Tom Busby of Busby Marou Drops Debut Solo Album ‘Rockhampton Hangover’
The album arrives after a two decade career as a member of Busby Marou.
Image Maclay Heriot
After almost two decades as one half of the musical duo Busby Marou, Tom Busby is going solo. Today, the singer-songwriter has released his debut album, Rockhampton Hangover.
A collection of ten tracks produced by Ben Kweller and recorded in the Texas Hill Country, America, the album includes the previously released singles ‘Waiting For Tomorrow’, ‘Lottery’, ‘Cyclone’, ‘Someone Strong’, ‘In The Dark’ and ‘My Senses’.
Speaking about the album’s title, Busby explains, “Rockhampton is where I was born and raised – it’s in my bones. But this album isn’t about nostalgia for my hometown.
“After Busby Marou took our first break in 20 years, I stood still for the first time. Unsure of what was next, I stepped into helping the family business – demolition and asbestos removal – thinking it was the right move for my family. But instead of feeling grounded, I felt lost. My wife saw it before I did and said, ‘Go back to what makes you feel alive’.
“The second I threw myself into writing this album, the fog lifted. It wasn’t easy – it took everything I had, pushed me to my limits, and came with real sacrifices – but I knew I was home.
“That’s what Rockhampton Hangover is about. Not just the kind of hangover you get from a big night – though if you’ve been to Rocky, you know that too – but the kind that comes after a tough chapter, when the truth hits, and you decide to move forward.
“This album is me at my rawest and most honest – a songwriter again, with nothing to prove and everything to give”.
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Hailing from the Gold Coast, Busby and good mate Jeremy Marou made a name for themselves as the folk duo Busby Marou. Together they have earned certified Gold and Platinum Records, sold-out venues across the country and claimed an ARIA #1 Album with their 2017 release Postcards From The Shell House.
Stepping out on his own, Busby has put his all into Rockhampton Hangover. “I’m living in a fucking caravan park at the moment so we can invest into this album, everything I own is going back into it,” he says.
“We don’t have a toilet in our caravan! It’s humbling but for the first time in 15 years I feel like an actual troubadour again. I’m living and breathing it. I’m taking the caravan around to the festivals, going around and meeting people. It's ground zero, like guerilla marketing, starting from scratch.”
Rockhampton Hangover by Tom Busby is out now. Listen here.
