By JOLENE OGLE
Singer/songwriter Wendy Matthews is coming to the Sunshine Beach Surf Club for one show only on 15 June.
Matthews brings her deliciously soothing yet crisp voice that evokes memories of love lost, love found and an insatiable desire to kiss like angels do, as she tours her latest album The Welcome Fire.
Speaking with Noosa Today, Matthews said her newest album was created through collaboration, experimentation and a personal journey.
“I took some time off between touring to get together with some people – some I knew, some I didn’t – to record and write some really kind of personal songs in different ways,” she said.
“Every combination of people has a completely different dynamic.”
While Matthews admitted it can be scary sharing personal feelings with the world, she believes it is an important part of music and being an artist.
“I decided a long time ago that if I were to be any kind of artist, it’s really about putting your raw feelings out there, not about trying to hide yourself and hopefully people can relate to that,” she said.
“As a human being it’s not easy to get sad or angry and put it out there into the world. But I think that’s what affects people about music.”
Matthews was born in Canada but adopted by Australia when she landed here in 1983 to tour as back-up vocals for Glenn Shorrock of Little River Band fame.
Of her decision to stay in Sydney after the tour, Matthews said Australia seemed such an exotic and fun place to live.
“I had lived in a house full of Australians (while) in Los Angeles. I had sort of got to know the place vicariously through my friends and it was somewhere that I had always wanted to go,” she said.
Matthews joined Australian groups such as Absent Friends who had the hit I Don’t Want to be With Nobody But You (1990) before launching her solo career in 1990 with her debut record Émigré.
Hits such as Lets Kiss (Like Angels Do) (1990) and The Day You Went Away (1992), which took out Single of the Year in 1993, soon followed along with numerous awards including six ARIAs, and the Rolling Stone’s Best Female Vocalist in 1990.
In her 24-year solo career, Matthews has released a total of nine albums but despite her success, Matthews said she hasn’t stopped to look back on all the “fantastic times” throughout her career.
“I’ve been so busy, but I think generally I’m really grateful for all the travel,” she said.
“I’ve got to travel around the world with my work over the years and I’m very grateful for that.
“I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to do a lot of that if I wasn’t in this business.”
Don’t miss Matthews when she performs at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club on 15 June, from 2.30pm.
Tickets are on sale now starting from $25 for members and $30 for non-members. To book your ticket, phone 5447 5491 or drop into the Sunshine Beach Surf Club, Duke St, Sunshine Beach.
