Here is the atmospheric new video from Australian singer-songwriter Nigel Wearne. On ‘To the Edge’, Wearne is ably supported by the lovely tones of Yorkshire’s award-winning Lauren Housley, whose vocals add depth and character to this minor-key lament to love unravelling and fate conspiring against the protagonists. That mournful sound is reinforced by Wearne’s Hammond Organ and Isaac Gunnoo’s moody double bass, alongside an irresistible horn section, which includes alto-sax from Aurélien Tomasi, trombone from Blaise Margail and Jérôme Dupuis-Cloutier’s trumpet. These musical layers, produced and mixed by Wearne himself, form a sorrowful piece that lingers in the memory. The video, which Wearne directed alongside Amy Laidlaw, is artfully shot and includes many arresting images, making full use of the water and woodland to show the turmoil of the lovers in the narrative.
Wearne and Housley first met in 2019 in the Arts Café in Montreal when both were in town to showcase at Folk Alliance International. they were appearing in a documentary about the conference and hit it off, sharing their love of John Prine and a dry sense of humour. After reconnecting in New Orleans the following year, they began to collaborate during the pandemic. Citing influences like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Gillian Welch, Wearne blends Americana, blues and folk to create something new. He combines perfectly with Housely, who won the prestigious ‘Bob Harris Emerging Artist’ award this year. Wearne and Housley will be touring the UK in January. Dates and details can be found on Wearne’s website here.
