TL040. Jenny Hickinbotham — East to West with Fight, Flight, Freeze

Eight of the songs on this album were created on a journey, from East of Australia, Gisborne, Victoria to West of Australia, Fremantle WA. I journeyed in my Honda CRV with a trailer and tent plus three feisty Tenterfield Terrier dogs, camping all the way. The songs share the pleasures, horrors, learnings of my journey and I genuinely hope you enjoy them. The eight songs were commissioned by DADAA Gallery, a creative center focused on supporting people with all forms of disability. These songs were for their show The Sea Shell Is Not The Sea Shore, 4 Feb — 1 April 2023. A further three songs were recorded with friends in Naarm in 2021 and 2022.

I acknowledge my ancestors from England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. I want to acknowledge 60,000 years of First Nations peoples’ fortitude and resilience, 60,000 years of caring for this country, gaining wisdom and now despite centuries of colonial atrocities, a willingness to share vital awarenesses, including the power of country as creator and as provider of nurture.

Thanks to all those who’ve thought to give me the tiniest opportunity over the past ten to twenty years in furthering my art and creating a name which is supported, followed and enjoyed. Thanks to all of you, and there are many, who’ve given in tiny ways, to those who contributed financially to my fundraising campaign and to those who’ve actually paid me for creating art which they included in a public presentation to audiences I never met before, this is how we move from emerging to professional. I’d say I’m somewhere after emerging by now.

Special thanks to the Tone List Team (Annika, Dan, Jameson, Josten, and Lenny), Jane Stark, Lyndon Blue, Eduardo Cossio and Stirling Kain, friends and dogsitters Sarah-Jane and Leon, and the mob at Minibar in Rockingham, WA. And, thank you to my mentors, Dale Gorfinkel and Joel Stern. 

releases April 28, 2024

Released at the Audible Edge Festival 2024

All words, lead vocals, and images by Jenny Hickinbotham

Production and technical contributions from Jane Stark, Joel Stern and Annika Moses.

Musical contributions from Jane Stark, Joel Stern, Dale Gorfinkel, James Rushford, Mish Szekelyhidi, James Rushford, and Steph Treesea.

Zine layout by Lenny Jacobs and Dan O’Connor