MEMO Music Hall Sat 18 June 2022, 8pm

Searching For The Heart Of It All, the new album from Rob Snarski and His So-Called Friends marks a fresh approach to previous solo albums. Adding to Snarski’s infamous honey-laden voice, he’s asked some musician friends to loan their vocal talents to these brand new songs : Romy Vager [RVG], Rebecca Barnard [Rebecca’s Empire] and Kelly Day [The Broads] all sing lead, giving Rob a chance to gift his songs to some of his favourite Australian voices – leaving Rob to sing 7 of the 11 songs on Searching For The Heart Of It All.

Along with guest singers, there is an array of extraordinary musicians adding to the beauty of this album; Jack Howard [Hunters and Collectors] flugelhorn and trumpet, ‘Evil’ Graham Lee [The Triffids] pedal steel, Kiernan Box [Augie March] piano and organ, Rosie Westbrook on double and electric bass and Ben Wiesner on drums. Co-producing is his long-time collaborator, guitar-maestro, and humble assistant Shane O’Mara adding a delicate touch to these sprawling soundscapes.

The songs are both bold and intimate, subtle and bombastic, slow and swift. People, places, the past, the present, yesterday’s teardrops reshaped as today’s wonder – a metamorphosis.

Snarski said, “I wanted Searching For The Heart Of It All to be more like a playlist, a compilation … like one of those early Tarantino soundtracks where each song is a sonic surprise.

“To achieve the variety, I had to cast the net far and wide, asking my musician friends and colleagues to contribute not only instrumentally but vocally, hence the extended list of guest singers – Romy Vager (RVG) Gareth Liddiard (TFS) Peter Milton Walsh (The Apartments) Rebecca Barnard (Rebecca’s Empire) and Kelly Day (The Broads).

“The musicians – my So-Called Friends, bring a certain gravitas to the songs, they lift them up and carry them away.”

Searching For The Heart Of It All is an unprecedented piece of work from one of Australia’s finest song writers, a unique approach from a solo artist.

Rob Snarski is better known as the lead singer of The Blackeyed Susans, guest vocalist with The Triffids and The Go-Betweens : 16 Lover’s Lane and author of Crumbs from the Cake.

“One of the most sublime and expressive voices in Australian music. Rob Snarski’s songs, whether expressing matters of the heart or peering at the world the around him, unfailingly transport you to places that enrich us.”  – Jonathan Alley, 3TripleR

“Once upon a time, Rob Snarski’s gorgeous voice was high, lonesome and a little delicate. Over the years he has added a warm gravity to his singing and songwriting. Snarski deserves comparison to great artists such as Chris Wilson, Michael Nesmith and the early work of Van Morrison.” – Ross Gibson, Sydney Review of Books

TIMES: Doors 7.30PM, Showtime 8.00PM

TICKETS: $55/45/35+bf www.memomusichall.com.au

VENUE: MEMO Music Hall 88 Acland Street St Kilda

Video – Featuring Romy Vager from RVG on vocals
Elena – Rob Snarski on vocals
My Friend Too  – featuring Romy Vager from RVG on vocals