The journey Adelaide's Lucas Day has taken to his current incarnation as a singer-songwriter has seen him turn away from a career in chemical engineering, instead focusing his love for music into a half decade tour of duty aboard cruise ships in North America and the Caribbean.
Accruing thousands of hours performance experience at sea buoyed his confidence to head back to land to have a decent crack at becoming a full-time musician.He's already got that in the bag, playing gigs all over South Australia; while last week he released 'Right Where I Needed You' – the first of 14 tracks from his debut album that's due in December 2022.
Lucas' first new music since 2021 single 'Lost', 'Right Where I Needed You' is a personal tale about losing his Aunty and Grandma a week apart, and the emotional strength he received from his partner that strengthened their relationship.
"Buyin' that electric guitar in 2020 set me on a new journey, firing a new passion and finding a new sound," Lucas says, commenting on the path he's taken to take his music to the next level.
"Frontin' a band is something I've always admired and now it's part of my life. I've got a heck of a lot to learn and many new skills to develop – but with so many talented people around me and in the local scene, I'm consistently inspired and motivated to put in the work.
"Writin' songs and playing in a band feels so right and I consider myself bloody fortunate to have the opportunity to work on these skills for a living."
Catch Lucas Day live at The Grace Emily (Adelaide) for the official single launch of 'Right Where I Needed You' on 30 July.
Who is... Lucas Day is an Adelaide-based roots artist that cut his teeth playing tunes to half-cut punters in front bars across Australia. After a five-year stint as a cruise ship muso, Lucas dived headfirst into his solo career finally fronting a band and releasing tunes from his back catalog of original songs.
I sound like... A uniquely genre-bending combination of some of my favourite artists. My acoustic tunes draw inspiration from Paul Kelly's storytelling and Pinegrove's clever lyricism, whereas the band channels the likes of John Mayer, Hozier, and even a bit of Foo Fighters to spice things up.
My first gig was... At a local beachside bar, playing some covers during my then singing teacher's set breaks, back when I was in high school. It was tough to get through three tunes when I was just starting out.
When did you settle on your artistic name, and was it a unanimous decision... At birth, when my folks decided I'd make a pretty good Lucas.
In the studio I usually... Somehow strike the perfect balance between getting sh.t done and taking breaks for Bahn Mi and banter.
If I could tour with anyone... Gang Of Youths or Pinegrove. They're two of my biggest inspirations musically, and seeing them play live is such an incredible experience. I would learn so much from them about writing, performing and just life in general.
Social media is... A double-edged sword. I love being able to connect with people who enjoy what I do and connect with artists I admire, but it can definitely take its toll, and take up way more time than I'd like to give it.
My favourite app at the moment is... I do a lot of driving to and from gigs, so Spotify or Google Maps get the most love. I'm really digging The Huberman Lab podcast to understand my physiology and RedHanded for some true crime stories.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I tried doing the call and response section of one of my tunes at a festival's 10am slot. The 'response' isn't quite the same when you're playing to the sound tech and a few early-risers.
Life on the road can be... Something to add to the to-do list. I've been keeping things local for the last while, but I'm looking forward to hitting the road in the near future – watch this space.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... The largest bowl you can possibly find, filled to the brim with Lindt chocolate. Not sponsored. Please sponsor me Lindt.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Getting t-boned by an elderly man while driving to a gig. Luckily everyone was okay, but my poor Mitsubishi Magna wagon was a write off (RIP) AND I missed the gig!
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be your spokesperson... The Duffer Brothers – I wanna get a song on a Netflix show.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Cardiff, Wales so I could live near my older brother, Ben (and more importantly, his dog, Tilly).
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Maggie Beer, Gordon Ramsey and Nigella Lawson to whip up the feast of my dreams! Also, the cooking expertise I'd get from watching them at work would be next-level.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Pan-fried gnocchi with garlic butter and sage OR a hearty bowl of minestrone soup with some toasted crusty bread.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? BIG lover! I live on a property with two dogs and two highland cows and they're hands-down my favourite housemates.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Elixir phosphor bronze 12s – for my acoustic – and 10s – for my electric. Fresh strings > fresh bevs any day.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... 2020? I'm more of an outdoor-exercise guy, which has been fully solidified since COVID came around.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Clearing out old food from the fridge.
Do you have any phobias... No big phobias, but thinking about the tiny eyebrow-dwelling bugs for too long wigs me out.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? My housemate said she'd love to watch me on 'Masterchef'. Mainly because I'd get super stressed though.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? That same housemate has a thing about freaky mushrooms – they gross her out. I'd definitely get a bowlful of the most alien-looking fungi and throw them her way during a TikTok Live.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Can't go past Hungry Jacks for a Rebel Whopper aka Reb Whop! Full disclaimer: I live in an area which is bordering on rural, so it's the only option at midnight. Even full-er disclaimer: I'd probably still go there regardless.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Little bit of Gene from 'Bob's Burgers', a little bit of Steve from 'Stranger Things' and a little bit of Professor Farnsworth from 'Futurama'.
Last show you binge-watched? The latest season of 'Stranger Things'. Loved it – the dialogue kept me intrigued, the villain (Vecna) kept me guessin' and the music strung the whole thing together.
