Hey everyone,
I wanted to share the story behind my new album, "Life in the Sub-Antarctic Campbell Island - The Weather Station Years." This project started thanks to an old friend of mine, Peter Fisher. Peter spent a year on Campbell Island in the 1980s as a weather observer and always wanted to write a song about his experiences there. When he called in one day and mentioned the idea, I thought it was fantastic and said, "Let's do it!"
Discovering Campbell Island:
Campbell Island is an incredibly remote place, nearly 700 km south of Bluff, New Zealand. It's characterised by extreme weather, rich wildlife, and a sense of isolation that's hard to find anywhere else. The island's untapped storytelling potential was too great for me to ignore, and what started as one song grew into 23, resulting in a full double album. It was a lot of fun.
The Inspiration:
Peter's stories about his time on Campbell Island were amazing. He told me about the extreme weather, the unique wildlife like the Campbell teal and yellow-eyed penguin, and the beautiful megaherbs. I remember him describing standing on Beeman Hill, watching the Southern Royal Albatross float gracefully in the wind. His tales of isolation, adventure, and the stunning Southern Lights sparked my imagination. Peter also shared personal stories of moments of adventure that turned into life-threatening experiences, which we captured in the songs. We wanted to use music to paint a picture of what life was like there.
The Recording Process - The Journey:
Creating this album took nearly three years. Peter and I worked closely together: he provided the stories and helped with production while I wrote the songs and brought the music to life. Each track tells a different story, capturing the isolation, beauty, remoteness, and ruggedness of Campbell Island. We wanted listeners to feel like they were there, experiencing the island through the music.
To achieve this, we incorporated a rich tapestry of sounds and samples directly from Campbell Island. Peter had made recordings during his time on the island, which included everything from the calls of the Campbell teal to the thunderous roar of the winds and the Albatross and penguins. These authentic sounds became the backbone of the album, adding layers of depth and realism. You can hear the natural symphony of wildlife, the eerie stillness of isolation, and the powerful gusts of Antarctic winds.
The track: "Walking into Windlass Bay" - the sounds and samples from this song were all from these original 1980s recordings.
In the first track, for example, you can hear the voice of a marine weather forecaster speaking over the rhythmic beat of the ship's engine, with a guitar riff floating like an albatross soaring over the ocean. This blend of music and natural soundscapes transports you directly to Campbell Island, making you feel as though you're standing on its rugged shores, experiencing its wild beauty firsthand.
Fun Facts About Campbell Island:
No one lives there now; the last team left in 1995.
It takes 36 hours by ship from Bluff to get there, through notoriously huge seas.
Weather observers were stationed there for 12 months from 1946 to 1995.
The island features incredible wildlife and dramatic weather, making it a rich source of inspiration.
Campbell Island is home to the "world's loneliest tree," a solitary Sitka spruce located over 200 km away from the nearest tree on Auckland Island.
What's Next?
We've already started our next project. Peter visited South Georgia recently and returned with stories about Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition. We're excited to dive into this new adventure and share more music with you soon.
Final Thoughts:
This album has been an incredible journey. I'm really privileged to have developed it and put it out there for people who might never get the chance to visit this magical, remote sub-Antarctic island. If you close your eyes and listen, we hope you can 'see' what it was like through the music.
Thanks for joining us on this adventure.
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