Following a two-year hiatus, indie folk singer-songwriter and Worimi woman Lydia Fairhall has released her new single 'Winter Came', from her forthcoming sophomore album 'The Narrows'.
Described as a raw and stripped back introspective, 'Winter Came' explores the time in life when the deep winter sets in, both literally and metaphorically, and the first signs of spring that follow.
Speaking about the release, Fairhall said that the process creating the song was a cathartic experience.
"Making this song was a cathartic experience - a bit of a palate cleanser between one phase of life to the next. I had been working big jobs in the city and moved back to my hometown, a quiet little place in the bush," she said.
"The settling in period was like a big letting go of a particular way of life, and shortly after writing 'Winter Came', I was called to the Priesthood."
Since her last release, the talented singer has been walking a path few might expect, yet one that feels deeply aligned with the heart of her work.
Alongside her creative practice, she has been undertaking formation for ordained ministry towards Priesthood.
This chapter was inspired by a calling she received walking one fateful day in the bush - an experience she describes as unmistakable and other worldly.
She says her ordination as Deacon last year has opened up new layers of purpose and reflection, bringing together her passions for storytelling, community and spiritual inquiry.
For Fairhall, song writing and service are part of the same journey, each offering a way to explore what it means to be human, to hold space for others, and to speak to the sacred within the everyday.
Her latest music is born from a period she refers to as her "dark night of the soul" prior to her calling, when winter came and ultimately transformed into an unfolding, rich version of a life being lived with intention.
Winter Came was written by Fairhall and produced by Samuel Pankhurst. The track was mixed by Jake Miller (Bjork) and mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios in London.
The upcoming album follows the success of her 2020 debut album 'True North' with The She Oaks, which saw the lead single 'Somebody's Daughter' in the AMRAP regional airplay charts for six weeks peaking at number 1, with airplay across the ABC and community stations around Australia.
'True North' was selected as Album of the Week for the nationally syndicated Good Morning Country radio program.
Fairhall was also selected as one of the 2020 BigSound50, and in TheMusic's 'BigSound50 acts to watch' with her songs described as "important work that demands your attention".
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