Kasey Chambers tours new album and debut book

ONE of Australia’s most acclaimed artists, Kasey Chambers, is returning to the region on her debut book tour with her memoir Just Don’t Be a D**khead and Other Profound Things I’ve Learnt.

At her most heartfelt and honest, the book chronicles the lessons the artist has absorbed through her storied career and will be released alongside a new self-produced album, Backbone, due out on October 4.

The singer said she found all writing a bittersweet experience, and the process for the book began very organically.

“I started out just writing down a bunch of little lessons I’ve learnt as reminders for me to try to live by as much as I can. Each lesson turned into a little story I remembered, and after a while, I had a full collection that I felt I might want to share, like I feel after I record my songs.

“On one hand, it’s therapeutic and healing, satisfying and a relief when done, but the process can be confronting and exhausting.

“But I know I do my best work when I open up and let my vulnerability shine through. Writing the book and the album was uncomfortable and extremely freeing at the same time.”

In an integrated experience, QR codes throughout the book take readers to the correlating song on the album. Chambers also narrates and performs in the audiobook.

“I realised while writing the book that the new songs I was writing at the time improved the stories,” she said.

“The more songs I wrote, the more stories started coming up, and the more stories, the more songs.

“So, as you read, you can experience the creative journey in the way that I wrote it. The new album is like the soundtrack to my life, and the book is full of lessons along the way. They are both very connected.”

Chambers said she was excited and nervous about the tour.

“I’m not exactly sure what to expect, but I’ll have my guitar as my safety net to play a couple of songs. I love the area, and I have a lot of friends there. Most of my favourite stores are nearby, so my bank account always takes a hit when I visit.”

Of the life lessons she treasures, Chambers has another favourite to which she subscribes.

“It’s to ‘be brave enough to be vulnerable’. I’ve experienced so many beautiful things from vulnerability.

“When I’m trying to stay on top of shit, control everything and pretend I’m bulletproof, I try to remind myself that I have to be really brave to let go and let my vulnerability through, and often that’s where the real magic happens,” she said.

To hear Chambers discuss her book and sing a few songs on October 18, head to brunswickpicturehouse.com/kasey-chambers-18-oct