BATTS

Here’s 5 tracks as chosen by Melbourne singer-songwriter BATTS (Tanya Batt), ahead of the release of her debut album The Grand Tour on April 12.

[powerkit_row cols_nr=”2″][powerkit_col size=”7″]David Bazan – Virginia
This song is the first piece of Bazan’s work I heard. I got sent it whilst I was on tour in the UK and it became such a large part of my life. The album that this song is from is called Strange Negotiations and it has quickly become one of my all time favourite albums. His honesty within delivery is so damn incredible and the music just seems to create this brilliant additional narrative around it, I feel I get to enter these worlds when I listen to him. I am also obsessed with his mixes too. So damn good.

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Andy Shauf – Wendall Walker
Oh you’re joking, this is just absolutely ridiculous, do yourself a favour and go and watch the live version of this at the Drake Hotel, it will destroy you. Andy Shauf is a god damn genius in my eyes, his most recent album The Party is just brilliant. He pretty much writes entirely in fiction and that inspired me a lot throughout my record, it reminded me that was a thing I really loved to do as a child so I started getting back into it again. He seems very comfortable to just deliver a story, meanwhile all this magical instrumentation floats perfectly around it adding so many layers and dimensions.

Bon Iver – 33 “GOD”
Oh Bon, there is something so comforting in everything he does. I’m not sure if it’s just because his music has been with me for so long now that it calms me but I am in awe of this skill he has. The ability to control someones emotions like that, if I’m ever feeling overwhelmed or anxious my first point of call is normally his song “Wash” and it instantly calms me. The soundscapes on 22, A Million were so inspiring for me. This song also features another favourite song of mine by Paolo Nutini called “Iron Sky”, so naturally I’ve included it in this mixtape.

Sharon Van Etten – Your Love Is Killing Me
Christ, have you seen the music video for this song? So amazing. Sharon has a truly transcendent voice and I love the boundaries she pushes. She definitely inspires me to try new things and break down barriers and walls that maybe society has built around women and music. This song is a damn masterpiece.

Courtney Barnett – Nameless, Faceless
This is one of those songs I just can’t fathom how it was written. It’s just so good. Courtney’s writing and musical arrangements inspire me so much to better myself as a musician. She is fucking brilliant and this song continues to blow my mind. I think it’s really timeless and there is such a skill in writing something like that. Always a big fan of the bass tones in Courtney’s songs too.