Lawson Hull’s Debut EP ‘Dreaming Is Easy’ Out Now + New Video
November 13, 2020 BY Nettwerk
Aussie singer/songwriter Lawson Hull releases his debut EP Dreaming is Easy, comprised of six tracks rooted in folk and dream pop melodies. He shares a new music video for EP closer, “College Town,” which represents what Dreaming is Easy is all about — a culmination for Lawson, proof that he can step up and actualize his dreams. The EP is available on all digital retailers HERE.
Diffusing a quiet kind of sadness that only feelings like regret and nostalgia can stir up, “College Town” is about a period of Lawson’s life when he felt lost, having moved from one small town to another. It hits right to the heart of anyone that’s felt like they should be somewhere better, somewhere bigger. But as much as it imbues a sense of loss or sadness, ultimately it is a cathartic acceptance of past choices.
Of the video, Lawson says, “We filmed a special little visual for the song down in a small fishing town called Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury river, just north of Sydney. It has a real low-key vibe, not a lot going on, so it pretty much summed up my life! Angus shot it all on an old super 8 camera to portray a kind of nostalgia about old places that feel like home, and what it would be like to look back on a place if I left it.”
Lawson says of Dreaming is Easy, “The EP uncovers scenes of heartbreak for close friends and family, the breakdown of relationships, the building of new ones, and the everyday struggle to believe in oneself as a songwriter and artist.” But between these struggles, there are also moments of deep love and appreciation that Lawson explores, and he does so with a lush sensitivity. As a collection of stories, Dreaming is Easy is like a snapshot of Lawson’s life leading up to this release but in a deeper sense, it’s an invitation. As Lawson puts it, “hopefully [it’s] a reflective moment to the listener, to act on their dreams.”
Even the EP’s artwork—a childhood photo of Lawson and his sister eating ice cream in the 90s—is a reminder of its theme. Lawson comments, “It’s easy to dream when you’re a kid. You just have to make those dreams come to life when you’re older.”
All but one of the EP’s six songs were recorded with Sydney-based producer Billy Otto (Dreams, Eyes Like Fire) who was able to provide a cohesive sonic palette that speaks to Lawson’s atmospheric guitar playing and his love of the outdoors. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bon Iver to Bombay Bicycle Club, Lawson’s songs land in the sonic midst of fellow Australian artists such as Kita Alexander, Angus and Julia Stone and #1 Dads. His lyrics talk of breakdowns and confessionals with heart-breaking realizations.
