Melbourne-based Australian outlaw country singer-songwriter, Gareth Leach, recently dropped his hard-hitting album Trigger, landing at #2 on the iTunes Country Albums chart and #4 overall/all-genres. Now comes the latest radio song - the title track from the album. As Gareth explains, "Trigger, is a song about the pursuit of every country musician’s side-kick and partner-in-crime and storytelling – their guitar!" The carrier of the overall theme of the album, it’s an old-time shuffle that pays tribute to the way of the outlaw and like Willie Nelson and his guitar, Leach’s search for his own “Trigger”. Self-produced and engineered, Trigger is Gareth’s sophomore album, tackling tough subject matter, with introspective lyrics and a powerful vocal performance met with traditional folk and country instrumentation.
Added Gareth by way of background: "As we were drastically limited in how we could approach making this video due to Melbourne's Covid-19 restrictions, I decided to play dress up in my finest of 'cowboy attire', asked my wife Jade to shoot my vocal part in our shed to accompany the wonderful public domain footage I had cut together from the 1908 silent film 'The Bank Robbery'. Essentially, we just wanted to make a clip that complimented the 'Outlaw' vibe and add an exciting visual narrative to enhance the story of the song, which I think we did."
Raised on the muddy banks of Echuca’s Murray River, songwriter Gareth Leach draws inspiration from the introspective and reflective lyrical concepts of his outlaw heroes, tinged with guitar-riff driven hooks that have remained in his blood since he was a young kid growing up with a background in punk-rock.
In other words Gareth writes, performs and delivers country music with attitude. That should be Attitude with a big arse capital A.
But don’t think for a moment that Gareth hasn’t absorbed the nuances, emotion and craft of the very finest in country music.
As record producer/engineer with diverse tastes and influences, Gareth has also collaborated with musicians from the rock, country, folk, punk and pop industries to further refine and realise the ideas of the songwriter.
Jade Robinson Photography
Gareth’s debut single “Freeway Lines”, from his self-produced debut EP Settle Like Stones (2016), peaked at No.10 on Australian Country Radio. Then 2017 was a year of touring and new music, with 2018 marking his return with debut full length album, Death & Taxes, released in September of that year. “Turn Back Jimmy Creek”, the first single from the debuted at No. 4 on iTunes, was added to the A-List Americana Playlist and Aussie Country Playlists, CMC programming and charted on across the country, most notably topping Australian Country Radio charts at No. 1 and remaining in the top 10 for over 2 months. The title track and third singles were also added to the Apple Music Americana A-List Playlist and CMC programming, with the album debuting at No.3 on the iTunes Country Charts, and saw to Gareth and his band being invited headline the day-stage at 2019’s Deni Ute Muster.
So far the unpredictable year that is 2020 has seen Gareth perform on the main-stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival for Americana in the Park and the Mornington Country Music Festival. It has also been a year that has featured the release his first 7" AA side vinyl singles "Down The Rabbit Hole / Old Crow Feather" both songs gaining strong airplay nationwide on ABC Country, and Top 10 charting on the AMRAP Regional and iTunes Charts.
His duet "My Crime" with Michaela Jenke followed in May. To further consolidate Gareth’s position in contemporary country music he released the iTunes music, iTunes music video and AMRAP Metro chart topping current single; “Honey”.
Now, the hard-hitting Australian outlaw country singer/songwriter has returned to tackle tough subject matter with his self-produced and engineered sophomore album, Trigger, released on September 4, debuting at #2 on the iTunes Country and #4 Overall charts.
Introspective lyrics and a powerful vocal performance are met with traditional folk and country instrumentation across this exceptional album, featuring guest performances from Ewen Baker (Shane Howard Trio) and Aussie bluegrass legend and Golden Guitar slinger, Hamish Davidson.
Gareth Leach is at the forefront of contemporary country music in Australia. He’s a performer and songwriter who understands and respects the tradition, whist giving it a contemporary edge.
Listen to him.
Website: www.garethleach.com
Jade Robinson Photography