Susanna Freymark
As the sun sets over the green paddocks of Unumgar, musicians Kym Watling and Geoffrey Bates kick back on the veranda to talk about the release of their latest album.
They’re in good spirits as they talk about the process of creating the nine-track Dark Middle Period – their second album.
We were determined not to release any songs posthumously, Kym said.
Geoff gives a chuckle – “Yeah, nothing gives you focus like a terminal illness.”
Geoff was feeling under the weather a year ago.
“I wasn’t recovering from a simple cold,” he said.
After some blood tests, he was given a diagnosis of plasma cell leukemia.
Through rounds of chemo, blood treatments and doctor visits, it was difficult to work on their music.
“The focus was on the management of the disease,” Geoff said.
They had done a couple of songs before Geoff’s diagnosis.
As they adjusted to Geoff’s condition, they went back to work on the album.
“We had our eye on our end game,” he said.
Geoff had to buy an electric guitar to complete some of the tracks.
They kept recording, putting everything together on their computer. The files were sent to music engineer Scott French on the Gold Coast for the final mix.
Kym is emotional talking about the track Mamma Don’t Be Cruel.
“It’s simple, the emotional hook line is very profound,” Kym said.
When others call me names
I run to you,
When you call me names,
I don’t know what to do.
It’s a deeply personal track – the entire album is deeply personal for both of them.
Writing it through such a difficult time has helped Geoff and Kym get through everything. Being able to focus on something other than the illness seemed to bring them relief.
Creativity is a life force and for Watling & Bates the release of this second album is just that – it represents life, music and the future.
Geoff is doing well. He has had two stem cell transplants to achieve a partial remission. His prognosis is not clear but he is – releasing Middle Dark Period out into the world is something to celebrate.
Watling & Bates were going to be at the Kyogle Bazaar this Saturday, September 28 but the event has been cancelled because of expected wet weather.
For more information go to their website.
and then