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Program: Stella Donnelly's radical honesty

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If you’ve ever lost touch with a friend or been heartbroken by a platonic breakup, Stella Donnelly’s new album is for you. 

Documenting the end of a friendship, it’s a brutally honest, heartbreaking, and hopeful record so many of us can relate to. And Zan couldn’t wait to talk with her all about it.

Stella is one of the best songwriters around today. She has always shot from the hip, told it like it is, and been unafraid to share the truth.

Hearing her speak about the songwriters who do the same is a masterclass in the power of song, and the influence of these incredible songwriters on us all.

Stella Donnelly's song choices:
  • Billy Bragg — The Short Answer 
  • Kev Carmody + Paul Kelly — From Little Things Big Things Grow 
  • Sharon van Etten — Every Time the Sun Comes Up 
  • Big Thief — Mythological Beauty
  • Lily Allen — Relapse 

00:00 - Introduction

01:11 - The relief of releasing Love & Fortune as a whole album

03:38 - SONG 1 : Billy Bragg - 'The Short Answer'

06:40 - Stella on Billy Bragg and the token record of her childhood

08:58 - Radical honesty in songwriting

12:12 - SONG 2 : Kev Carmody & Paul Kelly - 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'

15:30 - Looping mantras & the difficulty of being honest

19:01 - SONG 3 : Sharon van Etten - 'Every Time The Sun Comes Up'

23:44 - Making the album in a homemade cocoon

26:03 - SONG 4 : Big Thief - 'Mythological Beauty'

28:22 - Self critiques & hope for the future

33:50 - SONG 5 : Lily Allen - 'Relapse'

36:23 - Closing thoughts and next weeks guest!

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview:

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

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