‘It feels fundamental to understanding the devastation and eerie silence thrust upon us after his sudden death,’ begins the Brighton-based, Australian songwriter Juanita Stein, discussing the moment of great sadness that inspired her new record. ’It was a daunting task to sum up the life of one man such as my father. He was endlessly inspiring, charming, deeply talented and passionately spiritual. He admirably, and at times frustratingly, carried the torch for his own musical career until the very end.’

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Unashamedly classic in style, Stein says ‘I’ll Cry is a musical ode to the all American greats I took my cues from as a budding songwriter. Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and the work of Phil Spector, all of whom made a significant imprint on my heart, I’m forever channelling that soulful sadness. I’ll Cry is a song that speaks of an impossible love, his resistance, her infatuation. Never a happy ending.’

It manages to be dark and whimsical at the same time, a confident melody underneath brave vocals and a fragile heart. It is all out American, but pokes at the ideal and image. The brief pauses before she interjects with ‘sometimes it gets too crazy’ bring the tune to the modern day, before the gorgeous outro that doesn’t last quite long enough. As if knowing that, just when you thought things were all over, there’s a cheeky strum.

America is released on Nude Records on 28th July, and Stein will be playing these shores in August to coincide with the release.