Craig Andrew Browne
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Craig Andrew Browne

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"FOR THE DREAM"

Take a dose of John Denver at his gritty best, mix in a little Harry Chapin and Don McLean, and add a dash of the wordy honesty of Paul Kelly and you’ll get a sense of Craig Andrew Browne‘s style. His first CD, For the Dream, is a collection of heartfelt songs , designed to inspire others to share his joy in living. The songs are simple and generous, tackling topics which are mainly inspirational. There is nothing avante garde or jarring here. In a way which is refreshing in this day of dark dirges and covert hatred, Browne sings and plays confidently, accompanied mainly by the crisp clean sound of his acoustic guitar. Although Browne, and co-producer Blake Robinson polish the songs with a range of other instruments from keyboards to drums, cello and electric guitar, the overall effect is that of one-on-one intimacy , with the gentle rhythms taking a subtle backstage to the strong singing and upbeat words that drive eleven songs which make up this CD. The songs explore topics like meeting your dreams, living authentically, sharing the beauty of a moment, letting go of possessions and fear, and accepting the inevitable loss that goes with life:


when I looked out this morning I saw something was new and I caught a way through the trees the higher the mountain the better the view ‘cause ships are for crossing the seas rainbows and fables can fool with your mind but magic is truly at play (My New Life)


Although Browne is a capable and distinctive performer, singing exuberantly in a folksy Aussie twang, the songs are classic and simple enough to be moulded into different shapes in the hands of different performers. One could easily imagine Casey Chambers turning, say, “Last Year,” into an almost whispered ode to the fickle passing of love stories, Wendy Matthews turning “Lord Take me Now” into a heady spiritual, or even Don Spencer turning “Walk Upon my Land,” into a funky, action oriented song for children (he’d have to keep in Browne’s whistling since it fit’s the tune perfectly). The CD comes with a lyric list which is followed by a line or two of explanation.

These are songs which easily cross the barriers of age and genre, and would be as suitable for a youthful audience as they are for an older one, and as appealing to those who love classic country as those who prefer gentle folk songs. Browne’s teaching and presenting background is obvious in the clarity of his message, and the way in which he seeks to draw in and inspire his audience. I think that we can expect to hear a lot more about this talented songwriter, both in terms of his own performances, and in terms of what others will be able to do with these very accessible and appealing songs. - Magdalena Ball


Discography

CDs: "For the dream" - 11 track debut album

Board games: "Bert's family feud", "Deal or no deal", Childrens charades", "The price is right", "Compatibility"

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Bio

“Take a dose of John Denver at his gritty best, mix in a little Harry Chapin and Don McLean, and add a dash of the wordy honesty of Paul Kelly and you’ll get a sense of his style. His first CD, For the Dream, is a collection of heartfelt songs , designed to inspire others to share his joy in living. The songs are simple and generous, tackling topics which are mainly inspirational. There is nothing avante garde or jarring here. In a way which is refreshing in this day of dark dirges. His songs easily cross the barriers of age and genre, and would be as suitable for a youthful audience as they are for an older one, and as appealing to those who love classic country as those who prefer gentle folk songs.” [Magdelena Ball]

Composing on piano and guitar, Craig Andrew Browne describes his music as inspirational adult contemporary and easy listening country, somewhere between John Denver, Richard Marx and Coldplay. He chooses to write about subjects such as: success, hope, the enjoyment of life, the beauty in the land, and love won and love lost.

"As my children started to grow up, they started singing my songs. So, I made myself a promise that I would never write a song that I wouldn't be proud to hear my children singing" says Craig. "Words and music are an amazing way to grab attention and to share feelings and ideas with people. And I think you need to be careful what you get people singing."

Beyond singing, Craig is a successful board game developer, with titles including 'Deal or no deal', ‘Bert’s family feud’, 'Childrens charades', 'The price is right' and 'Compatibility.' The latter was picked up by Mattel in 1996 and distributed in 10 countries and 5 languages. He now also runs a successful company selling its own training and development product, called the ‘Compatibility Communication System’ to organisations all over the world. Find out more at www.ccscorporation.com.au

Having grown up on the NSW Central Coast, Craig now lives with his partner and their 3 children at the base of the Wattagan Mountains just north of Gosford, NSW, Australia.

CAREER PATH: supermarket packer > fast-food cook > kitchenhand > short-order cook > Bachelor of Education in Science > high school teacher > Powerhouse museum education officer > museum curator of IT > computer training manager > promotions manager for a games company > consultant computer trainer > games inventor, director of CCS Corporation, songwriter/singer.