Putting the passion back

As her lyrics suggest, Wendy Matthews is moving on, free and independent once again.
She’s taken back control of her recording career after losing her contract with SonyBMG and says she is injecting passion, drive and originality back into her music.
Her latest album, The Essential Wendy Matthews, contains all her hits from 1990 to 2004. Then in February she will release a new, independent album full of fresh material. On top of this, she is touring the country and is a popular and regular artist on the Channel 7 program It Takes Two.
But it is the new album next February that has put the spark back into the multi-award winning singer.
“The next album is all of my favourite songs by favourite women,” Matthews said. “It’s songs that I grew up with and love.
“And oh my god, yes, the gay community is going to love the tracks. If I love them, they’ll love them.
“Basically, and I hate to generalise, gay folk are particularly sensitive and this is my way of expressing myself. Hopefully the gay community can relate because they too are intelligent and sensitive.”
Matthews is hoping the community will get behind her new album – identifying with the struggle she has had to overcome after being dropped by SonyBMG and having to set up an independent recording.
“I don’t have the backing of a record company any more and thought I’d try it by myself – see how it goes,” she said.
“It’s hard because you have to use your own money, but it feels wonderful and more like it’s wholly your project – it’s your own body and soul.”
Matthews will play South Sydney Juniors on Friday 28 September and Penrith RSL on Saturday 29 September.
“At the shows we’re trying out a few new songs and of course the classics. It’s more an acoustic show with six people onstage,” she said.
Tickets for the shows can be bought from the venues.
www.wendymatthews.com.au