From Backing Vocals to Multi-Platinum Aussie Icon - A Conversation with Wendy Matthews

The Magic of Songwriting with Francesca de Valence

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.

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Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

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