Martin Frawley - The Wannabe '2023

Tracks list

“Workin’ all day, trying to forget about the old me.” Like
most of us, Martin Frawley is busy trying to work himself out. He lives
alongside the long shadow of his late dad, musician and songwriter Maurice
Frawley, a cultural icon of the Australian underground and collaborator of Paul
Kelly, Tex Perkins and Mick Thomas. 

Most of Martin’s 20s were spent writing and playing songs in locally
beloved Melbourne band Twerps – a collection of pals who were on the
forefront of the city’s jangle pop renaissance. A few albums, US tours
and band rotations under its belt, Twerps split up in 2018 and Martin turned his
compass towards a solo project. His first album, Undone at 31 (2019), was a bit
of a reckoning; a wild ride through the wreckage of both a band and longterm
romantic break up. His new album The Wannabe is a personal, cheeky and, at
times, self-depreiciating collection of songs unpacking the reality of finding
his way as an adult without his dad around, and ultimately falling back in love
with life, music and someone new.

Martin and his band – friends Dan Luscombe (The Drones), Steph Hughes
(Boomgates, Dick Diver), Nik Imfeld (Tyrannaman) and Dan Kelly – had
heaps of fun recording The Wannabe in Melbourne. The title track is a
particularly spicy take on an entertainment industry that seems to give more
shits about marketing than music. The album is a bit of an emotional tour, from
anger and derision, through to comedy, through to deep and honest love.
It’s positive with a lot of sadness. Not unlike Martin himself. 

As well as the guitar, Martin had some fun playing the piano on this record. The
technical term is ‘multiinstrumentalist’ but Martin’s more
of a musical explorer of sorts. No one is exactly sure how these things work
– if Martin was born into music or if it was born into him, but it
doesn’t really matter. Music is what he loves. It’s what he does.
It’s not about the industry or about success – not anymore.
It’s about the freedom of creating songs on his own terms, and trying to
let go of the feeling he has something to prove: to his dad, to his critics, and
to himself. And while he’s not sure he’ll ever fully shake that
feeling, he’s at least relaxing and having a bit of fun doing it.

Like his dad, Martin has a reputation as a ‘musician’s
musician’. He hosts a pretty sporadic podcast Dive For Your Memory, where
he has fast and loose chats with musicians while doing a deep dive into their
musical inspirations and canon. He and his fiancé Lauren also make wine under
the label El’More Wines, named after the farm and small town where his
dad grew up. It’s all come a bit full circle, really. 

All Songs written by Martin Frawley except "Given Everything" (Maurice
Frawleyley/Charlie Owen).

The Martin Frawley Band:
Martin Frawley - Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
Steph Hughes - Drums/Vocals
Nik Imfeld - Bass/Vocals
Dan Luscombe - Guitar/Organ
Dan Kelly - Vocals

Tracklist:
1.01 - Martin Frawley - This Is Gonna Change Your Mind (3:39)
1.02 - Martin Frawley - The Wannabe (3:20)
1.03 - Martin Frawley - True Blue (2:37)
1.04 - Martin Frawley - Lola (4:37)
1.05 - Martin Frawley - Heart In Hand (3:08)
1.06 - Martin Frawley - Proud (3:35)
1.07 - Martin Frawley - Assumptions (2:33)
1.08 - Martin Frawley - Slip Away (4:14)
1.09 - Martin Frawley - I Wish Everyone Would Love Me (2:54)
1.10 - Martin Frawley - Given Everything (4:35)

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