New Music: McKisko, Good Grief

McKisko is set to release her sophomore album early next month and is packing up her gear to travel across Australia to perform music for lucky gig-goers at every post. The songstress, known to her mother as Helen Franzmann, has received the accolade of the Grant McLennan Fellowship for excellence in songwriting, had the pleasure of performing alongside indie-bigwigs Tiny Vipers, Juana Molina, Jose Gonzales, Bon Iver, and J. Mascis, and was also invited to compose music for silent films that were included in part of the ‘Contemporary Australia: Women’ exhibition, in Queensland. So, it’s safe to say that she has many-a-string to her creative bow, as it were.

The featured track, Good Grief, plucked from her newest release, Eximo, features pleasant percussion, gentle acoustic picnicking and, of course, McKisko’s haunting vocals. The album is a home recording, born with help from drummer-cum-engineer, Kurt Read. The full result is a raw, evocative listen where Mckisko’s vocal work is standout.

Mckisko’s record, Eximo, is out October 11. See tour dates below and head to the Facebook event page, here, for ticket details.

Oct 11 – The Terrace Bar, Newcastle NSW
Oct 12 – Newsagency, Marrickville NSW
Oct 13 – Front Bar, Canberra ACT
Oct 17 – Toff in Town, Melbourne VIC
Oct 18 – Frankie’s Empire, Hobart TAS
Oct 19 – Mona, Hobart TAS
Oct 20 – Grace Emily, Adelaide SA
31 Oct – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane QLD
Nov 1 – Cooran Municipal Hall QLD
Nov 3 – Bangalow Church Hall NSW

Words by Carol Bowditch.