Sue Cunningham

The getaway you cannot escape

The verdant surrounds of Denmark cradle some the State’s most remarkable musical talent and Peter Morris has met with a few of its big names who love the isolation but ultimately crave the spotlight.

The rugged pastures that seamlessly blend Albany into Denmark would have been an inspiration to the Greek bucolic poets – there is more than enough rustic here about which to wax lyrical.

As I turn to bend on the Lower Denmark Road, I almost hit a muddy farmer as he unexpectedly zooms across the road on his quad bike. Perfectly lit in the winter midday sun, as though posing for a WA tourism promotion he looks every bit the healthy, shining example of the country dweller.

Being a city boy from England I begin to wonder about the three young Denmark musicians I’ve arranged to meet for this article. Environments repel or attract and I was curious to know what affect this Great Southern idyll has on the musical ideas and attitudes.

Would their music embrace a more simplistic, pastoral way of life, embodied maybe, through a finger-in-the-ear style of traditional European folk music?

Or possibly take the modern day singer-songwriter / new folkie approach where important issues are touched upon but in an indirect, inoffensive “let’s not upset the neighbours” sort of way.

Or maybe they didn’t like living in Denmark at all and were screaming to get out of the place.

Xave Brown and Sue Cunningham are both self-described singer-songwriters and current mainstays of the Demark music scene.

Much of Xave’s music is about observing human nature. At times, the darker content to his lyrics is cleverly disguised by a sweet, soul-stirring melody, at others it has awkward, uncomfortable edges and surprising changes – more stories with musical accompaniment, than verse / chorus, verse / chorus.

Sue Cunningham has just released the vibrant five-track EP Common Ground.

It’s stripped down earthy, acoustic guitar and vocals have a gutsy independence and confidence that clearly demonstrates her passion for playing music.

Sue tutors music alongside Tony King, occasional member of Xave Brown’s backing band when he decides to “rock out a bit”. As well he is bassist with Denmark band Midnight Mahina and music industry coordinator at Denmark’s Great Southern TAFE campus.

He also makes the claim “people sound better” when he’s playing with them.

As we enjoy a coffee outside Lilly Pilly café, we’re suddenly accosted by an imposing looking figure with a ponytail accusing the group of musicians of being idlers.

Todd Moore is, to quote an old joke: “One of those people who hangs around with musicians” – a drummer.

Todd’s good-humoured banter aside, being an independent musician, with no record label or management to look after your affairs, is not the life of Riley that many people presume it is.

After spending many months writing and practising your own material, you then need to promote yourself and perform your song to (you hope) people who’ve never heard them before and will (even more hopefully) appreciate the hard work you’ve put into your craft. The pragmatist may say that this is all character building stuff, but can’t it all get a bit soul-destroying sometimes?

“Not really, being a musician is my dream and everything I do is connected with that,” Sue says.

“If you worried about that you’d never get out of the bedroom”, Tony adds.

One of the problems these musicians face is being able to perform effectively outside the Great Southern, the planning, not to mention the financial costs, can be difficult to navigate.

The Albany / Denmark axis is not a problem – in fact Xave and co. have just performed at Albany’s Next Big Thing. No sooner had the last chord rang out, than they were packing up their gear and heading back to Denmark for another engagement.

“But if we’re going to play somewhere different outside Albany or Denmark then we’re are virtually touring”, Tony says.

“Everything becomes more expensive. You’ve got to promote yourself, know how to work the sound or get enough money from your gigs to get people to do that for you,” he says.

“Down here you’ve got to have a few more skills up your sleeve than you would if you were playing in a band at a similar level in Perth.”

The trade-off, I guess, is being able to live and create in such a beautiful part of WA.

“I definitely write some songs that are influenced by living here – you need nature and space to get away from people and all that kind of stuff”, Xave says.

In fact, Xave won the 2006 WAMi Regional Song Of The Year award for the Call Of The Wild, his haunting hymn to a life less cluttered.

Ironic then, that a song that celebrates “a place that nobody owns” and “a space beyond words” should bring him to the attention of more people.

Sue, who grew up in the Blue Mountains, firmly believes living in Denmark has had a positive influence on her work.

“Living here just - Albany Matters No.2 Vol.7 July 2007

The Sound Of Common Ground

Sue Cunningham is one of Denmarks’ favourite musical daughters. She is just as at home busking as she is playing shows with other hard working local acts such as Geoff Waldeck, Xave Brown and The Lonely Brothers, headlining her own gigs at wineries, or supporting touring acts such as Clare Bowditch and The Dave Mann Collective.

Sue released her well-received debut CD-single Seaside Town in 2005. Since then she has been writing a lot of new material and recording it here at Denmark’s Sonic Dungeon studio. Sue also travelled to the home of her birth in the Blue Mountains NSW, recording tracks with her mum’s next door neighbour, John Frank. The results of the last 18 months have come together in her brand new 5 track EP Common Ground. Sue found the whole process “harmonious and organic” and is grateful to be able to dedicate her life to the pursuit of “expressing creative knowledge and wisdom though music”.

Sue warmly invites you to come and help her launch Common Ground. Her hope is you will have great time at her gigs, and once you listen to her new CD, you will want to listen to it again. Catch the good vibes of Sue Cunningham’s Common Ground at Matilda’s Estate Winery Saturday June 9th with the Lonely Brothers, or at the Denmark Tavern on Saturday June 30th with some very special guests. Common Ground will be available for purchase from The Denmark Environment Centre. For more details and for a preview of some of her new and tasty organic tunes, head to www.myspace.com/suecunningham
- Denmark Bulletin 31st May 2007

The Sound Of Common Ground

Sue Cunningham is one of Denmarks’ favourite musical daughters. She is just as at home busking as she is playing shows with other hard working local acts such as Geoff Waldeck, Xave Brown and The Lonely Brothers, headlining her own gigs at wineries, or supporting touring acts such as Clare Bowditch and The Dave Mann Collective.

