One Guitar
By Mushroom Group
‘One Guitar’, a Gibson J45, has travelled thousands of kilometers around the country over the course of 12 months and into the hands of Australia’s best singer songwriters.
Each artist had four weeks to write a new song with the ‘One Guitar’. After those weeks, host Alex Gow visited the songwriter to record their new creation and discuss their creative process.
Each episode is a fresh exploration of a new creation using the same instrument.
One Guitar is created and hosted by Alex Gow, ARIA Award winning singer songwriter, composer and founder of Oh Mercy and Perfect Moment
Throughout the series Alex speaks with; singer songwriter and music royalty Paul Kelly, singer songwriter Alice Skye, singer songwriter and Powderfinger lead vocalist Bernard Fanning, singer songwriter and record producer Sarah Blasko and Johnny Took of DMA’S.
About the ‘One Guitar’:
It's a Gibson J45 Vintage Sunburst, a model nicknamed "The Workhorse".
First released in 1942 it has a storied history with many famous artists relying on its mahogany construction along with renowned "full, balanced expression, warm bass and excellent projection".
A very warm thanks to Chris Taylor at Australis Music for supplying this magnificent instrument.
Live episode feat. Missy Higgins at the Melbourne Writers Festival 2021:
Tickets available here - One Guitar: Missy Higgins
Or at MWF.com.au
Credits
Created and hosted by Alex Gow
Produced by Alex Gow and Courtney Carthy, Mushroom Group
Licensing consultant Abby Page, Mushroom Music Publishing
Cover photography by Alex Gow
Cover design by Mushroom Creative House
Theme song - Lady Eucalyptus, by Oh Mercy (Alex Gow)
Theme song - Lady Eucalyptus, Oh Mercy/Alex Gow
For more episodes download the free LiSTNR app
Latest episode
-
Sarah Blasko - What You Stole
"...the song... is about, it's somebody who I've known since I was a child, completely giving up on me as a person" - Sarah Blasko Sarah hadn't picked up a guitar in 5 years - "shit I haven't played guitar for a long time" was her first thought. He… -
Paul Kelly - All Those Smiling Faces
"'All those smiling faces' fitted the chords, then it felt like, alright, I'm on the way to a song" - Paul Kelly Paul's song is inspired by poets from England and Poland, Paul's family and the concept of heredity. The first thing Paul did was tune … -
Alice Skye - Grow Up
I was talking to my housemate about someone. And her response to the situation that I explained was just like, 'grow up'. And I just thought it was the funniest insult" - Alice Skye Alice adapted an idea that was to become a short story. It traces h… -
Bernard Fanning - The Reckoning
"The Reckoning. It's like, well, now you've got to account for what you do and say" - Bernard Fanning The front man from Powerderfinger was one of the first to agree to the project. During the height of the pandemic in 2020 we sent the One Guitar t… -
Johnny Took - Big Life
"And I was thinking about how I would build this home and this life and, and not look at, you know, having a family or, and the struggles that come with it as a negative. But as a, this is the big life" - Johnny Took One third of DMAs, Johnny Took, … -
Introducing One Guitar
‘One Guitar’, a Gibson J45, has travelled thousands of kilometers around the country over the course of 12 months and into the hands of Australia’s best singer songwriters. Each artist had four weeks to write a new song with the ‘One Guitar’. After …