In the Green Room: Matt Ward

South Australia’s alt-country crooner Matt Ward is back on the tools with a fresh new sound for his third studio album. ‘Come Home Safe’ is listeners' introduction to his forthcoming project…

‘Come Home Safe’ is our first taste of your third studio album – congrats! How did this song come to life?

Thank you! ‘Come Home Safe’ is about the perils of forever searching for happiness when it may be right in front of you. For the song, I used the analogy of the dangers of driving on Australian country roads, including winding gravel roads, hot summer days, bushfires and the ever-present kangaroos on the side of the road at dusk.

Why was this the first track?

I wanted to launch my next album with a fresh new sound. ‘Come Home Safe' has a kick-ass tempo, hip-hop like lyrics and hopefully a catchy chorus – so I thought it was a perfect way to catch some attention for my third album campaign.

You said the idea and sound for this song came through a series of dreams – tell us more…

Yeah, this was weird. For several years, I had two recurring dreams. One is about marginal country in the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, and the other is about an arid rocky escarpment. Then, one night in a dream, the two dreams merged in a town called Springton. Springton is in the Adelaide Hills, on the cusp of marginal country – but I’d never visited or heard of it before. So, I decided to visit this town, but on the way had a car accident. This jolted me out of a six-month writing hiatus – it had me writing furiously again! Weirdly, I had another dream about the same time, where the melody and vocal style came to me. I woke up in the middle of the night and recorded the melody. Not long after this, I wrote the complete song. It was a golden thread moment – one of those ‘meant to be’ songs.

You worked closely with producer Matt Fell to finesse the track’s sound. Tell us more about your relationship with him. How did he sculpt the song?

I’ve worked with Matt since 2018, when he recorded and produced my first album, Heartland. We then worked on some of the material for my second album, If I Was In Dallas Tonight, as well as some post-production for live recordings I’ve done here in Adelaide at Twin Earth Studios. Following the weird string of events of Springton, I went down to Tasmania to look after his place. It was there I wrote ‘Come Home Safe,’ as well as a stack of other material that led to my third album.

Your next album The Long Way Home is out September 6. What listeners should expect from this next project?

World-class production, distinctive Australian alt-country sounds and definitely no corn.

You’re also hitting the road for a national tour to celebrate this single, performing at The Wheaty. Why did you decide on this venue?

The Wheaty have been so supportive of South Australian musicians, including myself. The staff always make the artists and crowd feel like part of the family – so it’s natural to start there because it feels like home! Our shows will be a great mixture of high-energy alternative country, some anthems, some ballads, and plenty of gritty twang.

South Australia is a major influence across your whole back catalogue. Tell us how our landscape inspires your craft.

I’ve spent a truckload of time in remote and regional areas of the state through my work and travels. I grew up in the Adelaide Hills and now live on the Fleurieu Peninsula on some acreage. Boots on dirt is when I feel most grounded – it’s where you can open your eyes, ears and all your senses to help you make sense of whatever you’re dealing with, enjoying, and experiencing at the time. I also love writing, so it’s an exhilarating challenge to combine the two.

What else can we expect from you in 2024?

I’ve got a national tour in the can with over 20 dates across Australia and more to come. I can’t wait to give audiences a taste of the new album and to build some buzz. Also – expect lots of photos of my dog Shooter. Album aside, it’s the main reason to follow me.

See Matt Ward play at The Wheaty this May 19, joined by New South Wales songwriter, Harvey Russell. Buy tickets here.

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