"Sydney alt-bluegrass troubadour Nick Payne might have remained a weekend picker with a drawer full of songs, but the stars aligned when a move back to Sydney after working around Australia coincided with an impulse purchase of his dream guitar (a Martin D28). A friend turned him on to Ryan Adams' ‘Heartbreaker’ album, and Nick Payne discovered to his surprise that he was a country music fan. Musically rooted In bluegrass and Americana, Payne’s music crosses borders and blends cultures. Nick Payne sings of our scoundrels, pioneers and history; capturing the sparse character of the unpopulated bush, but bringing an urban, rootsy sensibility very much of the present yet unashamed of its influences."

Kristin Moore 2015

A few years ago my fellow Dear Orphans band member — Lyn Taylor — gave me permission to start a project to record my own solo album. After a journey of two years I've completed the album, and will release it to the world on Thursday September 1, 2016.

But before that you can pre-order the album here and I'll get it to you during the week starting August 22. It's $20 or you can grab the album and a t-shirt, or cap, or a bunch of other things. They're all listed on this page, just click on the one you're interested in.

Feel free to get in contact with me if you have any questions.

The Journey

I began thinking about the album in April of 2014 with the first recording session occuring on June 26. We recorded two songs that day – "Never Had a Sweetheart" and "Old Sydney Town". Old Sydney Town was released to radio in April 2015, and it spent two weeks in the Country Track Charts reaching position 33. A video clip was also made featuring footage from the day of the recording. Another ten songs have been recorded, and mixed since then to complete the album.

"Rising River" was released to radio in May 2016, and enjoyed radio play across the country.

The album has twelve songs on it, which are divided into two "sides". I went to Melbourne to record side A with current and former members of The Wildes as my band, and side B features the Dear Orphans' band plus guests.

The songs are:

1. White Line Fever
2. Enemy
3. The Last Bend
4. Queensland
5. My Darling Kate
6. Salvation Jane
7. Old Sydney Town
8. Rising River
9. Never Had a Sweetheart
10. Home Town
11. A Shipwrecked's Lament
12. Peace Tonight

I recently spent some time with Taryn La Fauci explaining the structure, and themes of the album in more detail.

Thanks to the following people for helping out

I've received a lot of help from a bunch of people so far, and they've helped me create something I'm really proud of, and will hopefully find it's own unique space in the world. In particular I need to thank:

• Lyn Taylor, Katie Brianna, and Karl Broadie for being my "straight shooters", who got me started, and provided advice throughout the trip.
• The Dear Orphans' band for being the "house band" on side B – Carlyn Chen, Jolyon Gray, and Paul Sun.
• The Wildes in Melbourne for being the "house band" on side A – Lachlan Bryan, Shaun Ryan, Damian Cafarella, and Andrew Wrigglesworth.
• Katie Brianna, Megan Cooper, Karl Broadie, Lyn Taylor, and Benn Gunn for co-writing six songs for the album.
• Jenny Shimmin, Richard Galluzzi, Michael Roberts, Kate Barker, Oscar Henfry, Ben Hurley, Anna McInerney, Ben Thomas, Megan Cooper, Jy-Perry Banks, Aaron Langman, Martin Taylor, Kath Morrison, Kelly Elia, Jackie McCaughan, and Ella Jamieson for playing their instruments on songs to add something extra.
• And those who've consistently asked me when I'll be finished – that time is now!

Funds raised during the next few weeks will pay for the costs of manufacturing the album on CD, and to the cost of supplying the rewards – T-shirts, trucker's caps, etc,.

Any additional funds raised will offset the costs of engaging a publicist to release the album to radio, and other media.

I have funded all the costs of producing, and recording the album myself. This campaign will allow me to take the next step and get this creation out into the world.

CD Manufacturing: $ 1,200
T-Shirts: $ 375
Trucker's Caps: $ 375
Postage: $ 350
Pozzible fees: $ 250 

Total: $ 2,550

Publicist: $ 2,700

Stretch total:  $ 5,250

This is an expensive business folks, and I've funded the production of the album myself. Having walked this road to create something that I hope is great it is my determination to make sure it's heard, and doesn't disappear into obscurity.

By funding the production of the album myself it's only a short dash financially to the finish line. It'll take less that 100 people buying a copy of the album in advance (plus a t-shirt or two), and I'll break even on manufacturing costs.