How Tony Abbott Inspired The Anecdote's Debut Album

The "fire-spirited acoustic marriage of cello, trumpet, percussion and soaring vocals," that is The Anecdote is the result of "friendship and ongoing collaboration". Singer/guitarist Andrew Darling explains, "Michael our cellist, and I have played together in many bands of widely differing styles. His wife Leanne started jamming with us. We've played many festivals, toured, done some great supports, and now we're launching our debut album."

On their record Carved Upon The Air "rather than [have] an overt 'theme', there is an emotional continuity to the album. The music explores how we are in our isolation and in our beauty, and tries to find the place where these often opposing states of being meet as necessary companions. It celebrates the beauty in our pain," muses Darling, who adds that Tony Abbott provided great inspiration. "He inspired much creativity all around the country. Our song Exiled was written for those who contributed to dreaming (or nightmaring) up the atrocity that is Australia's current offshore detention asylum seeker policy, and for all those who have suffered, despaired, self-harmed and died under its uncaring hands."

"The album was recorded over two-and-a-half years, during which Leanne and Michael, two thirds of our trio, had a baby. We basically dealt with this by proceeding very slowly! Fortunately the beds of the tracks had been recorded, and we were doing brass and string arrangements, and mixing, by this time. The songs span [an] almost 20-year period, containing experiences from across my whole adult life. Songwriting becomes a beautiful way of keeping your history alive."