Australian singer Meg Mac has released her new LP Hope, the follow-up to her 2017 album ‘Low Blows’. Comprised of 7-tracks in total, the record was produced by Myles Wootton. A reflection of personal and sociological events of the time, the album stands as a grand pop offering with heartfelt and thought-provoking lyrics tied into one brilliant package.

Regarding Hope, Meg Mac stated:

“The songs on Hope are influenced and informed by what was happening around me at the time of writing and recording. Music is always filtering through and though not directly influencing my songs they are somehow informing them. I was listening to Nina Simone’s ‘Piano’ album, Gill Scott Heron, Sam Cooke, and Patti Smith; powerful forces which impact on one’s sensibilities. There’s something about the strength, power, attitude, and values of these artists that I connect with.

This record was also indirectly informed by my past; I’d been reflecting on where I come from; particularly my Irish background, the music and singing that constantly filled my home – Irish music, soul music, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison were filtering throughout those early years. Then while I was writing in New York I read Patti Smith’s book Just Kids; a book filled with her past, a New York world of characters, poetry, art, and music. It was rich and deeply inspiring.

There was also something happening in the wider world that had an impact – something that I could directly relate to and needed to respond to. People were bravely standing up against mental and physical abuse, bigotry, sexism, racism and the lies that constantly push the world into fraught and difficult times.

Then, of course, there was the personal – my inner response to what I was feeling.”