Ted Brown - An Unwide Road

Acclaimed New Zealand-born singer/songwriter and guitar player Ted Brown, a recipient of a NZ music award for “Most Promising Male Vocalist” is now a Kiwi musical icon living in L.A. He’s earned cult credibility through his Kiwi band The Tunellers; that band released an EP, a video, garnered airplay, and was on the periphery of the indie scene centered around the iconic Flying Nun Records label. In recent years, Brown has been best known as a guitarist, background vocalist and collaborator with his old friend and Pagan Records label-mate Greg Johnson.  Following up his critically acclaimed 2007 solo debut LP ‘Shaky’s Blessing’ with his second LP release ‘An Unwide Road’ he shares his journey through downfall and redemption with candor, humility, and warmth.

“The meaning of the title is twofold. On one hand, it references how little country roads take you to the most awe-inspiring places,” Brown says. “But it also refers to my life. I spent years doing exactly what I wanted and I hurt myself and other people. I have this great life now, but the road is much narrower—I don’t get to do what I please—but the outcome is so much better.”

An Unwide Road is a confessional album looking back at a tumultuous past from a centered present. The pastoral folk of the standout “Love Is” looks at the void we all feel inside and try to fill with drugs, drinking, shopping, and other empty pursuits. This is the album’s first single and a video for it will be issued shortly. “Bringing My Past Back (But Not To Haunt Me)” is the aftermath of failing to fill that void with drugs.

The sweetly lonesome “Looking For Home Down Hallways” conceptually ties the aforementioned two songs together through a big picture look at the human condition.

“We’re all looking for something as human beings. We look for it in another human being, in a job,” he says. “It’s all the same void but we look in different places and, hopefully, eventually find our way home.”
 “These songs are reflective of waking up from being spiritually asleep,” Brown says thoughtfully. “When I play these songs live, they’re emotionally charged for me, and that’s what makes them genuine. “

Released 18 June 2013 recorded at Roundhead studios in Auckland, New Zealand with producer Wayne Bell. The refined simplicity of the production aesthetic aptly reflects the intimacy and authenticity of this body of work. It was tracked studio live with minimal overdubs and artfully placed mics to vibrantly capture Brown’s stirring studio performances. Although the core is Brown singing and playing guitar, each track is delicately embellished with contributions from some old friends.