Multi-instrumentalist Brightness (aka Alex Knight) has found himself iwn some pretty good company.
The Newcastle-based talent’s latest album, Brightness, has been long-listed for the prestigious Australian Music Prize.
Brightness joins the likes of such heavy hitters as Archie Roach, Amyl and the Sniffers, Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier, Jimmy Barnes and Thelma Plum vying for the top prize.
The alum comes two years after Brightness’ first effort Teething and speaking to Newcastle Live back in October, Alex said that it was a slab designed to be digested as a whole.
“The album is a format that I have always loved,” he said.
“It might make me less cool or whatever in this day and age but I really believe that there are certain things you can only accomplish with an album.”
The new album represents somewhat of a rebirth for Alex who, after recording Teething in London (where he lived for six years) moved back to Newcastle thinking that would be his last foray into music.
“When I left London, I felt like I burned everything to the ground,” he said. “I wasn’t happy to do that, but it felt like I had no choice but to leave. I wasn’t going to be any good to the people around me if I’d stayed.”
The winner will be announced in March and will also receive a cool $30,000!
Best of luck, Brightness.
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