Inside ‘Everything Around You’: Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham Reflect on Love, Loss and Live Music
Since coming together in 2020, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham have released three albums together, with their most recent being this year’s Everything Around You. Currently midway through their national tour, the duo took some time away from the stage to discuss their new album, writing together and the importance of playing regional shows.
Words Tobias Handke // Image Asha Kidd
Everything Around You is the third album from the two of you. How do you approach the songwriting process together, and has that changed with each album?
Over a pot of tea at the kitchen table. The only change is that the tea has gotten stronger with each successive album.
As a couple, do you find it easier to collaborate with each other, or does that bring a different set of challenges?
Writing songs is a very personal endeavour, and if you’re going to do it with someone else, it’s essential that you are able to be vulnerable. For us, writing with your sweetheart removes barriers and any feelings of self-consciousness.
When it comes to your voices, there’s a subtlety and restraint with Josh, while Felicity has a powerful intensity. How do you balance this when crafting songs together?
It’s all about blending what you have together in a way that complements. We’ve both had a lot of experience playing with other people and it’s taught us to work in a way that makes the collective sound better.
There seems to be a feeling of positivity and hope that runs through the album. Could you expand on this and explain what you hope fans take away from listening to Everything Around You?
Exactly that. Positivity and hope. Once you lose hope, there’s nothing left. There’s plenty of hope-sapping forces at work in the world and we are looking to highlight the good, the beautiful and the hopeful as a form of combat against the darkness. Songs are such a powerful way of doing that.
You worked with producer Matt Fell on this album. What did he bring to the table, and how did he help shape the album?
Matt is a musical visionary who makes a unique contribution to every project he is a part of. Our other partner in crime, Josh Schuberth, is similarly inspired and really sets the tone of the track with his drum tracks that steer the direction of everything that follows. Matt gets very excited by Josh’s parts and by the time we get to do our bits over the rhythm section, there’s already something magical going on. We always marvel when we get to hear how they have interpreted the songs and love doing our bits over what they put down.
You also recorded Everything Around You in three different studios across Australia. Was there a reason behind that, and does that have any impact on the music?
It’s really just a product of where Matt, Josh and ourselves are located. We each record our bits at home. It’d be nice to all be together in the same space to record one day, but technology makes it possible to record remotely from each other, and it’s the most cost-effective way to go.
One of my favourite songs on the album is ‘Joy Roller’. It’s two and a half minutes of joyous rockabilly country that’s pure bliss. Is it enjoyable to write songs like that, where you can just have fun with the melodies and create an upbeat vibe?
That was a fun song to write. It’s really a blend of Felicity being inspired by the name of a shopping trolley/cart that she bought for her mum as a gift, and a rockabilly-esque riff Josh had kicking around. It fit the theme of the record and had a great energy that we enjoyed in the recording of the song, and similarly, love playing live.
Is there one song on the album you are proudest of? Or maybe one you can’t wait to play live?
The title track feels extra special to us. It encompasses everything the album stands for and encourages us to choose the good and true things and hold onto them. We lost Felicity’s father the day after the album was released, and earlier that week, we had said our last goodbyes and gotten his blessing to take the album on the road and play it for the people. He really liked this song and was very proud of us. Every time we play this song live, it feels like he is there, giving us his blessing all over again.
Since coming together artistically, you’ve only released collaborative albums. Do either of you have a solo record in the works, or are you content making music together for now?
Who knows what the future will bring? Making music with dear friends is one of the true pleasures in life, and we’ll keep on going as long as we’re able to.
As artists who have had long and successful careers, what keeps you motivated and inspired to keep making music?
Music itself is its own motivation. We both got infected with the passion for it as teenagers and to this day, it still has that mysterious and powerful hold over us. Any musician who still feels that way about what they do is successful.
To celebrate the release of Everything Around You, the two of you hit the road on an extensive tour of Australia. You’ve been performing plenty of regional dates as part of the tour. Is this important to you both as artists to visit places that are often forgotten when it comes to live music?
Playing in regional parts of Australia feels very familiar to us, as we are both from regional places. We love playing anywhere, but it does sometimes feel extra appreciated when you take your music to more remote places that many touring artists don’t often visit.
You’re playing Trinity Sessions in Adelaide, which is a venue in an old church. Do you look forward to playing venues like this, that aren’t just standard stages?
The Trinity Sessions is a remarkable venue. We’ve had some wonderful shows there and are looking forward to getting back. There is something inspiring about non-standard rooms with a unique ambience and atmosphere. As those types of venues go, the Trinity Sessions is hard to beat.
What can fans expect from your upcoming shows?
We’ll be doing a lot of songs off the new album. They are a lot of fun to play and audiences have been extremely favourable to our new material. Of course, we include some favourites from our previous records and a Waifs tune or two, along with some gold from Felicity’s back catalogue. The consistent and resounding feedback from all our shows has been that people leave feeling uplifted and hopeful.
Catch Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham performing at The Trinity Sessions in Adelaide on Friday 15 May, Murray Delta Juke Joint in Goolwa on Saturday 16 May and Malle Spirit Distillery in Lameroo on Sunday 17 May. Tickets on sale at felicityandjosh.com.
