As the name leans towards, Smiles of Earth comes from a place of inherent peacefulness. Inspired by Albert Camus’ ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’, the phrase captures the natural beauty of the world we live in, which is ever-present but not necessarily always appreciated. While the songs certainly explore the struggles involved in obtaining these positive perspectives, the overall feeling I wanted to leave people with was the choice. The choice between meaninglessness and beauty”. Lachlan Rose (Vox/Piano/Synths/Guitar)
Formed in 2015 by singer songwriter Lachlan Rose, Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird started with a few friends meeting at a weekly community pop up performance space. It wasn’t long before Rose was writing, recording and performing his own songs for a debut EP – the Queen Of Hearts EP, under the moniker Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird – a name taken from dialogue in the closing scene of American Beauty.
Rose (Vox/Piano/Synths/Guitar) is a gifted musician and singer with an emotive baritone. He has a deep appreciation of composers and music theatre that grew while studying a degree in Composition at the prestigious VCA (Victoria College of the Arts). After hearing the songs Rose recorded for the EP, a Sydney artist development label, Double Drummer Music (led By Tim and Ed Prescott) committed to make Lachlan Rose and Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird one of the company’s first signings.
A second EP and two albums have followed, cementing Rose’s reputation as an important new Australian songwriter, and highlighting the band’s unique style and live popularity.
Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird continue to rack up a massive fan base that has already given them 80,000 average monthly listeners on Spotify and significant playlist support; with multiple songs being added to Double J, ABC Radio, Unearthed and community stations across the country.
Prior to COVID, Cousin Tony’s were scheduled to play in Austin, Texas at SXSW, with additional shows in LA and NY in March 2020. They have already toured the UK (in 2019) where they performed gigs at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, as well as their own headline shows to packed rooms in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Dublin. In Australia, the band regularly plays sold out headline tours. They have also played several Australian festivals including Happy Wanderer, NYE on the Hill, Gum Ball, Beyond the Valley and the Loch Hart Festival.
Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird will bring their captivating live shows to the East coast of Australia from September.
COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD TOUR DATES
23-25 September – Wanderer’s Festival, NSW
Friday 30 September – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast, Qld
Saturday 1 October – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane, Qld
Thursday 6 October – The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW
Friday 7 October – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 8 October – La La La’s Wollongong, NSW
Friday 14 October – The Eastern, Ballarat, VIC
Saturday 15 October – The Lab, Adelaide, SA
Friday 21 October – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 5 November – Euroa Music Festival, Euroa VIC
Saturday 12 November – Backyard Festival, VIC