Fanny Lumsden Talks New Single, 2025 UK/Ireland Tour And More

Acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Fanny Lumsden returns with her first new music since 2023’s ARIA, AIR and Golden Guitar Award-winning album, Hey Dawn, unveiling an unexpected and totally glorious new single courtesy of her version of Gotye’s global hit, Somebody That I Used To Know, (featuring Kimbra). She very kindly took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us before her UK/Ireland tour commences:

 

When did you begin singing/songwriting?

I began singing when I was little – I was a born showpony ,so used to put on concerts for all my family members, growing up on the farm. I wrote (a terrible song) when I was about 10 or 11, and kind of dabbled through high school. I then had a break for a few years from music while I travelled and did a Rural Science degree at uni, and then kind of got back into it when I was about 20.

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

Probably my mum singing kids song to me to keep me from loosing it when I was about 3 years old whilst we mustered cattle in the bush (translation: rounded up cattle through the wilderness).

 

You have your new single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ originally by Gotye which is out now. What was the reason for recording that song?

We were asked to do our own version of it on a really great television program in Australia called Spicks and Specks. WE really loved the process and started playing it live, and thought it would be a fun thing to record our way.

 

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

The video was directed by myself and my husband Dan Stanley Freeman who plays bass in the band. I really just wanted to do a live playing video with my touring band (and the band that played on the song) that was quite simple, and let both the song and the landscape do all the talking. It was shot where I live and and its such a stunning location, and I loved the autumn colours in the air.

 

Where did you record the single and who produced it?

We recorded the single in Wagga NSW at Dale Allison studios and then everyone added their parts at home themselves before we sent the stems to our long term producer Matt Fell in Tasmania who mixed it. The Song was Mastered by William Bowden who also mastered our other albums however was significant because he won a Grammy for mastering the original for Gotye.

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

WE smashed out the recording pretty fast to be honest, we went in and did the all the vocals, harmonies, drums and bass in one evening, and then the rest of the band sent their parts across. Because we played it live we didn’t really have to deliberate too much on the parts.

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

I’m not a tech head and don’t really mind what we use gear wise, however I very much care about the sounds, so if we used a SM 58 in a tin shed and it sounded good id be happy. This song was all about capturing a clear alive feeling, but not labouring too much on the detail.

 

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

I think DIG from my album fallow would be my happiest especially live, as it has a dance that goes with it that everyone has been doing for 5 years at our live shows. It’s a great moment. Angriest… I am not sure I have any angry songs… maybe Bastards from my debut Small Town Big Shot? And Reflective, oh I have a lot of those… lets go with Grown ups from my album fallow.

 

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025?

Yeah we are working on a new release at the moment, in the same way. We are all over the place at the moment (I’m in Europe and the band are all over Aus) so we are each laying down our parts separately. Its not my favourite way to record, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I hope to leave the audience feeling like they just forgot about everything for an hour or two and felt safe to have a joyful silly time. To leave feeling connected to something bigger than themselves.

 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I love my guitar – its D18 martin guitar and I call it posh spice, I also have this beautiful old Ibanez nylon string from a share house once that’s all busted up but love how it plays. Five mics to sing on are DPA2028,

 

How do you look after your voice?

I take vocal health really seriously these days, as I do so many shows and im not a baby any more. I don’t drink alcohol on tour, I make sure I’m fit (workout regularly), I do vocal warm ups everyday (and cool downs sometimes), I steam my voice before (sometimes after) shows. I use in ear monitors and good mics so I don’t over sing. I don’t party in any way and try and get the most sleep possible (on tour all the time, with little kids with me).

 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I would love to write a score for Meg Masons Sorrow and Bliss, well I have a head start as when I was sent the novel from the publisher, she put a note in it saying that she had been listening to my record Fallow when she was writing it. So we are already halfway there. But its such a brilliant book in how she examines introspectiveness, and I love writing about that and creatine a soundtrack that doesn’t distract only enhances those feelings. That one or maybe Tom Lake would be fun.

