Brett Wood’s Eyes on the prize.
Photo Credit Andy Kershaw
Australian singer, guitarist, and songwriter Brett Wood has just released his new track ‘Eyes’, giving fans another taste of what to expect from his upcoming debut album. We caught up with Brett during a break from touring the country, where he’s been supporting his good friend Pete Murray on a major solo acoustic tour. He spoke to us about the inspiration behind ‘Eyes’, his career as a session musician, and what’s in store for him in 2026.
Tell us about your new song – where did the inspiration for this one come from?
I was inspired to write a Bill Withers-style track that also had leanings of newer blues influences like Gary Clark Jr and older deeper influences of mine like Stevie Ray Vaughan. The subject matter came from an overwhelming sense of distrust and disharmony around me in the world. Some of it came from my work situation and wanting to grow out of the stuff I’d been doing professionally. I also wasn’t really believing in a lot of the music around me especially in the genre I love most which is blues and soul. I wasn’t believing what I was hearing at the time. So, in a nutshell, it’s about calling bullshit on something when you’re fed up. You need eyes in the back of your head for multiple reasons, it could be to watch your own back or it could be to put something behind you and hit the accelerator. I think it’s safe to say that we have all been there.
What did the creative process entail? What came first – music or lyrics?
For this song it was probably the groove and that minor chord Bill Withers style sound that came first. That happens a lot. I’ll pick a vibe musically and just sit on it for a bit and if it begins to spark ideas I’ll chase it to find out what the song wants to say. I’ll jam on something and if I’m in a good space I can usually stay out of the way long enough for an idea to come naturally lyrically or melodically. I usually don’t figure out what the words mean until way after the song reveals itself.
I think the first lyric I started writing/workshopping was “what do you believe in lately?”,
“What is it you sell?” and “We’re all running in all directions”. I realised that this feeling was coming from being fed up and wanting to do something about it. I don’t trust a lot of stuff that's happening out there. Not like the X files so much as just a gut feeling that there is so much rubbish pedaled out there that I’m not buying into. So “eyes in the back of my head” started ringing around in my mind and I built the song around that as a chorus. Then I went back and found verses that spoke to me and what I was going through in life.
“There’s a theme that runs strong through it all; growth, determination, frustration. ”
Will ‘Eyes’ and ‘Real Piece Of Work’ feature on an album or are they stand-alone releases
Forthcoming album for sure! There’s 17 or 18 tracks that I worked on for this record. We’ll probably trim it down to 10 or 11 just because attention spans these days don’t really go well with long records. There’s a theme that runs strong through it all; growth, determination, frustration. A lineage of ideas lyrically and a vibe musically. There’s a story to tell with 10 or 11 of those tracks. So yeah most definitely a record is coming. But right now I’m building a groundswell online on socials trying to get the industry on side. I’ve got to be patient, which isn’t my strong suit. If it was up to me I’d drop the record tomorrow
You’re currently touring with Pete Murray – are you enjoying playing ‘Eyes’ live and seeing the audience react to your solo work
It is an awesome and amazing tour to be a part of. Even after 20 years with Pete I can’t remember a tour this extensive. Probably the most shows we’ve done in one run. It’s a heavy duty tour, a heck of a lot of shows, a heck of a lot of travel but I’m really grateful to share my music with so many of his adoring fans. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m super grateful. It’s an opportunity not everyone gets especially since most of my set each night isn’t even released yet. So hearing fans asking “where can we find this song?” has been really special.
Any plans for a headline tour
Yes absolutely. There’ll be shows after this tour that are just mine. I’m officially launching ‘Eyes’ on August 7th at Stay Gold in Brunswick.
“I’ve got a massive problem with Steve Jobs.”
