Interview: The Vision of Crighton

Having been described as a visionary and a future Australian icon, Crighton doesn’t buy into any of that, humbly and sincerely laughing it off. 

Discussing the album and compositions of EMPIRE, Crighton says the driving force was ‘just being here. My 9-year-old daughter says, “hope is the one thing that brings us together”. I agree with her and think it could go either way. There are more and more people realising what’s going on and changing things for the better but on the other hand there’s a lot of greed and crazy out there holding on tight. A few years ago I asked a good mate, a Wiradjuri bloke, if he thought a “great awakening” was coming and he said, “They’re whitefella words. We’ve been living sustainably for 100s of thousands of years,” That put me in my place and inspired me beyond measure.’

Also in 2017, Crighton released a 7-inch vinyl Hope Recovery, accompanied Dan Sultan and CW Stoneking on their respective national tours, and performed to massive crowds at WOMADelaide and Woodford Folk Festival. He showcased at Canadian Music Week, New York City’s Mondo Music Conference and the Folk Alliance International in Kansas City.

Quickly building a reputation as a world-class live performer, Crighton recently completed his debut Canadian tour, alongside JUNO-nominated Terra Lightfoot.

EMPIRE sees Crighton expand his study of the human psyche, hard close-ups meet a roving widescreen lens. It is a songbook of breathtaking insight. The flame of the human spirit is, in Crighton’s hands, shown to be the most powerful force at work in 21st-century Australia: one that produces both soot and shadow, but also guiding light, illuminating both the painful past and the difficult path forward along which hope will always chime.

William Crighton unveiled a selection of new songs from EMPIRE together with songs from his stellar self-titled debut at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2018. 

Tell me, what was the concept for Empire?

We wanted to go farther than we had before. 

What was the inspiration for Hope Recovery?

We’d been playing songs from the first record a lot live and were beginning to explore more psychedelic areas that gave the show some more colour and inspired the idea of recording with that vibe. 

How much of your work is rooted in the land or the place where you live?

A decent chunk.  

There is quite a bit of shadow in your work. How important is that, do you think, to take the listener to quieter darker places?

It’s important to explore light and shade. This album definitely does that. 

What is your process for songwriting to an album? 

It feels like I’m always writing an album. I always have a song on my mind; it’s not always a good one, and sometimes it’s the same one for weeks, but the process never stops. 

How did you record these tracks? 

Matt engineered and recorded most of the album in a log hut at Laguna, NSW, and at his studio outside Nashville. I did some things at home too.

Did they fall together one after the other or did it unravel like a kind of story?

They fell together, always falling together. Made a good story though! 

What was the song that most surprised you at the end of the process? 

Someone, that Jules my wife and I wrote on the day I was leaving to go to the USA to record; we wrote most of the lyrics in the car between our place and Kingsford Smith. 

How do you take these new songs to the stage?

I’m not sure yet. But, I’m really looking forward to doing it. The tour kicks off in Byron Bay at the Great Northern. I love the northern rivers area and am really happy we’re starting there. 

What should we expect for your performance at Bello Winter Music?

It’s going to be different from what you’ve seen before. There are new songs to play and that always inspires something. The band’s also changing up for this tour; joining Jules and me is my good mate Matt Sherrod on drums and Josh Jones on the bass. They’re both amazing musicians. As always I’m not sure exactly what to expect but I know it will be an experience for all of us.