Having spent the last few years, paying her dues around Melbourne, supporting the Teskey Brothers across Europe, Australia and New Zealand and knocking socks off at SXSW, Harmony Byrne’s debut album Heavy Doors is a brilliant example of someone who has taken their time honing their craft and captured themselves at the top of their game.

While lead single ‘Loving You Is Lonely’ and B-side highlight ‘Good Idea’ exhibit Harmony’s alt-country songwriting chops and the more charming side to her diverse vocal style, louder moments such as ‘Sweeter Than Sugar’ and second single ‘Come Down vs Calm Down’ will blow you away, swapping the acoustic guitar for fuzzier electric guitars and psych-blues solos. Whilst delicately balancing between soulful alt-country, indie-rock and psychedelia for its ten song duration, Heavy Doors never feels disjointed as a result of its variation, with Harmony’s cunning songwriting and astonishing vocal performances tying the album together seamlessly.

By the time you make it to album closer - a gorgeous, minimally arranged cover of Townes Van Zandt’s ‘If I Needed You’ - you’ll find yourself enjoying it from the palm of Harmony Byrne’s hand.

To take us a little deeper into what inspired Heavy Doors we had Harmony Bryne drop by Trouble Juice and take us through a few of its ingredients.


Birrarung (The Yarra River)

I wrote so much of this album whilst living in Warrandyte, Victoria. I spent days on the river bank, mused by the water flowing through the land and my sisters, rejuvenating my creative spirit. Bodies of water in general (being a Pisces sun Cancer moon) have a huge effect on me... I’m an emotional writer and water helps those emotions flow.


Norway with April

Before recording Heavy Doors, I spent a month in Norway with my best friend April. It's one of my most treasured memories, rich with exploration, nourishment and transformation. I ended up getting a tooth infection and was going to fly home but through April’s encouragement I stayed on. I then flew to America which lead to the album being made. I'm so grateful to her for really helping me cross a bit of a personal threshold even amidst her own challenges, gosh what a woman! I wrote 'Good Idea' during this time and the album would not be complete without that song, or this time in Norway at 'Skifterud Farm' with my love April and our new Nowregian family.


Oat Milk

I seriously consumed more OAT-LY! whilst brainstorming for the album than any other beverage including water, and it really kept me in a creamy, smooth zone of pre-production froth... Australia does not have the two litre cartons yet, so I'm considering getting my manager to ship some over so I can begin working on my next album!


Cenote

Cenote Cafe was a place of sanctuary for me in Austin TX whilst recording. Two Oat Milk Cortados, a Cenote Scramble, pen scribbling in my moleskin diary, cushioned within their aqua walls and bay windows, was a dreamy start to the day.


Woy

I played a few shows with the exquisite WOY before making my album and it just so happened we ended up being in New York together. I felt pretty anxious living there, and he really supported me through that. We became best friends for two months, easing a lot of my hesitations with his objective, humourous, loving perspectives and many a drunken night.


Jumpin' Jack William

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by the most incredible heart warriors of sound, one of whom has always been a source of strength and resilience - Jumpin' Jack William. I am cast into fits of giggles and tears every single show, every single conversation... Havin a good ol' play wrestle, flexin who can howl the loudest and truest, has always taken me to the next tier of creative expression. Many, many thanks to his relentless passion, and those of my brave musical friends. Yiewwwww!!!