Clare's Open Letters

2nd November 2004

The Songwriters' Life: it's early days yet.

Once, on a Tuesday in 1999, two-thirds the way through his class lecture at Melbourne University, local poet Grant Caldwell told us his secret to life. “There are only two rules” he said. “One – there are no rules. Two – always maintain the right to contradict yourself”… read more »

3rd July 2004

Songwriter Crushes.

Ah yes, the old “Songwriter Crush”…do you know what I’m talking about here? I first heard this ‘state’ described in the year 2000 by a Vancouver-based singer/songwriter called Bruce. Perched atop of a long bar-stool, his bright red hair sparking… read more »

2nd June 2004

Da Wintrrr

We’re only two days in and already I’m moping ‘Sweet Llllord save me from this winter!’. It’s a well-documented fact that although I adore winter’s book-ends (autumn and spring), I’ve never really been very good friends with winter. It’s always such a… read more »

27th April 2004

Ah - home sweet little old home.

We’ve had a wonderful tour, which is nearly at it’s end (just a week of shows in W.A. and then it’s back in the ‘writers room’ to get moving on the new songs). Machine Translations were a hoot to travel with: a good bunch who made the tour a real pleasure… read more »

31st March 2004

My latest shows, our forthcoming tour, and the Wisdom of Rex Hunt.

Here we go, here we go, here we go….

‘Tis the eve of our historically significant Autumn Bells Tour (significant to our personal biographical histories because this is our first ever national tour and all). How are you all? This is going to be a… read more »

4th March 2004

How much to share with strangers.

Hi there,
This week I’ve done more interviews than I’ve ever done in my life. One of the recurring questions has been ‘Your open letters are very, um, open. Does this ever worry you?’ Hmm, it didn’t before you brought it up…let me think about that one….. read more »

18th February 2004

It's Nearly Autumn Bone

The leaves on our liquid amber tree have begun reddening already. It feels like autumn yet there are still several weeks of summer left…. read more »

29th January 2004

A Month of Firsts

How you doing?

Let me begin by thanking you for the roll of autumn-bone pre-orders we’ve had: it’s bloody encouraging and believe you-me, we appreciate it. Thank-you…. read more »

1st January 2004

My non-resolution

I’ve had one of the sweetest New Years Eve’s ever. Simple really: me and my closest just dragged our old radiogram out of the music- room, pulled out the old records and sat up smooching until midnight…. read more »