Adelaide’s Naomi Keyte has long been a part of the tapestry that is the South Australian songwriter scene and this year, she’s striking out on her own with the release of her debut album, Melaleuca. The first release from Keyte since her 2013 EP Edge of Morning, Melaleuca sees the artist further flourish and perform with a refreshed sense of confidence and flair.
Recorded out on the Victorian coast, Melaleuca is calming and warm – the notions of home and the nostalgic return run deep. Themes of self-discovery and change are also apparent on the record, as Keyte steps forward into a poppier light and away from her earlier material that was more rooted in ambient-folk. It’s a bold step but one that pays off well across Melaleuca‘s ten tracks. Thoughtful and evocative, this is a striking album from a songwriter who is in a great creative space.
Working with a full band in Matt Barlow (bass), Rohan Goldsmith (drums/percussion), Sam Reynolds (guitar) and Thomas Capogreco (viola/guitar), not to mention drawing upon the talents of some fellow musicians to guest on the record (we’re talking the likes of Georgia Harvey, Suzie Wyllie and Ben TD of Open Swimmer), Keyte’s debut record has an added layer of texture and musicality that fans will recognise instantly from her live shows.
Melaleuca will be released independently on February 5th, to be available via Keyte’s Bandcamp and on vinyl. This week though, we’ve got a special stream ready to go!
Check it out below.
Photo by Tash McCammon.
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