Dana Gehrman: Find A Way | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- Aside from being an adept guitarist and soulful vocalist Dana Gehrman proves to be a songwriter of substance with an authentic and relatable voice; “Every day I drag these aching bones from under the cover where my dreams are still warm”.  These Days is a song about being burned out, despite Dana Gehrman’s relative youth. Don’t we all know that feeling.

These days is also the third single from the Brisbane artist's debut album Find a Way, and I reckon her strongest yet, with a groove that evokes cruisin’ big landscapes. Crikey though, the first two singles, the titular Find A Way with guest vocal courtesy of Tim Rogers and Hands Tied are hardly lightweights.

Danny Widdicombe contributes distinctive slide guitar that is familiar and reminiscent of something, but I don’t know what or where from.  Perhaps that is because the guitar on this track has a more traditional, twangy feel?  Other players on the album in this mostly Brisbane affair include Dave Orr, Chris Bosley, Ben Carstens, Dan Mansfield, Rafael Karlen, Daren Skaar, Yanto Browning and Abbie Cardwell. What a band: saxophone, trumpet, Hammond, Wurlitzer, big sounds without being overdone.

Dana Gehrman et al traverse a multitude of genres including roots, funk, alternative country with ease, but the most prevalent aesthetic this record oozes is a 1970’s blues-boogie; that  extends to the album’s artwork. Find a Way could be a soundtrack to a road trip with its varying moods along the way.  From the grinding blues of Howling Wolves, set in a dive bar, to the swagger and attitude of So Damn Bad then you head back down the ‘70’s west coast with Karet Rocker.

As a collection of songs, Find a Way is an impressive debut from Dana Gehrman and I think she’s an artist to be watched, particularly if you like alternative country with a heavy dash of smokin’ boogie driven blues.

-Lisa Ditterich.