Australian artist Josh Pyke is has announced a 30-date regional tour to showcase his recent seventh album To Find Happiness, including visits to Healesville and Belgrave.
Pyke will also be joined by singer-songwriter and vocalist for The Jezabels: Hayley Mary.
Pyke’s seventh full-length album aims to find joy, acceptance and unbridled creativity amongst narratives of uncertainty and self-discovery emerging out of lockdowns and isolation.
Pyke said it was the organic and unexpected artistic inspiration fostered during the pandemic years that ultimately drove him to conjure a follow up to his acclaimed 2020 album Rome.
“I was essentially inspired by creativity. Obviously things from my personal life have influenced the songs themselves, but in terms of wanting to do another record so soon after Rome, it was the act of creativity, that flow state that inspired me to push through and make To Find Happiness,” he said.
“I felt a compulsion to create, and that creative drive just kind of led me to make To Find Happiness. It was a really inspiring and creative time! This is my best work. I really believe that musically, lyrically and production-wise, it’s a step up, and I feel like To Find Happiness is the sound that I want to build on from here. Still organic and authentic, but with experimentation that felt less restricted than before”.
The tour will be solo, with Pyke only taking his loop pedal and ‘ a few other bits and bobs’ on stage.
Pyke said he finds it’s a really amazing way to get to the core of the songs and the core of connecting with the audience.
“I’ll also have the incredible Hayley Mary from the Jezebels playing support so there’s a solid chance that we’ll be joining each other on stage at some point!”.
Pyke has six top 10 albums and five ARIA award wins from his music career since he shot to prominence in 2007 and is also a seasoned children’s writer, with seven published kid’s books under his belt, as well as hosting the podcast It’s Raining Mentors alongside Elana Stone.
Pyke said he has had a few personal things happen in his life in the last few years that have really highlighted the importance of appreciating and truly enjoying all the good things in the moment.
“That’s something I’m actively trying to do, so touring will be an extension of that. Travelling, playing music with friends to people that appreciate what I do will definitely be one of the amazing things to be appreciative of,” he said.
“It’s been such an isolating time in the last couple of years, so connecting with people in a room will be exciting! The few shows I’ve played this year have been joyous and had a really collective feeling, lots of singing along, so I’m keen to get more of that vibe”.
Pyke will be performing at Sooki lounge in Belgrave on Wednesday 19 October, with tickets available for purchase here: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/f4d5116c-41e7-4ec6-9847-b7560afab9c0
He will follow this up with his performance at The Memo in Healesville on Friday 21 October. Tickets for that show can be bought here: https://yarraranges.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/77430
