Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Kezra – Memories Of An Old Friend by Angus & Julia Stone
Dear Memories Of An Old Friend,
Oh how time felt so slow back in 2010 – a mere 16 year old who had her first boyfriend, was writing songs that had real emotions attached to them and listening to this album for the first time. WHAT A YEAR!
You taught me that music can be gentle and sweet but still make you want to cry at the same time. I remember the first time I heard ‘Paper Aeroplane’ – I fell deeply in love with Angus’ voice.
The simplicity of this song – bass drum, snare, guitar, bass, vocals. This is when I realised that songs don’t need to be very complicated to be great and catch your attention. I think that was also the first time I fell deeply for the sound of fingerpicking – and a lot of the songs I write, nearly always have fingerpicking thanks to you.
You seemed to have a way with words that leaves the heart feeling full yet being ripped out at the same time from the get go.
‘Choking’ – “Choking on these words, you should leave now”
‘Chocolates & Cigarettes’ – “Still to young to fail, too scared to sail away, one of these day I’ll grow old and I’ll grow brave and I’ll go one of these days”.
You fuelled my songwriting with something new and fresh, which I had never been exposed to before, which made me learn how to express emotion but in it’s most simplest form coming straight from the heart.
Julia would pull at my heart strings whilst Angus would make me feel bubbly again with songs like ‘Mango Tree’, which makes a slight smile come to my face every time I listen to it and be like — maybe I need a mango tree in my life?
Now… ’Heart Full Of Wine’ – This song was literally a lullaby for me. Whenever my mind was full of craziness at night time this was my go-to song for falling asleep. Seriously one of the most satisfying/relaxing songs to listen to.
As much as I loved to listen to you everyday I will never forget the first time I met you live at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda 2010. If the music wasn’t magical enough already, there was a big tree on stage which was all lighted up and the stage looked like a big hippy musical dream. The first time I saw Julia I was absolutely blown away – I had never seen an artist playing soo many instruments before and her voice transcended through the whole theatre. You know that feeling when you see your favourite musicians and your feel like your heart is going to explode and your mind just awakens – it was just like that.
I know I haven’t been a good listener lately, but I needed some time to explore and get my mind blown a few more times before coming back to you.
Love always, KEZRA xoxo
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Melbourne indie pop queen Kezra’s new single ‘Missing You’ is out now. Listen below!
