Bachelor Girl Collaborates With Guy Sebastian On New Version of ‘Permission To Shine’
This is the latest tease of Bachelor Girl’s upcoming album, Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions.
Image Jess Macc
Following the release of reimagined versions of their songs ‘Blind’, ‘Treat Me Good’ and ‘Blown Away’, Bachelor Girl have shared another track, the reworked ‘Permission To Shine’, a collaboration with local Adelaide lad Guy Sebastian.
This is the fourth cut taken from the duo of Tania Doko and James Roche’s upcoming reimagined edition of their debut album Waiting For The Day, which drops Friday 7 August.
A fan favourite when originally released as a promotional single, this new take on the track gives it a gospel makeover with hints of classic soul and R&B thanks to the addition of Sebastian.
“When Tania and James gave me a call about joining them on ‘Permission To Shine’, I couldn’t say no! What a song! Bachelor Girl’s songs were part of the soundtrack to so many of our childhoods, and ‘Permission to Shine’ is one of those Aussie classics that everyone knows and loves,” shares Sebastian.
“It was a real privilege to record this vocal with Tania and revisit a song that’s stood the test of time. And let’s be honest - Tania’s voice is just insane. Getting to sing alongside a voice like that was pretty special. The message behind this song feels more relevant now than ever, and hopefully we’ve honoured what people love about the original while giving it a fresh new chapter.”
“‘Permission To Shine’ feels fresh again because of Guy’s marvellous input, adding his soulful believability and male perspective. He’s a phenomenal communicator,” says James Roche of the new reworked version of ‘Permission To Shine’.
“‘Permission’ was an important release for us back in 2000,” adds Doko, “our fifth single to cement our Waiting for the Day album, and would be the surprise gift that kept on giving for years to come. We owe much to the late A&R legend Clive Davis in NYC, signing us to Arista in the US, and for being the ‘golden ears’ he was. He handed us a cassette tape with the demo of ‘Permission to Shine’ (written by Bridget Benenate) for us to put our own spin on.
“What incredible foresight from Clive to know instinctively that this little ‘no frills’ acoustic demo would be so right for us, and then, to predict that the song itself would make such a profound difference to so many. Over 26 years, if we had a dollar for every person who has shared that this 4-minute ‘lil pop song had saved them…well, it’s a humbling privilege as an artist.”
Asking Sebastian to get involved with the song was a no-brainer. “Apart from his ridiculously good acrobatic vocal skills, Guy sings feelings, not just notes,” explains Doko. “He’s a ‘double threat’ in that sense - skills and heart - for days. So, the question really was: “Why wouldn’t we ask him?!” It needed to be an artist who would embody this lyric that speaks to the human condition, leaving us with the reassurance and hope we’re looking for. Guy’s vocal is innately that ‘feel good balm to the soul’.
“We were also stable mates at BMG back in the early 00s when he won Oz Idol, and James produced the title track of Guy’s 2006 album ‘Closer to the Sun’. We’ve watched from the wings his extraordinary career trajectory and have great respect for the vocalist/artist/writer/producer he has become. Beautiful family, too...!”
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To celebrate the release of Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions, Bachelor Girl are taking the album on the road. The seven-date national tour kicks off in Bendigo at The Golden Vine on Friday 31 July. Two more shows follow in Victoria at The Star Hotel in Yackandandah on Saturday 1 August and the iconic Brunswick Ballroom on Saturday 8 August.
The duo then play shows at Brisbane’s The Triffid on Sunday 23 August, Adelaide’s The Gov on Friday 28 August and Frankston’s Cube 37 on Friday 4 September, with the final show at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville on Sunday 18 October.
Tickets are on sale now from bachelorgirl.com.
“It feels like we threw a party and everyone showed up!” shares Roche of the recording of Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions. Doko admits, “It’s been a truckload of work to coordinate 15 artists, but mammoth projects do take a little ‘crazy’, a lot of time and meticulous attention to detail. Extremely thankful to our team, the artists, their teams, our families, band, umpires…linesmen(!)… everyone involved supporting us to turn the virtual impossible into a new, real-life celebration of our first ’song babies’.
“Jess Mauboy and Delta Goodrem were our first two special guest recordings we recorded in Sydney,” Doko continues, “and the PIPES on these two women to experience in the actual studio…they just blew our hair back.”
“They both were the sparks that became a roaring flame for this album,” Roche adds.
‘Blown Away’ ft. Tommy Emmanuel and Ella Hooper by Bachelor Girl is out now. Listen here. Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions is out in August. Catch Bachelor Girl at The Gov on Friday 28 August. Tickets on sale now via oztix.com.au.
Bachelor Girl Waiting For The Day Redux Australian Tour 2026
Friday 31 July – The Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 1 August – The Star Hotel, Yackandandah, VIC
Saturday 8 August – Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick, VIC
Sunday 23 August – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 28 August – The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Friday 4 September – Cube 37 Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC
Sunday 18 October – The Factory Theatre, Marrickville, NSW
