Nik Hamby

It was pretty hectic through June, with lots happening behind the scenes.  It's been good.   I've been working on a few songs - and had an opportunity to put one of my older songs ( "Song Dreaming" from 2020 ) in a US playlist.  As a result of that inclusion, I've had 850 more listeners than what I'd normally have!  It's a fair whack of new people listening to my music!   The entry deadline for the Australian Songwriting Contest was extended.  I entered six songs before the original May deadline and decided to submit an extra two for the new deadline.  The two additions were "Song Dreaming" (contemporary) and "Going Home" (open).

I was on annual leave for several weeks in May, holiday-ing at home for the most part.  It was a chance to relax, re-set and catch up on a few missions. One mission was to enter six songs in the 2025 Australian Songwriting Contest.  It's my fifth time entering and I wanted to put in a cross-section of my work, so chose songs that fit six different categories.   I chose to enter my latest three songs - "Till It's Gone" (Ballad), "What Am I Worth" (Spiritual) and "Beat Of The Clock" (Folk).  These three songs are all different in the way they sound, their structure and subject matter.   I also entered two earlier songs. "Mona" is a good fit for Comedy/Novelty and "Going Home" went into the Australian category.  I still like my older songs.  I produce and perform newer songs but when listening to my older stuff, I feel they remain relevant.   "Breathe, Miss Sunshine" made it to the Top 30 list previously, when I first ent...

This April update is late - cos I've been on annual leave, holidaying at home and having a great time!  So.  April was a time of learning new technology.  I had another gig at Banshee's and bought a tablet beforehand, to run an app as a memory prompt for my songs.  Sounds easy enough but as with anything new, it took a while to get everything functioning smoothly before the show.   As much as there was new technology, I was also working on something older - a 20-year-old bargain guitar that I picked up recently.   It was an acoustic with a solid spruce top and solid (not ply) mahogany back and sides.  Cort's brand which retails at around $1,000.00 new, though doesn't usually have great re-sale value.   I cleaned it, fixed a dent, installed a new nut and saddle, removed the pins and refinished everything.  It looked great when I was done.   I sold it for $200.00 cash - and another guitar.  The bonus guitar is a sm...

March is rushing along!  After prepping for Cyclone Alfred and possible flooding, I holed up in my studio for a couple of days to produce "Till It's Gone" - which released on 26 March.   I'm pleased with how it turned out.  It's another breakup song but also a breakthrough one.  How is it different? This is my first released song where I've written directly about me, rather than me writing about someone else.   Have a listen at the link below.  And praps check out some of my other releases - now 46 in total.  My other focus this month has been prepping for my Live and Local gig at Banshee's on 13 April.  Check the posters in the sidebar and on the Live tab for all the details! "Till It's Gone" prompted the theme of my setlist - songs about relationships not going well, for various reasons.  I've had a few of those. 

February was another busy month, which kicked off with a studio photo shoot down in Lake Macquarie.  Awesome images created while having so much fun - thanks, Naomi! Music for World Peace released "What am I Worth".  I performed guitar and vocals, then Taylor Sappe produced the track. It's a song about the refugee experience from an Australian perspective.  Check it out via the Spotify link above. I did a half hour performance for Giving Gigs, which was scheduled for a Friday night slot (in USA and Canada's time zone).  The recording has close to 400 views, so far.  How good is that?! What else happened?  I was up at Banshee's for two open mic nights this month.  Always a great enviroment to be part of and nice to catch up with nice people. Stevie T continues to play my songs on his Monday night Songwriters Showcase.  Tune in to 101FM Radio Logan between 10.15 and 10.45 pm (AEST) for a listen. Thanks, Steve! COMING UP! Highlight your calendars!...

What a great start to the New Year!  "Beat of the Clock" was released on 2 January, by Music for World Peace Records - and they'll release "What am I Worth?" in early February.  Pretty good, eh?! I've been up at Banshee's twice testing a new vocal processor, which was a Christmas gift.  There's also been some talk of me doing a Live and Local performance later this year.  Stay tuned! I happened to be in Guyra at the time of their Lamb and Potato Festival, so played a few songs as part of a songwriters showcase.  All impromptu but great fun.   On the 27th, Stevie T played "Drifting on the Window Seat" during his Monday night Songwriters Showcase on 101FM Radio Logan. Thanks, Steve! The month finished in Newcastle.  I was down visiting friends and got to play a few songs at The Rogue Scholar's open mic, hosted by Eddy Rockefeller.  It was an entertaining night. A different format to others I've attended but still community, with inclu...