Holly Throsby has unveiled another glimpse of her long-awaited sixth studio album, Normal Magic, releasing the quietly affecting new single ‘Tell Me I’m Done’ while confirming an East Coast tour ahead of the album’s September 4 release.
Following recent singles ‘Gallery’ and ‘Hold Please’, featuring Laura Jean, ‘Tell Me I’m Done’ sits at the emotional centre of the forthcoming record. Built around nylon-string guitar, programmed drums, synths, flute and understated bass, the track reflects on the creative push and pull that comes with making art while navigating the everyday demands of life.
Throsby describes the song as the heart of Normal Magic, capturing the exhilaration and exhaustion of creative obsession alongside the universal desire for kindness, connection and care. Those themes extend across an album that marks a notable shift in her sound, trading the predominantly acoustic arrangements of earlier records for a richer palette of synthesisers, electric guitars, saxophone and programmed beats without sacrificing the lyrical precision that has defined her songwriting for more than two decades.
Entirely self-produced, Normal Magic also sees Throsby collaborating with a new circle of musicians, including Jordan Ireland, Helen Franzmann, Laura Jean, Oliver Mestitz and Jake Core. The album was recorded across homes and studios on the New South Wales South Coast before being mixed in Provence by acclaimed producer Burke Reid, whose previous credits include Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin and The Drones.
Nine years have passed since Throsby’s last album, After A Time, a period in which she expanded her creative practice beyond music, publishing two acclaimed novels while continuing her work with Seeker Lover Keeper. Rather than feeling like a return, Normal Magic suggests an artist exploring new possibilities, inspired by what Throsby describes as “the magic of normal life” and the quiet moments of beauty that sustain us.
Few Australian songwriters have balanced literary detail with emotional intimacy as consistently as Throsby. With Normal Magic, she appears to be opening a fresh chapter, one that embraces new textures while remaining firmly rooted in the thoughtful storytelling that has made her one of Australia’s most respected contemporary songwriters.
Throsby will be heading out on tour later this year, go HERE for tickets.
