Formed in 1994, Something For Kate have taken their place as a prime mover within the Australian rock landscape.
Never keen to rest on their laurels, lead singer Paul Dempsey says it's time to get back in the studio. “We are working on a new Something For Kate record. We've been working on it for a while now, but there has been so many interruptions over the past 12 months with other projects.
"The first half of this year, we're hoping to really knuckle down and finish what we've been working on, getting back to the studio around the middle of the year.
“The [last] album was 2013, we toured a lot behind that album. In 2014, it was our 20th anniversary so we did a big tour of the country. In 2015, I made my second solo album and then I was touring that for the next year or two.
“Then I ended up doing this stuff with David Bowie's band and I travelled a lot with them. It's crazy; we haven't made an album for six years, but it feels like we've been ridiculously busy. We need to start saying no to these other projects for awhile and just finish this record.”
Now entering their 25th year of performing, the band are enjoying each other more than ever. “It's definitely more fun and definitely easier,” Paul says.
“Because for 15 years, we were still figuring stuff out. Ever since I did my first solo record, toured with a different backing band and then lived overseas, when we got back together [and] went out on tour, it just felt different. We all felt way more relaxed about what we were doing and more confident.
“After a certain amount of time, you stop worrying about what everyone else thinks; you feel like you've carved out your niche and you can just do your thing.
"It's just experience and getting older as people, feeling more relaxed; it makes the whole thing better. We've learnt to have a lot more fun doing it the way we wanna do it.”
Something For Kate will play a number of select dates upcoming. “For our show, we haven't finalised our set list yet. At the Australian Open [Melbourne], we threw in a few songs that we haven't played in a while.
"We're going through the records and trying to pick out some stuff that hasn't been played in a few years. So a bit of everything, possibly some new stuff. We'll see.”
Then there is the Concert For Kate benefit show in Sydney, where Paul will be doing a solo set.
“I understand Kate's [Stewart, You Am I's former manager] relationship with You Am I, who we are close friends with. I didn't even give it a second thought when they asked me to help out for a great cause, to help Kate – it was a no brainer. A few years ago, our guitar player, John, was diagnosed with a brain tumour and we did a similar thing.”
Written by Taylor Smith
Something For Kate 2019 Tour Dates
Sat 16 Feb - Badlands Bar (Perth)Sat 2 Mar - Beer InCider Experience @ Melbourne Showgrounds
Sat 9 Mar - Beer InCider Experience @ Brisbane Showgrounds
