Matt Corby New Album “Tragic Magic” Out Today
Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer and one of Australia’s most distinctive voices, Matt Corby releases his highly anticipated new album Tragic Magic today. A deeply raw, soul-rich body of work that capture’s Matt at his most open, reflective and creatively expansive.
Tragic Magic feels both timeless and immediate. Building on the quiet, bruised beauty of 2023’s Everything’s Fine, moving fluidly between grief and joy, intimacy and release, tracing moments of fatherhood, friendship, loss and isolation.
Recorded with long-time co-writers and co-producers Chris Collins (Royel Otis, Middle Kids, Old Mervs) and Dann Hume (Genesis Owusu, Tones and I), Tragic Magic also features co-writes with Nat Dunn (Marshmello & Anne-Marie, Blackpink, Duke Dumont), Shungudzo Kuyimba (The Chainsmokers, Teddy Swims, Jesse Ware, Little Mix) and Meg Mac. Corby co-produced every track and performed the majority of instruments across the record.
“There was a lot going on in the time I was writing all these songs”, Matt confesses, beginning with the loss of his partner’s mother from pancreatic cancer, a quick but brutal experience for those who loved her. “There are all these conflicting things, and you are analyzing your own life and the time span of it. You are questioning how you choose to spend your time alive,” Matt recalls.
Yet Tragic Magic doesn’t sit solely in heaviness. Alongside the grief were songs inspired by the most unlikely of sounds, like a magpie’s melody and the sound of a winning poker machine.
New focus single ’Maker’ follows earlier single releases ‘War of Love’, ‘Know It All’, ‘Big Ideas’, ‘Burn It Down’ and ‘Long and Short’.
Matt shares about ‘Maker’, “with [creative] work, you go through all this work and it’s work that might never equate to anything, and it might not be worth anything to anyone, but you do it anyway for some f*cked up reason, because you think you should. We started kind of just laughing about making things for the sake of it and we ended up turning it into a song. I love the reprise after the chorus, it feels timeless, it feels exactly right, and anyone who has tried to write or paint or make anything and failed a million times and has been criticized for it, if they hear this, they will be able to dig in and understand where we’re coming from.”
The album and accompanying single artworks for Tragic Magic were all illustrated by Sydney artist Mariam David and designed by Pat Fox.
PRAISE FOR TRAGIC MAGIC
“a timeless addition to popular culture”
– The Australian, Tyler Jenke ****
“Each rhythm and groove on Tragic Magic feels lived in and meticulously written”
– The Big Issue, Sosefina Fuamoli
“An infinitely beautiful listening experience Corbys latest offering made our heart grow bigger”
–Beat Magazine
“Corby’s vocals sound better than ever”
– The Music, Bryget Chrisfield
“Corby’s incredible ear for melody”
– Rolling Stone Magazine
Multi-ARIA-Award winning and multi-platinum Matt Corby has come a long way since his breakthrough single, ‘Brother’, which has been certified 10× Platinum by ARIA and continues to stand as a timeless classic. Corby’s 2023 album Everything’s Fine became his third consecutive ARIA Top 10 release and earned Album of the Year nominations from both the J Awards and the ARIA Awards.
To celebrate the release of Tragic Magic, Matt Corby will embark on ‘The Tragic Magic Tour’kicking off in Australia on Wednesday June 3 in Adelaide, followed by Perth, Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane. In addition, he will also be performing at Groovin The Moo in Lismore, the Winter Wine Festival in Gerringong and a free show at Vivid Sydney on Saturday June 13.
Matt Corby The Tragic Magic Tour
With special guest Gretta Ray
Friday May 29, Auckland Town Hall, New Zealand
Wednesday June 3, Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Thursday June 4, Riverside Theatre, Perth, WA
Tuesday June 9, The Forum, Melbourne, VIC *Limited Tickets
Friday 12 June, Civic Theatre, Newcastle, NSW *Limited Tickets
Sunday June 14, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Festival Live Show Dates
Saturday May 9, Groovin The Moo, Lismore, NSW
Saturday June 6, Winter Wine Festival, Gerringong, NSW
Saturday June 13, Vivid – Tumbalong Park, Sydney
For all ticket and touring information here
Album Tracklisting
King of Denial
Is It Healthy
Big Ideas
Long and Short
Know It All
Stained
Burn It Down
Locked In
War To Love
Sad Eyes
Maggie
Winning Ticket
Maker
MATT CORBY
TRAGIC MAGIC IS OUT TODAY
ON ISLAND RECORDS AUSTRALIA/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
