Paul Dempsey, the singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of Something for Kate, will perform his first ever solo South West dates next month.
His Perth show has already sold-out, and Dempsey told the Mail the gigs were his last before heading back into the studio with the band.
“The new Something for Kate record has really been the focus at the moment. I’ve been shut up indoors, working away writing and sometimes you just know you are going to get stir crazy and you put something in calendar to look forward to,” he said.
“Getting out and playing is a circuit breaker so that’s what these shows are.
“It’s also a chance to see if the writing is going along well and maybe try out some of our new stuff.”
Dempsey has released six top 10 platinum and gold records with Something for Kate, and during this time, also consistently played solo shows.
Despite having a solo extension of his music, Dempsey said at no stage was the band ever not together.
“I guess because I make solo records it is easy for people to think Something for Kate has disbanded and that’s never been the case,” he said.
“We’ve sort of fallen into this unofficial pattern where we do a Something for Kate record and then I release a solo one and back and forth.”
He said each of the band having their own creative outlet meant their fire for their music still burned bright.
“It means Something for Kate is always fresh and we are never just going through the motions,” he said.
“We honestly just do it when we are enthused and excited about doing it. We are never better.
Dempsey’s first solo outing was 2009’s Everything is True.
The record earned him a slew of award nominations and was followed up by 2016’s Strange Loop, which also received rave reviews.
Dempsey said the beauty of performing solo was the spontaneity and relaxed feeling of gigs.
“It is so easy as it is just me and my guitar – I don’t even have a set list half the time,” he said.
“Some of my solo shows almost become a stand-up comedy show because there isn’t that pressure to play the next song because I have two other people waiting for me.
“I get chatting, have a few drinks and sometimes things take a ridiculous turn and go in whatever direction and I like to go there with them.”
Dempsey will play The Prince of Wales, on May 3.
Tickets are available from pauldempseymusic.com.
