WITH a new single under his belt, James Blundell is ready to hit the stage at Tamworth's Courthouse Hotel tonight.
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The making of the single and ensuing album draws on all the benefits of modern technology.
"I'm really happy with it," Blundell said.
"It's a quantum leap into the new age."
This will be Blundell's 11th studio album. In the past, he'd get the band together and they'd rehearse and then record an album within a six- to eight-week period.
This time around, he's recorded in a variety of places, including his Bedford bus, affectionately known as Betsy, his woolshed and a room in his house.
Blundell then sends the tracks to a producer in Quebec.
The musicians, including Tamworth's Lawrie Minson, are spread around the world and include Bec Lavelle, who has done harmonies from her home in Germany.
He's taking his time, listening to the tracks and then refining them as he goes.
"It's a really luxurious process and I'm really happy with the result," Blundell said.
"The first single is very simple and the album is being made as we go. I've got a bag of 40 songs sitting around. As the process evolves, the next song gets recorded."
He's done three so far and plans to release four or five singles in the first half of the year.
"I want to build a body of work up," Blundell said.
"The album becomes those singles and new tracks. I have such liberty and it's so simple. It's a bit like playing again I'm having fun with it. It's such a breakthrough."
The first single and video, Hills of Brisbane, have been released. It and other new songs will be a feature of Blundell's show tonight at the Courthouse Hotel.
"It's going to be a bit of a pub party. I'm going to go back as far as Kimberly Moon. There is a lot of music there," he said.
After Tamworth, Blundell will hit the road for an Australia Day gig and other touring, amidst recording more singles.