An Australian indie artist who has peddled his craft mostly overseas, Tardanya-based singer-songwriter Aaron Thomas arrives today with his first album in more than a decade.
A career that has taken him all over the world, living in Spain and Iceland and featuring at such acclaimed festivals like SXSW (Austin), CMJ (New York), Popkomm (Berlin) and London's Concrete and Glass as well as WOMAdelaide in 2017, 'Human Patterns' blends indie melodies with old-country tones that form a body of work that is full of stories and rich in sounds.It's a record brimming with radiant hope and unbridled joy, alongside darker tones, lyrics that expose the human condition in all its forms, sparkling yet dense instrumentation, passionate rhythms that flow directly to the heart and genuine, sincere vocals that capture the ear's attention.
Thomas has crafted a brilliant record that only expands with every listen, the sonic crevices a gateway to further exploration any indie lover will find themselves instantly drawn to.
Although a relatively unknown artist, Aaron is one of Australia's unheralded songwriting talents, worthy of comparison to the likes of Paul Kelly, Glenn Richards, Paul Dempsey and Ben Lee.
"This is my fourth, full-length album and is 11 years in the making. Although it's my fourth, it's my first as an unsigned, independent artist and the first one I have made in Australia," Aaron says.
"The others were made during my time in Spain and Iceland, and under the guidance of a record label. It's also the first time I have had the freedom to make all my own decisions, from the studio, the instrumentation, to the musicians, arrangements, production and mix.
"I worked with a wonderful band of the best musicians I have played with, anywhere in the world. There's Kyrie Anderson on drums and percussion, Django Rowe on electric guitar and banjo, Kiah Gossner on electric and double bass, and Tori Phillips on violin.
"Plus, we got in great players like Jason MacMahon on saxophone, Alex Taylor on trombone, Luke White on trumpet and Gemma Phillips on cello. I also worked with close friend, Tom Barnes who recorded the album and co-mixed it with me.
"What stands out for me about this album are the conditions in which it was made. There was COVID, a baby, a psychology degree, job changes and the challenges of being fairly new to South Australia.
"After leaving Spain in 2013, my confidence as an artist took a hit. Followed by a divorce and a general period of depression and disorganisation, I was pretty low and could feel myself letting go of the dream of making new music. But over time, and with the help of, dare I say it, love, I started to write again.
"I soon discovered that I am a stubborn guy. For years after, I spent the evenings sitting in the garden and playing through arrangements in my head. Every drive to work, every moment doing the dishes I was putting these songs together. For me, now, this album represents a turn around and celebrates not giving up. It's something I am proud of.
"As for the music itself, this album is full of variation. The common thread I would say is the tone and the approach to arranging. I was careful with this album and wanted to take my time so that I knew I had done things my way, with no second guessing.
"I now don't feel any control over how it is received. I have done everything I set out to do and I love it. It's full of emotion and storytelling, which all stand in front of a back drop of rich arrangements and interesting musical choices.
"'Human Patterns' is an album that works as a whole, and not as a scattered collection of songs. It is, more than anything, me. An album that was made with 100 per cent focus on music and zero per cent focus on the music scene, and for that it is my best work yet."
