Don McGlashan Releases New Album "Lucky Stars"

Don McGlashan Releases New Album "Lucky Stars"

Today New Zealand sees the unveiling of Lucky Stars by
pre-eminent singer/songwriter Don McGlashan, a new collection of 10 highly personal songs exploring love, regret and mortality. The record contains many songs which are very personal reflections on his own life and thoughts: “This time, I don’t seem to be adopting characters to explore an idea. For this album I don't seem to be taking on a role to get an idea across . . . the 'I' is generally me in these songs”.

McGlashan has five entries in APRA’s 100 Best NZ Songs of All Time and two Silver Scroll wins (“Anchor Me” in 1993; “Bathe In The River” in 2006). Nick Bollinger of The Listener said this: "One of our most enduring artists . . . McGlashan is that rare musician who only ever reminds us of himself."

Don McGlashan started the raw material for this new album at a bach on the Thames Estuary, before realising the songs in Neil Finn's writing room at Roundhead Studio, Auckland with guitarist Tom Rodwell. He produced them with former Mutton Birds bandmate David Long, (who also contributes some textural guitar, organ and banjo) and enlisted former Seven Sisters and current Phoenix Foundation drummer Chris O’Connor, as well as cameos from John Bell on vibes and Iselta Allison on viola. “I didn’t add many players, but the ones who did come on board are such distinctive musicians that they ended up adding more than I dreamed was possible”, Don says. “I went away to the bach, imagining that I would write a rather solitary, introspective record, but what came out had a lot more joy and optimism than I expected.”

And unlike previous albums with the Mutton Birds or those under his own name, these songs enjoy a more simple and direct sound. “The cool things about songs is they are so small,” he says, “and like any small useful thing they seem flimsy and lightweight, but a lot of thought has gone into them. Like a lot of thought has gone into a really good kitchen knife or something made to be used. That's what songs should be really. You want them to pop into people's heads when they're in the shower or walking along a beach. And if you're lucky some of that might happen"

The release comes with the reveal of the playful, hand-animated video for the eponymous Kiwi Hit Disc single, released just last week. It’s a well timed release, the day before International Record Store Day on Saturday 18 April, when Don will play an in-store show at Auckland’s Southbound Records at 4:30pm. Tonight, Aucklanders can listen to the album in full at Golden Dawn in Ponsonby.

The highly anticipated Lucky Stars will soon be taken to the road, with tour dates around the country to be announced. Be sure to get a hold of this very different and emotionally direct album from award-winning songwriter, composer and performer Don McGlashan.

Don McGlashan • Lucky Stars
Released 17 April 2015

Lucky Stars is available to purchase via iTunes here and at all good record stores.

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