Description
Seeckts (pronounced Seeks) has been writing, recording and performing as a solo artist since 2010, self-producing and releasing three EPs during this time. Each pressing of these EPs has long since sold out, but are still available online. Since the start of 2017 he has been hosting a weekly Americana-based radio program on community radio station 94.7 The Pulse called Last Night In Town. Through the program he has been able to promote, support and share the amazing work of his peers within the Australian alt-country community, broadcasting over 85 shows so far.
Honing his sound through bars and stages across Australia and North America, and with appearances at Queenscliff Music Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival and Melbourne’s Poison City Weekender under his belt, Seeckts has also supported many fine Australian artists including The Teskey Brothers, Archie Roach, You Am I, Tex Perkins, Cash Savage and Raised By Eagles, and international luminaries including Joe Pug, Big Country, Courtney Marie Andrews and Deer Tick.
The Heart Of The City, recorded by Roger Bergodaz (James Ellis & The Jealous Guys, Raised By Eagles, Freya Josephine Hollick) at Union Street Studios, was successfully crowd funded by Seeckts using a Pozible campaign in just 3 days. Seeckts smashed past his first target to almost double his initial goal by the end of the 30 days, allowing him to press the album on vinyl. The production of his debut album was able to blossom and bloom thanks to the strong support of his grassroots supporters.
Trying to capture the energy and passion of his live shows, a majority of the album was recorded live in only 2 days, with a backing band consisting of Sean McDonnell on electric guitar/slide, Matt Dietrich on bass and Mark McLeod on drums and percussion. The versions of the songs Houselights and Moonlight Creek which can be heard on The Heart Of The City are the first takes of each song. The remaining overdubs, including additional instrumentation and vocals were later added to the album by Seeckts and also from the following guest musicians. Golden Guitar nominee Gretta Ziller (backing vocals on Thunder and Rain, Sirens and I’m Your Queen), Nathan Barrett (backing vocals on Thunder and Rain and Old Blood), Kat Chish from The Ramshackle Army (violin on Moonlight Creek and I’m Your Queen) and Rory Millar from The Mojo Corner (harmonica on Whiskey Drunk and All Night, Hold Tight).
The Heart Of The City features all the qualities that make Nathan Seeckts a standout artist in the Australian Americana scene; his ability to craft engaging stories of love and loss, his combination of alt-country and folk, and his commanding and indelible voice - equal parts gravel and passion.