Best known as the frontman of the Australian rock n roll luminaires, Eskimo Joe, acclaimed songwriter Kav Temperley is stepping out solo. The first taste of his upcoming album drops August 14 in the form of new single, Pollyanna, an ominous reflection on the relativity of happiness. Pollyanna precedes Kav Temperley's highly anticipated debut solo album All Your Devotion, a collection of ruminating, thoughtful, and effecting songs from one of this country's greatest talents, set for release on September 28. To celebrate what is the culmination of years of hard work, Kav will be hitting the road in October and November this year, kicking off on October 5 at The Milk Factory in Brisbane, and moving through the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Belgrave, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Fremantle, Margaret River, before wrapping up in Bunbury at Prince of Wales on November 3.
Pollyanna is not quite as happy-go-lucky as its namesake, but despite a moody demeanour, there is a tenacious, almost stubborn sense of positivity that lurks throughout. With careful, considered instrumentation and an arrangement that allows deep strings, plucky piano and sparkling guitar to each complement the other, Pollyanna is a deeply effecting piece of music, made even more so with Kav's idiosyncratic, expressive vocal delivery and lyricism. Kav reflects on the inspiration behind the track, saying, "A friend once told me that our happiness is always relative, whether we live in a war zone or paradise - our happiness always swings back to the same place.
I had just lost my marriage and the band had decided to take a break, all of these things that defined me were now no longer around. It was one of the first times in my life I felt like a stranger just rolling along, but I realised that amongst all of this I was a Pollyanna, someone despite the bad news always looks on the bright side. This was a song I was singing to myself to remember to stay light."
All Your Devotion is, quite simply, a daring testament of renewal. Produced alongside Pip Norman (Troye Sivan, Jarryd James, Urthboy) and John Castle (Megan Washington, Vance Joy, Bertie Blackman), the album delicately outlines the arc of newfound romance; the rapture, with Pollyanna and Queen Of My Heart, the hesitation, with This Is The Love and
Devotion, and the surrender, with High and When You Run. All Your Devotion explores new sonic territory for Kav, as sparse and uncluttered production, reminiscent of pop and folk conventions, takes precendence over rock n roll ways. Kav reflects on some of the inspiration behind the album, saying, "We spend our lives building barricades to protect us, both physical and emotional. But, as well as protect, these barricades can also isolate and suffocate. All Your Devotion is about tearing those down and starting over, through all the fears and hope…It's about growing up and moving on. It's being courageous enough to live and to love again."
Kav Templerley is set to perform tracks from All Your Devotion live to audiences across the country come October and November this year, as Eskimo Joe also prepare to hit the stage for the Under The Southern Stars festival run. It's going to be a busy few months for the skilled musician, but anticipation is high, as Kav says, "(For the All Your Devotion tour,) it's just going to be me with an acoustic guitar and kick drum strapped to my back. I want these shows to be raw and real so people feel like they've been there right next to me through the writing of this record."
Pollyanna will be available from August 14 and will be received instantly with all digital album pre-orders. All Your Devotion is set for release on September 28.
ALL YOUR DEVOTION NATIONAL ALBUM TOUR
FRI 5 OCT | THE MILK FACTORY, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 6 OCT | VILLA NOOSA HOTEL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SUN 7 OCT | PUBLIC BAR @ COOLANGATTA HOTEL, GOLD COAST QLD | 18+ | Free show
THU 11 OCT | GRACE EMILY, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 12 OCT | SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 13 OCT | THE TOFF IN TOWN, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 19 OCT | LEADBELLY, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 20 OCT | LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.lizottes.com.au | (02) 4956 2066
SAT 27 OCT | MOJOS, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 2 NOV | RIVER HOTEL, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 3 NOV | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.kavtemperley.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets