Don't
bother detecting and veiled bitterness in that statement: the contentment
that Canadian born Matthews exudes is as tangible as the many exquisite DIY
mosaic frames and tabletops, that colour her incense-fragrant home. With the
release of her sixth album Beautiful View, the multi award winning crooner
of such radio staples as "The Day You Went Away" and
"Standing Strong" leave no doubt that the title of her latest
effort is apt. "I've got my land in the country, I've got my little
place in town and I'm really pleased with this record and I'm actually
pleased that I'm getting older, which is a huge weight off", chuckles
the 40 year-old, who a year ago ended a two year relationship with a
boyfriend she declines to name. "I'm not unhappy, I'm really loving
this time of my life".
The soul-searching that's reflected in Beautiful View, which
features more of Matthews' writing than past albums, began on the heels of
her last release, 1999's Best-Of collection Stepping Stones.
"All of my life, best-ofs denoted the end of somebody", says
Matthews whose trademark brunette curls have been tamed into a sleek new
caramel 'do. "But then it made me thing alright, a chapter closed that
was then, this is now, and it feed me up to do anything I want to do. And it
really was a sense of levity and lightness, and so all these songs started
to come out for this record". It's an effort "a lot of people will
be surprised by", says its producer Michael Szumowski. "We didn't
want people to think 'OK, another typical Wendy Matthews record' and on that
level we've definitely achieved a goal."
The
new owner of Wendy Matthews' heart stares lovingly at the songstress,
nuzzles her neck, then bounds around their one-bedroom apartment in Sydney's
Bondi.
"It sounds so ridiculous that a little joyous puppy can change your
life, but really she has", says Matthews as Bear, her tireless
ten-month-old, short-haired Border Collie, streaks back into the kitchen.
"I've a song out there at the moment called Beautiful View which
makes me think of her, but that's because she's the love of my life at the
moment".
WENDY'S FRESH HORIZONS