In the last 10 years alone, Paul Kelly has produced nine studio albums, one live record, several compilations and many more collaborations. But now, the Australian music icon has announced he needs a break.
Speaking to Rolling Stone AU/NZ backstage at BIGSOUND last week, Kelly – who recently landed the No. 1 Australian album with the deluxe version of his latest album, Seventy – said he wants to take some time off when reminded just how big his output has been in recent years.
“I have made a lot of records. I want a break,” he said.
“The last two records and then the touring with it… when I put out records in the ’80s and ’90s, you make the record, you give it to the record company, and they just deal with it. But these days, you make the record, a lot of the work you have to do, artists have to do themselves.
“All the work that it involves and touring, so, I need a break. I’m planning to have next year as a complete break from touring. If I write, I write, but I’m not sort of setting myself to write anything. I don’t have any deadlines,” he continued.
“It’s funny you mention it because I think maybe I’ve put out too much music, you know? I think sometimes either people can get sick of you or else they miss you. I think just leave it, have a little gap for a while.”
Outside of an intimate show late last month in Kings Cross and a gig in Brisbane before BIGSOUND last week, Kelly has no more upcoming shows booked.
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In the same conversation, Kelly also spoke about AI in music, having discussed songwriting during his BIGSOUND “In Conversation”.
“I don’t think there’s anything like this that I can compare it to… I think we need some caution. I think it can be dangerous,” he told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “We don’t know whether it’s gonna be good or bad. I guess I’m a bit of a watcher with these things.
“It’s made me appreciate playing live, you know? I sort of think about it more when we’re playing shows. I think, ‘You can’t AI this, playing music with people.’ It’s not just you playing to these people, these people are connecting to the people around them. There’s a whole sort of ecosystem going on there that AI can’t touch.”
