Soul man with country twang

Dewayne Everettsmith is a proud Aboriginal, but when it comes to his music, the singer is happy to admit he draws his inspiration from more than just his background.

“I’m not an Aboriginal singer-songwriter as such, but more of a singer-songwriter who happens to be Aboriginal,” he said.

“Being Aboriginal doesn’t really influence my music. It’s something I was born with but it doesn’t really influence the outcomes to my songwriting.

“What I mean is you couldn’t really compare my songwriting to a songwriter like Archie Roach, who’s a great activist.”

Instead Everettsmith, who grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan and Patti LaBelle, has a unique country-tinged vibe to his music.

That tone is exactly what you feel in the Hobart-raised songsmith’s latest album, Surrender.

Everettsmith describes the 11-track album as songs written from experiences of his life.

“When I wrote most of these songs I was obviously in emotional turmoil — difficult things in my life,” he said.

“My mum was a speed addict so the early years of my life were very full-on. Then I was adopted and having to deal with my adoptive family and then going to live with my adopted grandparents — who were my greatest supporters.

“I think it’s life experiences that gives me my voice. It’s not necessarily technique or awareness of what I’m doing. The same with songwriting; I was never trained, I just write songs.

“It just comes out from me however, it comes out, and it happens however, it happens. The idea was when someone listens to it, it touches a nerve, but they take a positive from it.

“That was the ultimate aim.”

It’s that same story Geraldton crowds will get a taste of for themselves when the singer stops over in the Mid West and performs at the Queens Park Theatre on Wednesday, July 1.

For ticket and booking information, contact the QPT box office on 9956 6662.