From within the fertile Naarm/Melbourne music community, Kook Joey comes with her eagerly awaited second single, “I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time.” The captivating track bares sleepless nights of anxiety and self-reflection that have seen Joey bloom as an artist. Written by Kook Joey (Joanna Kozbanis) and produced with Tobias Priddle, this song masterfully encapsulates all her folk influences while also carrying a hint of 60s flair in a seamless and achingly beautiful composition.
Right from the first note, “I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time” draws in the listener to an intimate world of vulnerability. The piece captures that essence, during sleepless nights, when the thoughts of expectations unmet and the pressures we put on ourselves set the mind racing. Kooky Joey’s gentle, but intricate instrumentation lets her eloquent voice create an aural environment as enveloping as it is engrossing.
Well, Kook Joey wrote it for release to the pent-up pressure and expectations which usually come from within us: those that make us anxious at night. The song’s crux, of course, is a very solid reminder to put one’s needs and well-being above everything else.
“I sat down at home, and the lyrics just poured out quite easily. I didn’t fully know what I was writing about initially, but as I continued, it became an expression of my inner feelings about expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves.”
“I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time” was penned a few months back, but it was in the studio a song really took shape; however, through production, with Tobias Priddle blending his appreciation of 60’s music with Joey’s coastal and folky roots, the tune has truly come alive with timelessness and freshness–no small feat.
“I had an idea of where I wanted the song to go at the beginning, but really surrendered to the twists and turns the song took naturally as we were creating,” Kook Joey explains. “It was a blast making the song, and I’m very proud of how it’s turned out.”
Joanna Kozbanis, commonly referred to as Kook Joey, is an Australian singer-songwriter with an acclaimed soothing and calming approach in music. Though a deep-rooted folk musician, her recent numbers slightly bend towards the influences the latest exposed music has on the current generation. It was real folk in origin and yet somehow redolent of the 60s.
She’s eager to put together a piece that features serene melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Kook Joey wants the listener at peace with her music, introducing them into a world of thoughtfulness and ease with lots of Australia natural scenery influencing her. She tries to pour her inspirations into her songs, letting the mild waves of the ’60s folk-inspired tunes take over the souls of those who are listening.
“I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time” offers solace and understanding for those ever feeling the weight of their expectations. But with Kook Joey continually delving in and developing her musical horizons, we can only expect to hear more heartfelt songs beautifully crafted about the human experience.
Get ready for the hypnosis brought on by “I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time”: a song extending a reassuringly empathetic embrace to whomever feels they need reminding to be easy on themselves.
You can listen to ‘I’ll Wake Up Early Next Time’ below: