Nik Hamby

I've been digging up older songs and putting them into my repertoire to play when busking or up at Banshees. I've continued to go busking once a week and am always encouraged by those that sit down to listen, clap, cheer etc. I was driving home from visiting family early in the month when I was offered a gig in Ipswich for the IPSARI event: “The Rusty Underground” - where several speakers responded to the question: What makes great art?  It was a fantastic night.  I played original songs and did some guitar improvistions.  There were great comments from lots of artists.  I was feeling good and buzzing afterwards. IPSARI was founded in 2023 with the goal of advocating for and strengthening the arts in Ipswich.  The members are all practicing artists, many of whom have exhibited extensively in local and regional galleries, and facilitated workshops and events that engage and inspire the wider community. Who knows what August will bring.  One step at a time .....

June started off very quickly and was busy all the way through.  I started busking in Queen Street Mall (Brisbane), after I acquired my busking licence. I decided to do one day a week, though the actual day is flexible.   There are lots of open spaces where the music would be just washed away with the wind and other noise.  I found a space that has good aucostics in between the buildings.  It's a small area where the people just walk through, at the most just 10-12 metres from me.   My guitar is quite loud and I'm pretty loud, too.  I got a new guitar - a Taylor Koa GS Mini and it really suits for busking in a smaller area - plus it's much easier ergonomically, when playing for a period of time.   I found my limit as far as singing and how long I can play guitar before the nerves on my fingers get a bit funny (and suddenly I can't hit some notes).  And that's when I think that's it for me. I can do about 40 songs, maybe a few more -...

May started up with a lot of time playing on my newish guitar. Put 13’s on and the Taylor mini came to life. I used it for the Booval Fair Community Art Gallery reopening with wonderful comments and lots of encouragement.  I applied for a Brisbane Busking License and I was successful in the audition. I'll be busking in the Queen Street Mall for the first time tomorrow (Tuesday, 2 June). I was terminated from my employment and I feel like I am semi-retired. My health has been awesome (praps cos I'm no longer working). I had cancer removed. I was discharged from the local Diabetic Clinic due to my stellar results. I don’t need eye injections anymore. How good is that?! We went to a few shows in May and I did a few Open Mics at Banshees. What else happened? I went to an APRA/AMCOS seminar and reconnected to the organisation and some local songwriters. Made some new friends too.  Its felt like a wild whirlwind and June is looking to be full also. All the best for you all.

April.  There was a bit more skin cancer stuff - as you can see from all my bandaids!  Everything's healed nicely ... I made a hanging board for my "upstairs guitar".  The "upstairs guitar" is actually becoming a favourite for playing downstairs, also. What else?  I applied for a Brisbane busking licence and have been preparing for that audition. I've been re-establishing a connection to my older songs in preparation for busking.   I put in an application for the Maleny Music Festival, which takes place in November.  I was invited to participate again in the Lord Mayor's Seniors Cabaret.  Something else to look forward to. "Till It's Gone" is still being played on online radio.  I've had a few songs included in Martina Dörner playlists on Spotify.  "Walk My Way" was an inclusion at the start of April and "Going Home" will be played this weekend.   (I stopped playing "Walk My Way" about three years ago due t...

There wasn't much marching in March. There were lots of medical appointments as the Doc is taking some time off.  Six months of my stuff has been crammed into two months. I also had some skin cancer issues and more work trauma. Music creation dropped off but I have focused on revisiting some favourites from the 70s and 80s. Playing these older songs is refreshing and I even played one at Banshees. During the past couple of months I’ve dropped a few of my songs with some online radio stations. My latest songs “In Your Arms",  "Till It’s Gone and "You Always Said I Love You” have been regulars over that time and seemed to be regulars in a couple of their shows.  I'm looking at doing some production through April ...

Back in January I had an idea for a project.  I wanted to create a video of me actually writing a song - showing my writing process.  (An example of one process for one song, because I use lots of different processes when writing). I started recording on 16 January.  At that stage I had two chords and not much else.  A few days later, when walking my dog, I flipped those two chords.  The chord change was a key pivot point.  A totally different song started to emerge. A few more days passed.  I was sitting in a carpark, waiting for my wife to have her chiro appointment, and a line came to me. That line was "fall in fantasy" even though there's nothing special about the carpark! Nearly a week later, I played the song during an online critique session.  I received great feedback.  There were suggestions of the bridge needing work though, which was a feeling I'd also had. I continued writing. The song was finished on 2 Februar...

I attended the Ipswich Art Awards in November and was inspired by the musical band playing. The music downstairs and the art displayed upstairs were so separated though - and felt at odds to each other.  After that night, I suggested that I could do some music for the opening of ArtsConnect's "Off the Wall" exhibition in the Ipswich Community Gallery.  "Off the Wall" ran from 12 to 21 December.  Over 40 local Ipswich-based artists and craftspeople showcased their work. The exhibition included paintings, woodwork, glass artworks, photography, mixed-media and craft works. Almost all artworks were for sale, including work by award winning artists. I put together some music that I thought would be in sync with the art. I chose some easy jazz/blues/funk backing tracks that I could improvise around, using my guitar playing to change the dynamics of the music during the opening event. The attendees were very encouraging and the project was a great afternoon.  I subsequ...

