Baring her soul on the page & in song

ARIA Hall of Famer and revered multi-platinum singer songwriter Kasey Chambers has unveiled an exciting suite of forthcoming new material – kicking off with the announcement of her book Just Don’t Be A Dickhead (HardieGrant Books), the material informing and inspiring her new album Backbone.

“I am beyond excited to be releasing it along with a brand-new album,” Kasey said. “The book is a collection of stories and experiences from my life that I’ve learnt from over the years. Some from humorous, embarrassing moments, some from deep, heartfelt memories that taught me unlikely things to consistently draw on along the way.”

October 1 is the national release date for the book, with her 13th album Backbone set to be unveiled on October 4.

Just Don’t Be a Dickhead will be released in hardback, ebook and audiobook and is built on the foundations of her upbringing that has always seen Kasey trust her gut, stick to her values and learn some hard truths, all the while trying to live by the best advice she’s ever received: just don’t be a dickhead.

“I am so keen (and a little bit scared) to share these two real and honest representations of my creative soul, along with the inspiration I’ve found in unexpected places throughout my unique life,” Kasey said.

Keith Urban wrote the foreword for her debut novel and critical acclaim has already come Kasey’s way for this new project.

“This ‘born of the dirt-think on your feet-no bullshit way of being’ that Kasey shares through her life experiences in her book helps you not only navigate life but informs how you treat others as well. Sometimes it’s the most simple truisms that light the way for us. – who knows, maybe there was an 11th commandment? and it simply stated ‘Just Don’t Be A Dickhead’,” Urban wrote, as he encapsulated Kasey’s book, while Aussie music star Paul Kelly said it was ‘a raw, honest and hilarious book, full of great stories and hard won wisdom. Unmistakably Kasey.’

To enhance the readers’ experience, QR codes appear throughout the book to take them to the story’s correlating song. Readers can experience the book and the album the way Kasey wrote it, together. The audiobook also delivers a unique listener experience that includes Kasey reading and performing songs.

Never one to shy away from home truths, introspective storytelling and unfiltered honesty, Chambers’ distinctive brand of writing weaves through both the musically-versatile Backbone and the thematically-versatile Just Don’t Be A Dickhead.

Pressing play on the self-produced Backbone will take listeners on a journey through not only where Chambers has been over the years, but where she’s at right now.

Chambers enlisted some of the usual suspects to play on Backbone – her dad and guitarist Bill Chambers, her guitarist Brandon Dodd and long time bassist Jeff McCormack.

In a surprise twist, however, two first-timers also joined the fold in the studio: guitarist Sam Teskey, of The Teskey Brothers, and American drummer Brady Blade – who has drummed for Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and the Dave Matthews to name only a few.

“Good and bad, this album is who I am,” Kasey said. “I worked with my favourite musicians, and I sang about every beautiful, joyous, embarrassing and tough thing I’ve gone through. Everything that’s gone into making me this person. Even before anyone has heard this album or read the book, I feel like I’ve achieved something special.”