a bit about ME…

I’m Heath, a songwriting, singing, guitar-slinging troubadour from the tiny rural village of Candelo in far South Eastern Australia. Ever been there? Most people haven’t—but if you have, I reckon you’d agree: It sure is beautiful here—a quiet hamlet nestled in a rolling valley surrounded by the South East Forests National Park. I was raised here in these hills, and I’m still proud to call them home when I’m not out in the world singin' and pickin'. This place is in my blood, deep in there, and somehow I think it manages to seep into all of my music in some small way or other. How could it not? Since 2010, I’ve released three albums — the last one, Outsiders (which, thanks to the support of my AMAZING Pozible community, I was lucky to record with Elvis Costello’s legendary band The Imposters) was called "The finest, most inspired Australian rock album in quite some time” by Rhythms magazine.

Well, now it’s time to make the follow up, RIVER CAUGHT THE FLOOD, and I’ve got some exciting news to share… I’m thrilled to say that I’m traveling to Los Angeles to record this album with my dream producer: one of my favourite songwriters and all-round humans, the incomparable Joe Henry! 

We begin recording under the full thunder moon, on July 15th of this year.

Joe & I met back in 2014 when I toured for a little while as his opening act (thanks, dear Gaynor x). Making a record together with Joe has been a dream that I’ve long held, and which now is (hopefully) coming true, thanks to you (and some generous support from both the Australia Council for the Arts and Create NSW).


THE PRODUCER

Joe Henry is… well… If you don’t know his work, now you do. Aside from being one of the most poetic songwriters of his generation, he’s also a three-time-Grammy-winning producer, who has made recordings for Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, Hugh Laurie, Lisa Hannigan, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Solomon Burke among many others, and has collaborated with artists like T-Bone Burnett, Daniel Lanois, and Ornette Coleman on his own recordings. Joe’s album Invisible Hour is one of my favourite ever albums, but I also recommend Civilians and Blood from Stars as good introductions to his work.

Joe has co-written songs with Billy Bragg, Mose Allison, Roseanne Cash, Madonna... and now ME!
I’m excited to say that we’ve written one new song together for this record, Song That I Know. Check out the video of me singing it above, filmed on location in the Sonoran desert, California.

THE BAND

We have assembled a winning team!
Joining me on guitars, my dear friend ADAM LEVY. Adam is widely known as one of the finest guitarists working today, having toured and recorded with the likes of Ani DiFranco, Allen Toussaint, Tracy Chapman and Norah Jones (he was a regular member of Norah’s band for several years). When he and I toured together in Australia back in 2017, we discovered a beautiful magic playing together each night and swapping songs without a setlist. I can't wait to play together again, Adam!

On drums and percussion, we have the great JAY BELLEROSE. Well, Jay is one of the most singular drummers that I’ve ever heard. His otherworldly drumming can be heard on many of your favourite recordings, from Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand to Gregg Allman’s Low Country Blues, and from Bonnie Raitt’s Slipstream to Elton John’s The Diving Board (that’s Jay on nearly every record that T-Bone Burnett has produced in the last twenty years.)

On bass, the ever so incredible, ever so graceful JENNIFER CONDOS. Jen played on Springsteen’s album The Ghost of Tom Joad, for heaven's sake. ‘Nuff said.

PATRICK WARREN, on keys, has a discography longer than the harbour bridge. That’s him playing piano with Bob Dylan at the White House on The Times, They Are A-Changin’, and on the Glitter and Doom tour with Tom Waits. He’s worked with Fiona Apple, Joe Cocker and Bruce Springsteen, among hundreds of others.

and last but not least,

Mr LEVON HENRY on reed instruments. Levon has played on many of (his father) Joe’s productions, and also recordings by Beck, T-Bone Burnett, and the Milk Carton Kids. I have no idea how he makes the wild and beautiful sounds that he does. But damn, he does it so well.
 

THE SONGS

I’m immensely proud of the batch of songs that I’ve written for this album, they feel like the strongest ones that I’ve ever made. They’ve got legs, I know it, and they’re gonna travel far… My job is just to follow wherever they lead. And I can’t wait to hear what this band does with these songs!

(Would you like to have a sneaky listen to my demos of these songs? Every backer who chooses the “SIGNED CD PLUS BONUS DEMO TRACKS” option will receive a download of several of the album demos, so you can be with me throughout the whole process of making this record, from demo recording through studio session to release. I’m excited to be able to share them this way!)

THE PITCH:

Now, here comes the hard part:

This is the most ambitious goal that I’ve ever set for myself. Recording overseas with a highly renowned producer and a team of A level players is not a cheap proposition, and the financial hurdle is terrifying, to be brutally honest. But I've been presented with a chance to work with not just a killer team and a multiple Grammy-winning producer, but one of my musical heroes. It’s not something I take lightly. This is an opportunity to take my career to a whole other level.

I’ve been working hard to save my pennies for the last couple of years to make this dream come true, and I’m grateful to have the support of The Australia Council of the Arts and Create NSW to help a little ways towards this project.

BUT.. I still need a helping hand from my Pozible people to get this dream together and out into the world. I have no record label to pay for this stuff, no people behind the scenes pulling strings for me. My hope is that enough of you want to hear this record as much as I want to share it with you. 

You are my record label! You are my people!!! 

Your direct support by pre-purchasing one of these offers is what will allow me to make this album. Can you help?

THE BUDGET:

We have 28 days to raise AU$20,000. This is an all-or-nothing campaign, which means if I don’t reach that target, your card will not be charged, and I won’t receive a cent (that’s the scariest part!). I could have recorded this album at home for much less, but I have long dreamt of recording in LA with Joe, and I feel like I owe it to myself (and to every amazing person that has supported me so far on my musical path) to chase that dream, and not let the opportunity slip away. I have some money from savings tucked away for this, and the Australia Council for the Arts and Create NSW have both been a tremendous help so far, but i’m still only part of way to covering my costs. If we reach this target the money will be used towards paying for recording studio time, the engineers, the producer, the session musicians, mixing, mastering, artwork & graphic design, CD manufacturing & vinyl pressing, as well as my flights & accommodation to get over to LA. This $20,000 won’t cover any promotional costs once the album is out, but it will ensure the album is finished and released.

STRETCH GOAL #1:

AU$35,000... PROMOTION. With a project of this scale, after making such a serious initial investment it would be crazy not to plan and invest very carefully in the proper release and promotion of the album. If we reach this first stretch goal, the money raised will be put towards the hiring of a top tier publicist, creating promotional video material, and advertising the album’s release. I will be working like a mule and playing shows everywhere I can to promote this record—but having someone on your team to ring your bell, along with a proper ongoing promotion and advertising plan while you’re out there on the road plugging a new album is essential to helping spread the word.

STRETCH GOAL #2:

AU$50,000. Any money raised beyond the first stretch goal will go towards further ensuring that this album’s creation, release and touring is a success. I'd love to tour the album overseas. I'd love to take a band on the road more often. I'd like to produce some film clips and some really great artisanal merch. I'll be working hard to follow this record wherever it takes me, and every dollar gathered will go towards this task.

WITH LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND DEEP APPRECIATION

Thank you. I am grateful beyond words to be able to do what I do, and I know in my bones that at the end of the day, I can only do it because of you.

With love,

Heath Cullen x

P.S. If you could share the link to your network with a few words about my music it will be an extra big help! Thank you x

www.heathcullen.com