Sue released her well-received debut CD-single Seaside Town in 2005. Since then she has been writing a lot of new material and recording it here at Denmark’s Sonic Dungeon studio. Sue also travelled to the home of her birth in the Blue Mountains NSW, recording tracks with her mum’s next door neighbour, John Frank. The results of the last 18 months have come together in her brand new 5 track EP Common Ground. Sue found the whole process “harmonious and organic” and is grateful to be able to dedicate her life to the pursuit of “expressing creative knowledge and wisdom though music”.

Sue warmly invites you to come and help her launch Common Ground. Her hope is you will have great time at her gigs, and once you listen to her new CD, you will want to listen to it again. Catch the good vibes of Sue Cunningham’s Common Ground at Matilda’s Estate Winery Saturday June 9th with the Lonely Brothers, or at the Denmark Tavern on Saturday June 30th with some very special guests. Common Ground will be available for purchase from The Denmark Environment Centre. For more details and for a preview of some of her new and tasty organic tunes, head to www.myspace.com/suecunningham
- Denmark Bulletin 31st May 2007

Sue Cunningham
@ The Lions Den, Denmark
by Freya Sampson

Intimate. I entre the Lions Den – I feel intimacy and take a moment to find my space in this world. People are seated at tables, gathered together, friends and family. Josh (Sue’s partner) is lying on a cushion on the floor. We exchange greetings as I pass by.

The Lions Den – café come art gallery – has the most comforting vibe, Sue’s tunes fill my ears, the room, the air as I scan for familiar faces. Lights change purple, yellow and blue across Sue’s face as she strums and seeks to strike a chord in out humanity. Colourful people are everywhere, their characters are speaking loudly, yet they do not utter a sound as they’re carried on every word, every note she emanates.

I am settled now, my sense attuning, ever deeper. I become a captive to her soul, feeling her emotion, hearing her words, listening to more than words can ever say. I am drawn ever deeper, visions spring forth from my mind and I realise the truly gifted artist that is Sue Cunningham.

Compelled to know more, I questioned Sue about her creative process.

“Sue has an amazing voice, her range impressive and uniquely expressive”.

“I’m constantly grappling for a connection with this earthly existence and my fellow inhabitants. I think the gift of music has been given to me as a way of always being able to make that connection, even in my darkest and most lost moments. The physical act of songwriting is an interaction between my inclination to dwell and ponder and my inspiration to grow and learn. It’s like the act of songwriting transmutes emotional energy and gives it (and me) meaning and purpose. I sometimes feel like music has taken me over and become my only identity. Who is Sue if she is not playing tunes? But I’m totally happy with that.

Sue continues to state: “My style of music is honest and heart felt contemporary acoustic folk rock. Life is inspiration and life cannot be boxed. If I’m not inspired I’m not living.

This little motto keeps me going:
“I live my life gently, but totally and consistently.”
Sue has an amazing voice, her range impressive and uniquely expressive.

Sue’s ability to interact with her audience makes her show a joyful, interesting and thoroughly entertaining experience.

The next few months Sue will be in the recording studio creating her first album. Keep your ears peeled for that one! Summer is set for gigging around the southern circuit and plans are being made for a northern state tour as out winter sets in – good plan, I’m still trying to figure out how I can go with her.

- Vaczine - September 2005

Sue Cunningham
@ The Lions Den, Denmark
by Freya Sampson

Intimate. I entre the Lions Den – I feel intimacy and take a moment to find my space in this world. People are seated at tables, gathered together, friends and family. Josh (Sue’s partner) is lying on a cushion on the floor. We exchange greetings as I pass by.

The Lions Den – café come art gallery – has the most comforting vibe, Sue’s tunes fill my ears, the room, the air as I scan for familiar faces. Lights change purple, yellow and blue across Sue’s face as she strums and seeks to strike a chord in out humanity. Colourful people are everywhere, their characters are speaking loudly, yet they do not utter a sound as they’re carried on every word, every note she emanates.

I am settled now, my sense attuning, ever deeper. I become a captive to her soul, feeling her emotion, hearing her words, listening to more than words can ever say. I am drawn ever deeper, visions spring forth from my mind and I realise the truly gifted artist that is Sue Cunningham.

Compelled to know more, I questioned Sue about her creative process.

“Sue has an amazing voice, her range impressive and uniquely expressive”.

“I’m constantly grappling for a connection with this earthly existence and my fellow inhabitants. I think the gift of music has been given to me as a way of always being able to make that connection, even in my darkest and most lost moments. The physical act of songwriting is an interaction between my inclination to dwell and ponder and my inspiration to grow and learn. It’s like the act of songwriting transmutes emotional energy and gives it (and me) meaning and purpose. I sometimes feel like music has taken me over and become my only identity. Who is Sue if she is not playing tunes? But I’m totally happy with that.

Sue continues to state: “My style of music is honest and heart felt contemporary acoustic folk rock. Life is inspiration and life cannot be boxed. If I’m not inspired I’m not living.

This little motto keeps me going:
“I live my life gently, but totally and consistently.”
Sue has an amazing voice, her range impressive and uniquely expressive.

Sue’s ability to interact with her audience makes her show a joyful, interesting and thoroughly entertaining experience.

The next few months Sue will be in the recording studio creating her first album. Keep your ears peeled for that one! Summer is set for gigging around the southern circuit and plans are being made for a northern state tour as out winter sets in – good plan, I’m still trying to figure out how I can go with her.

- Vaczine - September 2005