Photo Credit:  Naomi Nichols Back in August I took part in a master-class for the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Seniors Spectacular cabaret - and was then chosen to perform at a showcase event in September.  I'd played "The Magician" for the master class, expecting to select a different song for the actual performance but that's not how things worked out. We were up early on the day to get to the venue for pre-show sound checks. There's a lot going on at the moment, so I was a bit concerned I'd struggle doing the performance but all went off quite well - and I received some excellent feedback afterwards (for the song and my outfit)! What else has been happening? I wrote a love song in August, which I released on 29 September.  Have a listen at the link below - it's getting some good engagement. There's fantastic news to finish off the month.  I entered eight songs in the Australian Songwriting Competition earlier this year. I woke to lots of emails yesterd...

Photo Credit:   I Heart Songwriting Club (used with permission) July began just like many other months but a change was coming. I did a couple of open mics at Banshees, where there was an easy feel through my songs and a new level of encouragement. Highlight of the month was being accepted to attend the I Heart Songwriting Club / Wild Mountain Songs Retreat, held on the edge of the Border Ranges National Park .  What an amazing experience!  I was one of nine songwriters in attendance.  During the weekend I collaborated with six of those other attendees, writing five different full songs.  I threw myself into the projects - supporting the other writers with music and lyrics.  We created some awesome songs together.  It was a special way to celebrate another birthday and such a beautiful space to spend time.  There was a koala outside my window one night, glow worms beside the road each evening ... and I saw a mini glider.  All the food ...

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...

Hi All ...  It's 2025 tomorrow and I thought a catch-up would be nice. 2024 has been so busy with so many things.  I'm still working full time. Thank goodness.  I've been playing live consistently right through the year. I've done a couple of full shows and an online show.  I've written more songs - probably about 20, and I've released a few songs through 2024. There's been radio play, standard streaming and social media stuff.  I'm still focussed on the songs rather than the promotional aspects. Looking back I can see how much I have grown as an artist and a songwriter. My production skills have stagnated but I have a producer in the US, Taylor, who has been helping me out in this regard.  Looking forward into 2025, I am encouraged. I have a song release on 2 January and another in the pipeline. Both have been produced by Taylor and will be released on the Music for World Peace Label under contract.  I have another dozen or more songs I want to relea...

I was road-tripping all of September and most of October.  11,561 kilometres in 56 days.  Eight weeks of awesome!   There were many, many highlights but when I checked my emails at Mount Surprise, I'd received three from the Australian Songwriting Association - and each of those indicated I had been shortlisted in a category of the current Songwriting Competition!  The categories were specified but not the songs.  However, I know my songs as I only entered three:- Got No Place To Go (Folk) She Calls Me Back (Ballad) You Draw Blood (Rock/Indie) The next stage of judging is to choose the Top 30 Finalists, and these will be published on the ASA website before the end of October. The Top 10 Finalists are to be announced at the National Songwriting Awards, which will be held in Sydney on Thursday 28 November.

July has been very busy. I released two songs.  One was a rewrite of "She Calls Me Back" (previously titled "The Mountain"). The other was one that needed serious remix/mastering, which is now titled "Got No Place To Go".  (It was previously "No Place to Go").  I am very happy with both results. It's so liberating when you see clearly that you don’t need to follow the industry conventions. As an independent artist I'm not bound by any recording company regulations. Along with those two releases, I continued participating in the "I heart Songwriting Club" and I'm writing furiously again. On top of that I've had a week of birthday celebration with various trips to enhance those celebrations.  I’m still following on with my live performances. Still focussing on my local Banshees and I also did some songs at The Junk Bar.  I'm looking forward to an extended holiday through September and October so August preparations wi...

My latest release, "The Greater Prize - An Australian Olympic Story", came out on 19 June.  It's up on Spotify and all the usual platforms.   I've already played it live a few times.  Twice at Banshee's this month - at the Open Mic on the eve of it's release and then again on 22 June, when I stepped up to fill a spot after another artist was unable to perform.  I got the last slot and played 13 songs to an appreciative audience.  Made some new friends.  Great night! Mudgeeraba Show goers also heard the new song and some other favourites, cos I played a short session there over the weekend.  Have a listen to "The Greater Prize ..."  

I started the month with an Open Mic performance at Banshee's - and did another one around the 15th.  It was fun playing with Logan, the local drummer.  I'm sure there'll be other collaborations. After a three-year break, I re-enrolled in the online "I Heart Songwriting Club" and I’ve already written a few songs.   My previous enrolment yielded so many songs and I'm looking forward to crafting more this time around.   I've released two songs already this year and am preparing to release a third in June.  It's about Peter Norman, so fits well with the upcoming Olympics.  I'll post a link when it's up and running.  Hah!