From Backing Vocals to Multi-Platinum Aussie Icon - A Conversation with Wendy Matthews
01/01/25 • 22 min
In this episode, Francesca de Valence chats with legendary Australian artist Wendy Matthews at the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival 2024. Wendy shares insights into her songwriting journey, from her early days busking across Canada and the USA to creating multi-platinum albums. Known for her timeless hits including The Day You Went Away, Wendy discusses her approach to crafting songs that resonate deeply, her commitment to beauty in music, and how storytelling shapes her artistry. With stories of collaboration and creative evolution, this conversation offers an intimate look at the process behind one of Australia’s most expressive artists. A must-listen for music lovers and creators alike.
Find out more about the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival here.
Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
About Wendy Matthews:
An Australian musical treasure, Wendy Matthews has an expressive voice that never fails to move those who hear it. Her music is an unhurried journey of clean melodies, infectious energy and simple grace. In an age where uber-production techniques are thought to be hip, and cynicism an attribute, Wendy has proven that commitment to beauty is still not only valid but applauded by the public ear, her music now in more than 1 million homes in Australia with all her albums having multi-platinum status.
Her solo debut album Émigré (Double Platinum) earned Wendy Best Female Artist and Best Debut Single (for Token Angels) at the 1990 ARIA Awards. In 1992 Wendy received the ARIA for Best Female Artist and Best Single and in 1993, Best Female Artist. Wendy was also voted Best Female Singer in the 1990 Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll. The Day You Went Away was the ‘highest selling single’ of 1993 and the ‘single of the year’. Contact Wendy Matthews: Facebook / Instagram
Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.
Find out more about the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival here. Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.
Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.
Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.
Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram
Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence
If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.
In this episode, Francesca de Valence chats with legendary Australian artist Wendy Matthews at the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival 2024. Wendy shares insights into her songwriting journey, from her early days busking across Canada and the USA to creating multi-platinum albums. Known for her timeless hits including The Day You Went Away, Wendy discusses her approach to crafting songs that resonate deeply, her commitment to beauty in music, and how storytelling shapes her artistry. With stories of collaboration and creative evolution, this conversation offers an intimate look at the process behind one of Australia’s most expressive artists. A must-listen for music lovers and creators alike.
Find out more about the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival here.
Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
About Wendy Matthews:
An Australian musical treasure, Wendy Matthews has an expressive voice that never fails to move those who hear it. Her music is an unhurried journey of clean melodies, infectious energy and simple grace. In an age where uber-production techniques are thought to be hip, and cynicism an attribute, Wendy has proven that commitment to beauty is still not only valid but applauded by the public ear, her music now in more than 1 million homes in Australia with all her albums having multi-platinum status.
Her solo debut album Émigré (Double Platinum) earned Wendy Best Female Artist and Best Debut Single (for Token Angels) at the 1990 ARIA Awards. In 1992 Wendy received the ARIA for Best Female Artist and Best Single and in 1993, Best Female Artist. Wendy was also voted Best Female Singer in the 1990 Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll. The Day You Went Away was the ‘highest selling single’ of 1993 and the ‘single of the year’. Contact Wendy Matthews: Facebook / Instagram
Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.
Find out more about the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival here. Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.
Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.
Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.
Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram
Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence
If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.
Previous Episode
Beyond The Voice - A Conversation about Songwriting with Johnny Manuel
Johnny Manuel’s astronomical career has been shaped by his vocal talent. His appearances on shows like America’s Got Talent and The Voice have created a global audience that sees him as “just a vocalist,” not recognizing the depth of his creative vision. But what this global audience most likely doesn’t know is that Johnny started out as a songwriter. In this episode, we chatted with the US artist and songwriter at the 2024 Whitsundays Songwriter Festival.
Find out more about the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival here.
Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
About Johnny Manuel:
From a four chair turn and final of The Voice Australia to America’s Got Talent to performing at Eurovision, Johnny Manuel thrills audiences with his artistry. Discovering the joy of performance and musicianship in the church choir in Flint Michigan, at the age of ten he had recorded his first demo; a cover of Run DMC’s ‘It’s Like That’ and had a recording contract at 14 with Warner Records, touring with NSync and Jessica Simpson along the way. Recently honored to perform for United States President Joe Biden in New York City, Johnny continues to build an international fan base from his new home in Australia. A fan favourite of Queensland’s Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols for the past several years,
Realizing his creative vision across multiple projects with creative collaborators ARIA-winning artist/producer Nick Littlemore (PNAU and Empire of the Sun) and rising artist/producer Aidan Laprete he has released two EP’s independently; “Younger Skin” and “Blue”. Johnny’s new sound finally allows him to be his authentic self. Contact Johnny: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.
Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.
Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.
Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.
Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram
Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence
If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.
Next Episode
Songs in the Wild: A Journey of Collaboration and Creativity
We take you behind the scenes of our Songwriting Retreat to give you a glimpse of co-writing in real-time. Thank you to our songwriters, Shauna Tohill, Kerrie Gamley and Stella Di Santa for sharing a brand new created work on this podcast. We also discuss the value of revisiting and refining your creative ideas.
Find out more about our Songwriting Retreat here.
Join I Heart Songwriting Club’s Co-writing Course here.
Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.
Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.
Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.
Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.
Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram
Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence
If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.
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