The Audreys Share ‘Secondhand Boots’, Their First Single in 10 years
The song ushers in a new chapter in the journey of The Audreys.
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Beloved South Aussie act The Audreys have returned from the music wilderness with contemplative single ‘Secondhand Boots’, their first new music in ten years.
The release of the country-twinged ballad coincides with The Audreys' 20th anniversary as a band and is produced and engineered by Ryan Martin John of Cactus Cactus Sound and mastered by MaderVMusic’s Alex Mader. Coates worked on the track with the band’s current lineup of guitarist Tom Kneebone, bassist Felicity Freeman and drummer Beej Barker.
Inspired by real live events experienced by vocalist Taasha Coates, ‘Secondhand Boots’ is a heartfelt wonder about making a terrible mistake and having to live with the consequences. An introspective ditty that swings between feelings of melancholy and contemplation, ‘Secondhand Boots’ is a welcome return from The Audreys.
“On our last tour we did a cover of ‘Lonely Girls’ by Lucinda Williams,” shares Coates, “and we love the way the track locks into a gentle but driving two-feel and sticks to it throughout the whole song. Our drummer Beej would stand at the front and play shaker, something that is surprisingly difficult to do well. So that song became a reference track for us when we were recording ‘Secondhand Boots’ because it was such a fave.”
Coates continues: “I’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life, but a few years ago I made an absolute doozy. This song is about that, and that’s pretty much all I can say without getting sued. They are my boots in the cover art. I bought them in Texas nearly 20 years ago, so they’d have some stories to tell. Sadly, they’re not actually the secondhand boots referred to in the song - those ones I threw away.”
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One of the greatest acts to come out of South Australia, The Audreys were founded by Coates and guitarist Tristan Goodall back in 2004. Since then the band have gone on to release four studio albums, with their debut Between Last Night and Us (2006) and follow-up releases When the Flood Comes (2008) and Sometimes the Stars (2011) all winning the ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album.
Gaining a reputation for their dynamic live performances, The Audreys soon found themselves not only touring Australia but the world, playing headline shows and festivals across North America, the UK and Europe.
Taking a break from the band in 2016, Coates shared her first solo record Taasha Coates and her Melancholy Sweethearts, before tragedy struck the band in 2022 when Goodall passed away after several years battling an illness.
“Tristan and I started The Audreys in 2004, so this year marks our 20th anniversary,” shares Coates. “Sadly, we lost beautiful Tristan in 2022, but before he passed he gave me his blessing to continue the band without him. I’ve been playing with my current band for about three years now and safe to say they’re the greatest group of musicians anyone could ever hope to work with.
Coates adds: “Losing Tristan really devastated me, he’d been my dearest friend for 25 years, but we remember and honour his legacy all the time on stage and in the studio. I’ve been healing through music.”
The release of ‘Secondhand Boots’ is both a celebration of The Audreys’ history and a step towards a new beginning, with Coates both excited and terrified for what’s to come.
“Putting out new music is always scary, but we have lovely fans who’ve been waiting patiently for something new from us for a while and I’m so thrilled that we can finally deliver for them. I hope they love it as much as we do.”
Listen to ‘Secondhand Boots’ above or stream it here.
