Trysette’s Neutral Bay Sessions EP gets its name from the suburb of Sydney, Australia where the album was recorded in 2009. Most of Trysette’s recordings are given a full production with back-up singers and other instrumentalists, but this one is just Trysette and a grand piano. Trysette’s voice is a fascinating combination of vulnerability, passion, and poetry. Her lyrics are intelligent, personal and earthy, set to beautiful melodies perfectly suited to her voice. Her original intention was to make this recording a demo of her then-newest original songs, but the recording generated too much attention to keep it under wraps and was eventually released by White Wall Records in London. Bringing us forward to 2012, this past summer Trysette did a three-month tour of the United States with Fiona Joy Hawkins called Two Grand I’m Yours. A celebration of a mutual passion for the piano by two very different musical artists from Australia, those concert performances featured the artists and a piano, showcasing their music in its simplest form. The songs on Neutral Bay Sessions were part of the concert performances, so those who attended any of the concerts will appreciate being able to have a copy of the recorded songs close to how they heard them live. These four songs also appear on Trysette’s full-length CD Le Cafe Ancien, but with a full production.

“Already” begins the album with a song about new love and the roller-coaster ride of emotions that go with it. “Silky Fingers” is my favorite Trysette song (so far). A song for a long-time love, the simple honesty and deep emotion go right to the heart. Love it! “Inside My Dreams” is a slow ballad about trusting a new love after being hurt - tender and a little fearful. “Everything’s OK,” another favorite, is a story-song about moving forward after a crisis. Optimistic and confident that all will be well in time, it’s a poignant tribute to hope and the power of love.

Trysette is a wonderful discovery, and I’m really looking forward to getting into more of her music. Neutral Bay Sessions is available from Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. Recommended!