Tom Snowdon / Lonely Tree (LP | 2024) 12" Vinyl (First Pressing, Big Sky Blue Vinyl)
Tom Snowdon / Lonely Tree (LP | 2024) 12" Vinyl (First Pressing, Big Sky Blue Vinyl)
First Pressing, Sky Blue Vinyl
1LP
Single Jacket
Full colour inner sleeve
Tracklist:
1. Protection
2. True Crime
3. Lose My Body
4. Anybody
5. Beta Drug
6. Nora Creina
7. Empty Start
8. Lonely Tree
9. What I Hide
Performing artist Tom Snowdon already has an impressive back-catalogue - one album with his first band Lowlakes, two albums with No Mono - but now he shares details of his first solo album Lonely Tree. In the past, Snowdon’s work has centred on hazy atmospheres, and in expressing emotions via metaphors of elemental forces - water, ice, air and light. His affinity with nature is still present on Lonely Tree, but here we see Snowdon navigating his ruminations and desires in a more direct way, offering glimpses into a more personal story. With one eye on the past, and another on the “what could have been” (what Snowdon calls ‘the lingering alternative’), he yearns for a stabilising hand to keep him present and hopeful in the here and now, and sends his voice reaching out across broad sonic landscapes to find one. Across its nine songs Lonely Tree is an exploration of loss and hope, of things ending and new things beginning. Led by Snowdon's famously haunting voice, the album is a journey into a dream-like world of the intangible, and one of deeply personal reflection.
The photos on the album art were taken on Western Arrernte Country, west of Mparntwe/Alice Springs - Snowdon’s home town. During the emotionally tumultuous time of writing, Snowdon spent periods at home and felt its safety and peace. The landscape of Central Australia has long been inspiration for the artist, and is something he echoes on Lonely Tree - the dramatic beauty, the peace and lingering space, its otherworldliness; and also the extreme nature of it - the harsh climate and textures of rock and sand, the big skies and the extreme isolation that welcomes people looking for an escape.
These songs were written and recorded in various places and studios across Australia, namely at BellBird Studio, Collingwood, my family home in Central Australia, Brumby’s Basement and Al’s Shed on the South Coast. All songs mixed by Tom Iansek at BellBird Studio. All songs mastered by Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound, New York. Album artwork photo: Western Arrernte Country, near my family home in Central Australia, by Shaun Edwards. Artwork compilation and arrangement by Tari Northwood and Anthony "Gadget" Goddard.
Protection/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Simon Lam and Tom Iansek.
Cello performed by Phoebe Go.
True Crime/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Tom Iansek and Luke Howard.
Strings performed by Esther Henderson.
Lose My Body/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Alistair Wright and Tom Iansek.
Backing vocals performed by Alistair Wright.
Anybody/ written by Tom Snowdon, Megan Washington and Tom Iansek. Produced, performed, and recorded by Tom Snowdon and Tom Iansek. Backing vocals performed by Megan Washington.
Beta Drug/ written recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Alistair Wright and Tom Iansek.
Nora Creina/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Luke Howard and Tom Iansek.
Strings performed by Esther Henderson.
Empty Start/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon, Jonathan Boulet
and Tom Iansek.
Lonely Tree/ written, recorded, performed, and produced by Tom Snowdon and Tom Iansek.
Strings performed by Esther Henderson.
What I Hide/ written by Tom Snowdon and Alistair Wright. Produced, performed, and recorded by Tom Snowdon and Tom Iansek. Backing vocals performed by Alistair Wright.
Thank You
I couldn’t have made this record without a lot of help from many people. I would like to sincerely thank my manager Tom Fraser for his unwavering support, encouragement, patience, and belief in my work; Jo Syme for her dedication to helping me to realise this release and for always being there to help; Tom Iansek for your care, dedicated listening and supervision with these songs; my family and partner Tari for your unconditional support and encouragement, and for helping me to pick myself up when I needed it; and to Central Australia, which continues to inspire and nourish. A huge thanks also to my friends and collaborators who worked on this record with me – Alistair Wright, Luke Howard, Megan Washington, Tom Iansek, Simon Lam, and Jonathan Boulet. I loved making these songs with you.