The musical genius has a new album coming our way called ‘Apart Together’, but please don’t think it’s all about COVID-19.
Tim Minchin is a man of many talents. So much so, it’s hard to know where to start when listing them off. Musician, comedian, composer, lyricist, actor, writer, producer and director.
Earlier this year Tim received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the performing arts and the community. Yet another accolade to add to his already impressive CV.
The Olivier Awards, Helpmann Awards and the Tonys and Grammys have all recognised his brilliance thanks to the worldwide success of musicals Matilda and Groundhog Day.
Tim is probably the most successful Aussie comedian of his generation and fans are anticipating a new album release later this year. The album Apart Together will include new songs from his BACK show, which toured Australia, New Zealand and the UK in 2019, raising over $750,000 for local charities.
In March Tim released the album’s first single Leaving LA and now we’ve been treated to another sneak-peek with the follow up single I’ll Take Lonely Tonight.
The exquisitely-wrought anthemic ballad digs into the touchy topic of fidelity in typical Minchin style.
“When I started playing this tune on tour early last year, it became clear that it was really affecting people,” Tim says. “I thought this temptation tug-of-war might be something experienced more by touring musos… but I kept getting people – men and women equally – telling me that it really hit home for them.
“I think the experience of touring a lot, there’s two things that happen. One is you really miss each other, and the other is much worse, you don’t. My wife and I’ve been together for so long, I’ve always toured and we quite quickly click into other modes, and so there’s a kind of perfect storm. Especially if you’ve come off stage and you’ve been playing to thousands of people going ‘Yeah, you’re great!’ and then you end up in some sh*t hotel and you feel really empty.
“Kylie has actually spoken very honestly, in fact very sadly, about this. She’s like Kylie Minogue going back to her hotel room on her own. The level of emptiness at the end of the night, when you’ve had such a profound feeling of connection with so many people, is really interesting,” he explains.
“I really like that people are connecting to it, because I worried it would sound like a poor-rock-star-sort-of-song, which is not what it’s meant to be at all. It’s meant to be a love song of course. It’s about doubling down on your commitments.”
To continue reading our interview with Tim, please visit the Everly Mag Shop where you’ll find Issue 1 (available in print or digital).
*Update* (November 2020): You can also read our review of Tim’s debut studio album ‘Apart Together’.
(Top photo courtesy of Damian Bennett, bottom photo courtesy of Foxtel and Mark Rogers)