#Freshfind: We Chatted with Bradley McCaw about his new album and our favorite song "I want you back"

Hailing from Australia, Bradley McCaw is the ultimate multi-hyphen artist with global credits across music, theater, performance, and composition, he delivers the lead single “I Want You Back” — a romantic retro groove, inspired by LA legends Toto and Boz Scaggs — from his debut album, Worried Minds, due for release on Friday, June 23. 

Hypnotically soulful and exquisitely catchy, the track will have you unwittingly tapping your foot and grooving to the beat. With lyrics illustrating the universally relatable feeling of wanting a romantic partner back, the track is a love letter trying to explore the feeling we can’t articulate to those we love, all while the instrumental arrangement rises and falls along with the emotion in the lyrics, creating a musical world unlike anything else.

We had the chance to chat with Bradley about the new song and what to expect for the new album this Friday,

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I’m curious to know when writing “I Want You Back” who were you gravitating towards as inspiration for this track?

Over the years I've been inspired by so many classic 70s records, it's hard to remember which ones have floated to the top. Back when I was writing the songs from this album I was listening to alot of George Benson, Donny Hathaway and The Jacksons "This Place Hotel" was on repeat. I guess it was all about the vibe and atmosphere of those 70s funk/jazz/rock - even Yacht Rock - LPs I loved and the style of musicianship that most inspired the track. 

With such a heavy influence from the Motown/Jazz scene as someone from a completely different continent/city how did you first come across it?

I first heard Billy Joel's 'Just The Way You Are' on a CD in my Dad's collection. I picked out the album randomly and was hooked. I then taught myself a bunch of his songs and fell in love with piano singer/songwriters. As I started to write and record I realised I sounded too Australian - it's okay, you can laugh at that! I went and got my Masters studying Blues and Gospel music. I went DEEP! I spent 18 months listening, reading, just on my own playing along to Aretha Franklin and early early blues on repeat. Eventually I started to see that energy appearing in my own writing and performances. So it's definitely been a journey because I respect the sound so much and the purity of music that originated from the LA scene or in Detroit and Nashville etc. I guess you can learn alot from a vinyl. Whether you're listening from NYC or my hometown of Brisbane, Australia. 

Could you share the significance of the title "Worried Minds" 

I wrote WORRIED MINDS immediately after being on the phone with a friend. They had asked me about my one year plan.. my five year plan... and challenged my entire philosophy for living basically! Well they must have been right because I got off the phone, jumped on my upright piano and this song came out. It was pretty much done in one sitting. One of those songs that just arrives fully formed. 

With that in mind, How does it fit in the overall theme of the album?

Worried Minds is all about the everyday stress of living and making choices. I realised this week, this album started a decade ago. I first reached out to Louie Shelton (my co-producer) in 2011. We recorded a band in 2013 and then it went on shelf while I worked on a new musical for seven years. Then as covid broke, I like many people got very reflective about life and my career and I realised I wasn't happy. I had lost my way. I had always planned to finish this album and create the kind of music I'd like to hear on the radio. So that's what I did during the various lockdowns in Australia. It was incredible that the songs and particularly the title track had new meaning in 2020/21. The album became about finding a new way of living and thinking for myself and creating music that hopefully makes people feel good when they listen to it. 

Out of all of the songs in this album what one was the most challenging to write?

Because this is my debut album I had lots of songs to choose from and years to develop them. But 'Someone Like You' was the last song to take shape. I was singing/writing it as a Bob Seger type country rock solo thing and when we got to final vocals, it wasn't working. The band was great, but when recording my final vocal I couldn't make the 2nd verse work. Each time I tried it fell flat. I went back home and I listened to the song again with Louie looking for new ideas. But this time we had a mix bounced during recording that week that had only my first verse on it... Well when it got to the empty second verse he said 'Oh...it could be a duet?' And that was it. Whether he would have had that idea without the second verse missing we will never know - but it taught me that if a song is challenging, it's not always the writing that's getting in the way. 

Has a stranger ever changed your life?

I was making a documentary podcast in New York a few years ago and a stranger came up to me on the subway and asked me 'why do I have all these microphones?' I explain I'm an Australian here making a podcast about musicals in NYC and we jump on the next subway and ride for 20 minutes just talking about art, culture and the evolution of hip hop in the city. We recorded the whole conversation and it's in the final episodes that will be released later this year, but he changed my life through his openness and kindness. He taught me that we are all connected in ways we don't expect. That it doesn't matter where we are from, it's our intention that matters. That was also the moment I fell in love with New York, but I'll leave that to the podcast. 

What can be found in your room that can’t be found in anyone else’s room?

A beautiful old blue lamp that belonged to my late Grandmother. 

Do you think the image you have of yourself matches the image people see you as?

Wow that's a good question. Honestly, I imagine everyone has a different view of who I am. But mostly I hope people see someone that just loves music. Lives for music.... Someone that's just making some 'feel good' old school sounds. 

What are you craving right now?

Coffee. Always coffee lol.