Earlier this year Queensland singer-songwriter Bud Rokesky released his debut album, Outsider. It was not the work of a debutant but, rather, the realisation of an artist who was waiting for the right time to record and release music. In the songs on Outsider Rokesky revealed himself to have the painter’s eye for detail combined with the heart and sensibility, the desire to tell a story, that makes for a great country song. The album was full of great country songs.
As outstanding as the album is, Rokesky’s art really reaches its full expression when he performs live, which he’s been fitting in around driving a truck. Alone with a guitar, perhaps with some pedal steel if there’s another musician with him, the structure and substance of the songs are brought to the listener through his voice, which is a rich instrument, and his unabashed willingness to connect with the audience.
It was during his live shows this year that he introduced a song called ‘Getting Old’ – and that song is now his new single. It has all the elements that made the songs on Outsider so great but it’s a completely new story that starts from a simple observation and relies on that aforementioned willingness to connect – this time with a subject – to become something layered and moving.
‘”Getting Old” came about mostly from experiences I’d had while driving the truck, but also from my personal life too,’ says Rokesky. ‘You never know what stories are held deep within the people you’re yet to meet and sometimes also with the people you know, until you make the effort to talk with them.’
The song was produced and recorded by Matt Corby and Alex Henriksson on the NSW North Coast at Corby’s Rainbow Valley Studios and is released through Rainbow Valley Records/Warner Music.
See Bud Rokesky live with Deacon Blue:
NOVEMBER 24TH – REGAL THEATRE, PERTH
NOVEMBER 25TH – ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH
NOVEMBER 26TH – ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH
NOVEMBER 28TH – HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE
NOVEMBER 30TH – FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE
DECEMBER 2ND – ENMORE THEARE, SYDNEY
DECEMBER 5TH – FORTITUDE VALLEY MUSIC HALL