Courtney barnett reflects on desert inspirations, new beginnings
Courtney Barnett returns with her fourth album, Creatures of Habit, five years after Things Take Time, Take Time, a project that marked a pivotal moment in her career. The new record, steeped in the quiet landscapes of the California desert, reveals a musician navigating a new chapter—a move from Melbourne to Los Angeles and the closure of her Australian record label.
Finding solace in joshua tree and a new city
Barnett details how the album's genesis unfolded during a period of significant change. After years of touring and managing her own label, the decision to close it in Australia proved both daunting and liberating. “It was a really big, scary, sad decision, but it sort of found me at a crossroads to start a new chapter,” she explains. The solitude and inspiration of Joshua Tree, where she resided while writing, proved pivotal. “It really kind of gave me some space and time to reflect and to write,” she says.
The transition to Los Angeles presents a fresh dynamic. While appreciating the city’s vibrant energy—hiking, a renewed social life—Barnett acknowledges the constant flux of her musical community. “Even at the moment in Melbourne, everyone’s kind of going through their own life journeys and changing the way they’re doing things,” she notes. She finds a different kind of connection in LA's bustling Music scene, fueled by a constant influx of artists.
Collaborations and a return to vinyl
Creatures of Habit features a collaboration with Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield on the track “Site Unseen.” Barnett praises Crutchfield’s vocal range, stating she envisioned her harmony perfectly complementing the song. “I just asked her if she’d be up for it, and she was!” The album’s sonic palette draws heavily from classic vinyl, a deliberate choice reflecting a preference for the immersive experience over streaming. She cites Paul McCartney’s Midnight Love and several Harry Nilsson records as key influences during the recording process. “I get overwhelmed by all the choices with streaming Music and it’s just too much,” she admits. “It’s nice to just pick up an old vinyl and just sit with that.”
The songwriting process itself felt subtly different this time around, perhaps owing to the intervening years and personal evolution. Barnett describes her approach as continually morphing, but always rooted in the familiar – sitting with a guitar or piano.
More than just a new collection of songs, Creatures of Habit represents a deliberate recalibration. It's a testament to an artist embracing change, seeking inspiration in unexpected places, and finding resonance in the quiet spaces between the noise.
The album’s release arrives as the Music industry grapples with shifts in consumption and distribution, a reminder that the enduring appeal of vinyl lies not just in nostalgia, but in the tangible connection it offers to the art itself.
Barnett's journey, from the familiar landscapes of Melbourne to the sun-drenched hills of Southern California, underscores a broader trend among musicians seeking creative renewal through geographical and sonic exploration.