Brad Butcher is a two-time Golden Guitar winner from the central Queensland coast who has released five albums – the latest being East of Everything – and one compilation, Storyteller. He writes with clarity and insight about life and love and family, and has a habit of creating unforgettable songs. He’s about to take some of those songs to the Gympie Music Muster in late August.
In this interview Butcher reflects on his early days as a ‘green, naive songwriter’, and shares how he found his storytelling voice and developed his singing voice. Since he’s been studying a Bachelor of Music, Butcher has embraced the creative potential of technology which has also allowed him to refine his approach, giving him greater control and flexibility.
‘All I’ve ever set out to do is write decent songs’
In East of Everything, Butcher decided that instead of making a ‘sad sack album’ he would instead focus on positivity, because, as he says, ‘the future’s bright’. The album is, accordingly, expansive in scope and uplifting in outlook (read my review here).
‘Play the acoustic guitar and sing it and put that out. Enough with the bullshit.’
After first appearing at the Gympie Music Muster in 2013, Butcher prepares to return to the Amanpoor State Forest for this year’s festival, which runs from 22 to 25 August, where he will reconnect with old fans who have long appreciated his craft and his way of connecting with them, and no doubt to make new ones who will discover that his songs have knack of getting a hook in you and never letting go.
In addition to his live performances and degree studies, Butcher is recording new material, soon to give us more of the songs that are all about ‘conversations and complications’ (watch the interview for that discussion!).
You can watch our chat on YouTube (above), watch a snippet or listen on the podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
bradbutcher.com | Listen to Brad Butcher on Apple Music
