From the dusty side streets and tall, broken buildings of Newcastle, New South Wales, here comes The Understudy. She is a songwriter with a guitar and a hat she never wears. She is young (maybe 24), and occasionally sullen. I've heard people like the songs she sings; sometimes they sing along.
In August 2007 The Understudy hopped a plane, a train and a bus to Ithaca, NY. Here she conspired with the inimitable IY (Dana Billings, Chris Frank, Nate Terepka & John Zinder) to make the debut LP 'What Not To Think While In Love'. It was recorded in attics, basements and once-were-flophouses, some on the very same streets where Nabokov wrote Lolita. Made in just three weeks 'What Not To Think While In Love' siphons the trash-talk and whispers, folk-tales and silhouettes of a year gone slightly mad into twelve shortish stories of guilt, voyeurism and innocence lost. It will be out a little bit later in the year.
The first single 'Fine Young Folk' - a pretty little pastiche of nose-thumbing and reckless youth - recently made it onto the wireless. That was really nice, and so to celebrate, this March there is a tour on the East Coast. Check an internet nearby for dates, and to procure 'Fine Young Folk' for free.
The Understudy has enjoyed airplay on JJJ, 2NUR, 4ZzZ and ABC1233. She's shared the stage with such lovelies as Novi Split (USA), Bridget Martin (USA), Laura Jean, Pikelet, and The Seabellies.