You’ve worked with a variety of names like Electric Mary and 360, over many years – how has the scene changed since you started
The scene’s changed drastically. Social media and streaming violently shifted the pendulum on how artists earn. Now we’re expected to be our own ad agency, our own content creators and I’ve got a massive problem with that term. Back when I started, if you were signed and the label thought they could make money off your art you had a team. Now we do it all on phones stuck in the matrix. That’s not what any good artist wants. I’ve got a massive problem with Steve Jobs. If we could bring him back I’d have a long hard chat with him about what he’s done to the planet with these stupid incessant phones.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a session musician
The upside is it’s fun and rewarding if you’re good enough to get called to play on records and build a career. I was lucky to do that. The downside is studios are dying out. Everyone’s working from laptops now. The art of being a true session player it’s almost down to just a few people in Nashville. Even there it’s shrinking. But back when it was fruitful it was about the joy of creating something in real time. Walk into a session like 360’s ‘Run Alone’ or ‘Boys Like You’ and they want something like Coldplay with edge… it’s your job to make that vision happen. That’s the part I love. Same with Pete, we’ve got a great creative relationship. It’s like tennis hitting the ball back and forth until the right take lands. The downside, I got so caught up helping everyone else I forgot to look after myself. I’ve played for Bonnie Anderson, Pete Murray, heaps of country acts, Daryl Braithwaite, a permanent member of Electric Mary, and even the viral VIC Metro Transport commercial “Dumb Ways to Die”. Blink and it’s been 20 years. And you haven’t looked after your own music
“This is me making good on what that kid wanted to do. It ain’t no joke people!.”
Was releasing solo music always the plan
Yeah that was the dream from the start. Pick up a guitar, make my own music, travel the world and play to people who get it. That’s what I always believed I’d do. Life took me away from it, marriage, mortgage and life responsibilities so I went to work, played hard and worked hard. Now I’m steering the truck back onto that track. The 15-year-old me wrote these songs. He even got one of his heroes Chris “Whipper” Layton to play drums. This is me making good on what that kid wanted to do. It ain’t no joke people!
Could you and Pete Murray collaborate on a release?
Interesting question. Never really thought about it. I’ve nudged him to jam on a track of mine while we tour together but I don’t know if you’d call it a collaboration or just bros hangin’ with guitars. If the right song came along and it made musical sense, sure. But it has to be about the music.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far
I’m spoiled. I can’t pick one. One of the earliest was watching Tommy Emmanuel as a kid, staring so hard at his fingers it gave me migraines. He’d be looking right back at me. I just knew we’d be friends one day. Then one day we hung out, jammed and he heard me play and said “come on, you’re playing some shows.” The first time I got on stage with him I looked out into the crowd, clocked where I used to sit and thought… I thought this into reality. I’ll never forget that.
Years later my first gig with Pete Murray was in Ireland at Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Dream gig. Played my butt off, came off stage and was getting hugs and high fives. That’s why I still do this.
More recently walking out on stage at the Enmore Theatre playing my own songs hearing the crowd clap before I even hit a note it cracked me up. That was a real pinch me moment. I walked off stage thinking, let’s do this some more!
If you weren’t a musician – what would you be doing
No backup plan. I really wanted to play basketball as a kid. Was promising, long arms, good wingspan, but only 6 foot tall. Not tall enough to play for a job. As soon as I picked up a guitar it was over, that’s all I wanted to do. That’s the truth of it!
“No man is an island.”
Who in your team deserves a shout-out but never gets one
Great question. My brother in life Jai Forster, who’s known me since we first picked up guitars when we were 12-13 years old, is now my manager. My sister Danielle does all my graphic design, really talented. Mark Emanueli, has been with me helping dial in my dream guitars, a mate and sounding board too. Gavin Parker, new mate, but gone above and beyond mixing and mastering these songs. Mark Brunott, one of my best mates, hooked me up through one of his contacts with Whipper and supported this whole journey. My partner Carla, the best thing on earth. You don’t even want to know what she’s put up with. Loud guitars, constant writing, she’s seen it all. Then there’s my parents who have always supported me from day one. There’s a tight crew of loved ones with my back. No man is an island.
What’s next for you what can we look forward to in 2026
I’m excited. I’m not used to looking forward, I’m a chronic “late homework” guy but have had to learn the hard way that you have to be ahead of the curve with music releasing. I have been cramming in studio work whilst being on this massive 60 date national tour. I am the dork at airports and in the back of the van with a laptop and headphones on finishing tracks and edits on the fly, it’s been crazy but I am wiling to do it. 2026 will be the year the album drops, I can’t wait to get it out and start working it, it’s gonna be very, very exciting.
Interview by Michelle Symes
July 2025
