WAMI WIN!

We're happy to announce that on Wednesday night the 12th October,"Another Sunday Morning" won the World /Folk category of the WAM 2011 "Song of the Year." Thanks to the good judges and to all who played on the track. Special thanks to Mel Robinson and Lee Buddle. Check out the Youtube video for the song if you havn't already.

Another Sunday Morning Video

Check out the video of Rhys and The Self Righteous Brothers performing “Another Sunday Morning” at Crank Studios. The video was put together by Perth film-maker John Reed to promote Crank.

Enjoy!

WAM Song Of The Year

I’ve been recording songs for the new album for what seems a lifetime, but I am happy to say that two of them were “sort of finished” enough for me to submit to the West Australian Music Industry “Song Of The Year” competition. Both have made it into the finals and this totally restores my faith in corruption and bullying for another year.

“Another Sunday Morning” has been nominated in the World and Folk section. This is a song that features the substantial talents of “The Self Righteous Brothers” as well as a superb string arrangement by Mel Robinson. It probably just sneaks in as a folk song, but I like to think of it as a good song about a fairly universal human experience. You’ll have to listen to know what that experience is!

“A Near Life Experience” has been nominated in the “Mentally Healthy” section. This will strike my friends as ironic but they’ll have to live with it. Once again Mel Robinson features with her beautiful Cello playing, She has to share the limelight with the amazing Yamaha Grand Piano at Crank Studios.

Please listen to and enjoy these songs. They will both be on my new album to be released early in 2012. At this stage it will be called “Closer To Life” but I still think about other options from time to time.

Many thanks, Rhys.

In This Time Of Rememberance

With ANZAC day nearly upon us, I thought I would upload a little something that came to me last year.“Die Wondering” is a song that touches on the ANZAC tradition from a couple of directions.

The title came to me through endless hours of watching cricket telecasts where the phrase “He’ll never die wondering” was used in connection with bowlers appealing a little more often than they should. I began thinking about things that I really didn’t want to know before I died. The experience of the ANZAC’s and others on the battlefield came to mind. Much better to “die wondering” than know for sure how you would react in that situation.

The song opens with reflections on a young man leaving his sweetheart for Gallipoli in 1915. The image was clear to me as the fleet left from my home town of Albany all those years ago and I was able to picture the scene.

The chorus is more a personal expression of gratitude and hope. Grateful for not being in the position that previous generations of young men found themselves in and hopeful that the good luck would continue for my friends and I.

I recorded the song at “Soundmine Studios” in a simple way that seems to suit the subject matter. It will appear on my new album that will hopefully be finished in a few months.

Choose a quiet moment to spend with “Die Wondering.”

Nominated Twice for WAMI

Rhys has had two of his songs judged as finalists in the 2009 WAM Song of the Year awards!

The title song from the album “The New World's Sadness Record” is a finalist in the Country category and “Die Wondering” a unreleased track is in the World & Folk category.

We are asking all of Rhys' fans to follow the links below and vote! As well as voting you can hear the unreleased song – “Die Wondering”

Thanks for your support and hopefully we will see you at the award night. It will be at the Fly By Night Musicians' club on October 8. Tickets are available from the venue or directly from WAM - http://www.wam.asn.au/

WAMI - World and Folk - Die Wondering

WAMI - Country - The New World's Sadness Record

Recording Has Begun

I've started recording my new album at Sondmine with Lee Buddle again. I feel almost scared of the process, but I am very happy with the songs that have presented themselves. I have to keep thinking one session at a time otherwise it gets pretty daunting.

This album will be a lot more diverse in its instrumentation and will hopefully take everyone on a “sonic journey” of sorts. I'm thankful that the band has had longer to sit with the songs this time around and I hope that this will help us in the recording of them.

I am looking forward to looking back with fondness on the making of this album. It should work out just fine. See you at the end!

Site Update

This site will be under going some major changes over the next few weeks to further enhance your experience with Rhys Wood, please check back often to see what we have in store for you.

The New World Sadness Record Record - Cd Launch

Febuary 5th, 2009 marks the first Official Cd Launch for Rhys Wood, with "The New World Sadness Record Record" making it's official debut. Rhys Wood and Friends performed at The Irish Club in Subiaco to a fairly large audience, playing a majority of the songs from his album as well as some new songs such as Elephant and Stand Tall.

Supporting Rhys on this momentous day, Mr Bodangles and Sir Thomas warmed the audience up nicely with a set a piece before Rhys stepped up to play.