You never know when the songwriting spark will arrive and it doesn't often happen at the Normanville Caravan Park in South Australia.That’s where Penny Burke's “Ballarat to Cloncurry” took shape.
“The specific moment that inspired the song was when I was sitting on our cabin deck at the Normanville Caravan Park in South Australia with my guitar. We were at the very beginning of recording the album and I needed more songs to make up the twelve songs. I was just strumming various chords and found myself drifting to Mum and then to her 70th birthday a couple of years before. Then I thought about the fact that I did that whole trip by myself (and with my cockatiel Terry) and how proud I was of myself. It then dawned on me. I'll write about that. The song has had a few different lives since its inception, but the end result is definitely a toe tapper.”
Penny's been gigging since she was twelve, playing everywhere from tiny pubs to festival stages. We asked if there was a particular gig in her career that shaped her approach to music today.
“It wasn't so much a gig, but the four days I spent in Sydney with Stuie French and Camille Te Nahu recording my four track EP ‘Local Pub’. I got to meet some amazing musicians like Ian Lees, Mike Kerin, Malcolm Lancaster and Michel Rose. It was during this process that I realised that although they are amazing, award winning talents, they are also, normal, down to earth people just trying to do the same as me, be a part of the Australian Music Scene even though they were already part of the huge tapestry, staying a part of it is harder.”
Penny’s voice doesn’t fit neatly in one genre box, and she knows it. There’s country deep in her bones, but she’s not afraid to move between styles. We asked Penny how this influences her songwriting.
“Ooooh, interesting question. It immediately makes me think of a song on my upcoming album called ‘Last October’, which has more of a Melissa Etheridge feel. I actually debated whether it belonged on the album, but in the end decided it absolutely did, because it showcases the range and versatility in both my voice and my songwriting.”
The Ballarat to Cloncurry road trip wasn’t a solo adventure. Terry the cockatiel was there too, whistling tunes the whole way,. Penny says:
“I had Terry for over seven years and he made the trip all the way up and back with me. He made a lot of friends along the way with lots of photos to prove it. He also learnt to whistle a few tunes with many hours of listening to me rehearse. He used to sit on my head during the majority of rehearsals. Sadly, I lost Terry a couple of years ago when I was bringing his cage back inside after a bit of sunbaking. The cage fell over, the door fell open and he took advantage of the situation. I'm sure he's singing up a storm somewhere in the great outdoors.”
The upcoming album, "Always Be There," is personal right down to its bones, but the songs hit something universal. Penny reckons honesty is the trick:
“I think the more honest and personal you are, the more people actually see themselves in your songs. When I write, I’m usually writing from a very real place, whether that’s love, loss, family, resilience, heartbreak or joy, but those emotions belong to all of us in one way or another. Songs like Ballarat to Cloncurry are deeply personal because they come from my own experiences, but at their core they’re really about missing people you love, reconnecting, and the lengths we go for family. Most people have felt something like that at some point.
I’ve always believed that people connect more with authenticity than perfection. If I can tell my story honestly, listeners often find pieces of their own story inside it too, and that’s probably the most special part of songwriting.”
Years of live gigs, from Tamworth to Alice Springs and everything in between, have shaped Penny’s approach. She’s met plenty of names on the circuit, but she’s kept it real:
“It has definitely influenced me to be more honest in my songwriting. Having met so many big names in the country music industry over the years, I’ve taken a little something from each of them, but the biggest lesson has been to simply be yourself and stay genuine.”
Penny’s influences read like an all-stars list, but she’s quick to say the real impact was their authenticity. She says:
“Growing up, I was heavily influenced by artists like Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Crystal Gayle and later artists like Melissa Etheridge and Norah Jones. What drew me to them wasn’t just their voices, it was their ability to tell stories and make you feel something. I think you can definitely hear pieces of those influences in my music, although I’ve never consciously tried to sound like anyone else. I love strong storytelling, emotional connection and songs that feel authentic, which are qualities all of those artists have.
Over the years, I’ve also been inspired by so many incredible musicians and songwriters I’ve met along the way. The biggest lesson I’ve taken from all of them is to stay genuine and write from real experiences, because that’s what people connect with most.”
She’s got more coming out over the next few months, not just road trip tales. Everything from romance to resilience to a good laugh is fair game:
“Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing pieces of my story through a collection of songs that cover love, laughter, heartbreak, resilience and everything in between. There are songs about finding your person, songs about relationships that didn’t go to plan, songs about standing strong when life gets hard, and even a few that might make you laugh. Some stories are deeply personal. Some belong to people I love. Some might even remind you of your own.
The next chapter arrives 23.06.26 ❤️”
Local Sounds Radio has been giving “Ballarat to Cloncurry” regular spins, and its well worth a listen.
Check it out here.
https://localsounds.com.au/song/penny-burke/ballarat-to-cloncurry
SoundVerge Editorial
Independent music journalism
