SCHRAV

chrav’s journey began with an ending. The second of six children born to a preaching Dentist he was surrounded by music throughout his upbringing in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia, and soon established himself as a multi-talented classically trained musician, turning his attentions to jazz, country, pop and rock after studying in Brisbane before launching a promising career as a session musician. Then, in 2006, he disappeared, trading a lifetime of playing for others for the chance to forge the path towards his own sound.

After a wild winter in the Scottish Highlands, a pilgrim’s call drew him to Vienna before he landed behind a London bar, where simply surviving the city brought him back to nothing. Half a world from every musical experience and association he’d ever made, the new sounds and influences in this new scene soon saw him gigging and collaborating, toying with music production and, after a brief escape to the outskirts of Nottingham, writing. On his return, a stone’s throw from the infamous Half Moon pub on the banks of the Thames, he was armed with new sounds, songs, lyrics and purpose.

Schrav’s debut album Sunday Morning marks this latest checkpoint. The eclectic blend of acoustic folk and layered vocals, the whirlpool of drums, guitar, violins, and keyboards and the poetic penmanship are the work of an artist who has developed his songcraft and discovered his musical soul. Legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole (Sting, The Verve, Bjork, David Gray), Cherise Osei (Mika, Bryan Ferry), George Georgiev (Awake), John Parker (Nizlopi) and a host of other talented musicians feature in collaboration, a tribute to Schrav’s cross-genre appeal and myriad influences.