John Raymond and S. Carey have been playing music together for close to 20 years since their time studying music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. While they both received training in jazz and classical music, their careers would soon head in very different directions. 

Carey would become the right-hand man to Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver); collaborate as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Low, and Bruce Hornsby among others, and release four albums of his own to critical acclaim from Pitchfork, NPR and more.

Raymond, on the other hand, would become a Grammy-nominated trumpeter and composer “steering jazz in the right direction” (Downbeat); release eight albums garnering praise from The New York Times, Stereogum and others; and teach on faculty at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the world.

 In 2019, the two reunited and began experimenting on what their artistic voices would sound like together. Raymond brought in a host of musical ideas, while Carey contributed lyrics and helped shape the ideas into songs. 

The result is their new album, Shadowlands, (Libellule Editions), a stunning, genre-bending collection of songs that combines the warmth and beauty of Carey’s aesthetic with the improvisational, spontaneous nature of Raymond’s. The music ranges from intimate and meditative to soaring and anthemic, with electric moments of musical interplay throughout. It’s the kind of collaboration that feels as if it were years in the making.

Gordi

While working around the clock during a week-long writing residency at an inner-city Sydney studio last year, Gordi abandoned the piano and laptop and meandered down to Chinatown for alate morning yum cha feast. As typically happens post pan-fried dumpling, the singer songwriter opted for a nap, nestled up against the legs of the PH piano she was working at.Waking up in a sweat, "Broke Scene" flowed out of her from start to finish, as she scrambled to capture it to tape in the moment.

An emotion-ladled, contagious fever dream birthed by MSG-charged yum cha-welcome to Gordi's "Broke Scene." A stunning track that laces an uplifting arrangement anchored to a persistent pulse, with questions of resignation and internal restlessness: "Can you see, you're burning your house down?"

Co-produced with Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver,Sky Ferreira), the Canowindra-raised artist took the original demo over to LA to finish with Ethan, the duo collaborating to expand on the initial fever dream. The session in the US came as part of Sophie's sessions working on an upcoming body of work.

Expansive yet intimate, "Broke Scene" was mixed by previous collaborator, Jon Low (Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, The National). Gordi's first single for 2023, the release coincides with her Australian national tour with long time friend and collaborator, Bon Iver. The tour runs until mid March, having been rescheduled from 2020.

The song also comes as Gordi commemorates World Pride-which will also be celebrated with a number of shows in Sydney over the coming month. Payten's last record the ARIA and two time triple j J Award nominated Our Two Skins documented her journey through self-discovery, identity and sexuality.

Following the release of her latest body of work, 2021's Inhuman, Gordi–a.k.a Sophie Payten has an impressive catalogue and collaboration history behind her. Teaming up with Troye Sivan on ‘Wait', from the film Three Months, Gordi has also been collaborating with a host of impressive names, remixing Julien Baker as well as tracks with Ben Bohmer, The Blaze, Helado Negro, Loraine James and Maggie Lindemann.

Payten also co-wrote the theme song to the Oscar-nominated animated feature film The Mitchells vs the Machines. Post-lockdown, she has well and truly returned to live stages around the world, making her Sydney Opera House debut for VIVID, and completing extensive tours of Europe with The Tallest Man On Earth and Gang of Youths.