 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

I grew up on a sheep and cropping farm in western NSW Australia 600km from any city. The closest ‘village’ was about 20km away and it in five words: Sparse. Dry. Very-small. Dusty. Hot.

 

Do you have any live dates in the UK/Europe planned for 2025/2026?

YES! I have one date left on the Paul Kelly EU tour in Dublin however my band and I have 22 dates in 28 days coming up.

25 Jul – Bolesworth TOGETHER AGAIN FESTIVAL 26 Jul- Leeds 27 Jul – Glasgow 31 Jul – Inverness Belladrum festival 1 Aug – Arisaig 2 Aug – Balquhidder 3 Aug – Arrochar, 6 Aug – Clonakilty – new show 7 Aug – Cork -sold out 8 Aug – Limerick 9 Aug – Galway 10 Aug – Dublin 12 Aug – Manchester 13 Aug – London

14 Aug – Bristol 15 Aug – Devon, Beautiful Days Festival sold out 16 Aug – Essex, Country Calling Festival 17 Aug – Brighton 20 Aug – York sold out 21 Aug – Cumbria Solfest 22 Aug – Kettering Greenbelt Festival 23 Aug – Lutterworth The Long Road Festival

AUS *(Arena tour w/ Paul Kelly + Lucinda Williams) 26 Aug – Perth* 29 Aug – Brisbane* 30 Aug – Sydney* 31 Aug – Gympie Muster 2 Aug – Hobart* 4 Aug – Adelaide* 6 Aug – Melbourne* – sold out 7 Aug – Melbourne* 5 Oct – Dashville NSW 10 Oct – Savannah in the Round QLD

 

Who is in your touring band?

My touring band for this UK includes my husband Dan on bass, (usually) my brother Tom on vocals, Drummer Riley, Electric guitarist Travis, Mandolin and fiddle and acoustic guitar and vocals by Pepi and then subbed my Marcus and keys by Thomas. Its going to be a lovely fun time.

 

What makes Fanny Lumsden happy and what makes you unhappy?

Playing to a beautiful, excited fun loving crowd and sharing a moment in time with them. Being n the farm, riding my horse, reading good books, walking in the bush (nature/wilderness), hanging with my kids doing all of the above. Basically good food, good music, good books, good people, good gigs, being in nature.

 

 

Feature Image Photo Credit: Darcy Bly

Stream/Download ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ here: https://fannyl.lnk.to/STIUTK

Fanny Lumsden is heading back to the UK and Ireland for 21 shows in July/August 2025.

Tickets for the shows are onsale now here: https://fannylumsden.squarespace.com/tourdates

For more information visit: https://fannylumsden.squarespace.com/

The tour will visit the following venues and festivals: 

Fri July 25         TOGETHER AGAIN Festival, Bolesworth

Sat July 26        Brudenell Club, Leeds

Sun July 27       Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow

Thurs July 31    Belladrum Festival, Inverness

Fri Aug 1           Arisaig Hall – Country Halls Tour, Arisaig, Scotland

Sat Aug 2          Balquhidder Hall – Country Halls Tour, Balquhidder, Scotland

Sun Aug 3         Three Villages Hall – Country Halls Tour, Arrochar, Scotland

Thurs Aug 7      Coughlans, Cork, Ireland

Fri Aug 8           Dolans, Limerick, Ireland

Sat Aug 9          Róisín Dubh, Galway, Ireland

Sun Aug 10       Whelans, Dublin, Ireland

Tues Aug 12      YES (PINK ROOM), Manchester

Wed Aug 13      Oslo, London

Thurs Aug 14    The Exchange, Bristol

Fri Aug 15         Beautiful Days Festival, Devon

Sat Aug 16        Country Calling Festival, Essex

Sun Aug 17       Komedia Studio, Brighton

Wed Aug 20      Vinyl Café, York (acoustic show)

Thurs Aug 21    Solfest, Cumbria

Fri Aug 22         Greenbelt Festival, Kettering

Sat Aug 23        The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth