Brad Cox on smelling the roses, unique album art, new LP 'Acres'

You bought 100 acres of land during the (almost) peak of the pandemic. Tracks like Acres and Beer & Fishin' make it clear that space and solitude isn’t a fear of yours. How important do you think it is for all of us to reconnect with the natural world?

The most important thing there is. Period. Crazy people are the ones that don't get outside and smell the roses. I have the privilege of being in a situation where I can afford to prioritise time out. It allows me to pour more effort and focus into my music and business, and I think I produce the best product when these two things are balanced.

In your lyrics, you mix traditional American references with Aussie ones – for example, in Them Things, you mention kissing a girl under the “bleachers” and, a few lines later, drinking a “longneck”. Why do you think this works and doesn’t take your listeners out of the experience (solely Aussie or solely American)?

We live in a country where 50 per cent of our culture is influenced by American culture, so the above is not something I've ever actively thought about because I don't think there is a need for translation.

How did you choose this intriguing cover art? It’s quite unusual for a country album.

That right there is the exact reason: it's unusual. Usual is boring. I had a yarn to my graphic designer and said, "Make it weird, make it interesting, and every time someone looks at it, I want them to notice something different." He nailed it.

Wildfires is an impassioned song – tell us about what prompted you to write its lyrics and the collab!

I wrote it with [frequent collaborator of Matt Corby] Alex Hendrickson, about a collection of little towns in Western Victoria I spent some time in a bunch of years ago. The towns were dying, young people didn't stay there, and the communities were dwindling. I'm unsure if it's still the case or if things have changed, but it made me sad to see. Small communities are the lifeblood of this country, and I hope young people will realise what a fantastic life you can live away from the city.

Old Skoolin' goes, “Keep that classic country grooving on a vinyl record player while we two-step down the halls” – do you have a vinyl collection yourself?

I do have a record player - only in the last 12 months or so. My grandmother gave me my pop's old collection. It's been fun sifting through the sh-t to find the gems.

Acres by Brad Cox drops via Sony.