Lutruwita/Tasmania-based singer-songwriter Rowan Smith shares an exclusive premiere with Backseat Mafia today for the release of his latest single, ‘Slow Clouds’. The track floats ahead of an upcoming show on November 9th, a special live band performance in Naarm/Melbourne. With ‘Slow Clouds’, Smith offers a taste of his 2024 album ‘In the Key of Kintsugi’, a collection of old and new songs meticulously crafted to mirror his evolution as an artist.
After spending the early ‘90s weaving himself into the fabric of Melbourne’s indie scene with bands like Macguffins and Barefoot, Smith’s career has been a steady testament to refined storytelling and thoughtful reinvention. In ‘In the Key of Kintsugi’, he digs deep into both his past and present, inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold—a perfect metaphor for an album stitched together with echoes of earlier work, yet aglow with newfound resonance.
‘Slow Clouds’ is an elegant opener, and it wastes no time setting the tone for an album that revels in moments of quiet introspection. In Smith’s own words, the song’s origins began with a line he couldn’t quite embrace: “Slow clouds of self-doubt.” He refined it, removing the doubt and leaving space for simplicity to do its work. What remains is a jangly, bittersweet meditation with shades of The Smiths and Elliott Smith—a balance of nostalgia and forward motion, heavy with feeling but light on its feet.
The rest of In the ‘Key of Kintsugi’ follows a similar pattern, pulling from a songbook that stretches back to Smith’s earlier days. Tracks like ‘Emotional Week’ and ‘Words Are Swords’ bring in songs originally crafted during Macguffins and Barefoot’s heyday, showing just how timeless Smith’s writing can be.
Smith’s band for the upcoming Naarm/Melbourne show promises an impressive lineup, including Macguffins’ bass player Michael Paxton, vocalist and guitarist Gina Hearnden (Blackbirds FC, The Hollowmen) and drummer Craig Mitchell (Greenhouse). With a setlist planned to span his expansive career, fans can expect both cherished classics and fresh material from ‘In the Key of Kintsugi’.
‘Slow Clouds’ is now streaming on all major platforms, and ‘In the Key of Kintsugi’ is available on both vinyl and digital.
Upcoming show:
SAT, NOVEMBER 9TH, 3PM – GEORGE LANE, ST KILDA
W/ GEOFF WRIGHT
Feature Photograph: George Apostolidis
