Hobart-based songwriter Phil Smith has released, ‘That’s Love For You‘ the first single from his forthcoming new album Into The Night (early 2023) and we’re super happy to be able to premiere the video clip, directed by Bones, on PTW today.

The single has that perfect melancholic alt-country sway, built on harmonica, perfectly placed and wistfully strummed guitar chords and Smith’s voice that transports the listener to a place of windswept beaches and broken hearts. That electric guitar line captures the emotion of the song beautifully as it tumbles forth. Definitely highly recommended for for fans of Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Paul Kelly etc.

“I’ve spent my whole career wanting to write heartfelt break-up songs but I’m not that good at it,” confesses Smith. “This one slipped through the cracks. It just describes that feeling of desolation and loss that comes from being on the pointy end of a break-up….”

Smith’s Tasmanian relocation and the impact of the pandemic led to some long delays in the recording of his fifth studio album. Into The Night started life as a DIY ‘Nebraska’-style, 4 track reel-to-reel record but soon blew out into a full studio album featuring an array of Hobart session musicians as well as various band members. A ‘sister’ album to 2014’s Year Of The Dog, Into the Night explores themes of solitude, heartbreak and the search for home – with the album split between solo acoustic songs and full band songs. 

Phil Smith plays Rollin’ Fields with Lee Kernaghan and The Wolfe Brothers on November 19th in Tolosa Park, Hobart and will also be appearing at the Cygnet Folk Festival (13-15th January) and Left Of Field in February 2023.