Artist: Mike Dawes with Tommy Emmanuel
Song: “Somebody That I Used to Know” (Gotye cover)
Release Date: June 25, 2021
Label: Qten Records
In Their Words: “There are a few reasons why this collaboration had to happen, and I’m so glad it did. ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ is one of the biggest songs to come out of Australia and Tommy is an Aussie national hero! Not only that, but this month marks the 10-year anniversary of the song, as well as the nine-year anniversary of my 2012 arrangement. We’re also announcing our 2022 USA tour together. I am so proud of this collaboration, the arrangement and production. Once you add Tommy to a track, everything falls into place. … Tommy tracked his part to my original recording, then I reworked my part into a re-recording with extra licks, structure and harmony based around what he played. That way I could get Tommy’s DNA into the tune in a way that avoided a lazier approach of just having him play over the top of an old arrangement. I’m so happy with the result and I hope the fans of the original enjoy it too!” — Mike Dawes
“I became aware of Mike through YouTube videos and people in England telling me to check him out. I loved his playing and his personality on stage — he has a generous spirit with his audiences! When my manager took him on as a client, he asked me if I’d like to have Mike on some shows and I jumped at the opportunity to have Mike on a EU tour. We got on as friends and found a good way of making our shows exciting for our audiences and I found I could rely on Mike to always give his best out there on stage. We had fun together and my team became his team too! … Mike’s style is so different to mine and that makes for a good chemistry between us. I ask him to play his arrangements as he did solo, then I found a way to blend in, harmonize, strengthen choruses and stay out of his way, musically, yet add to what he’s doing! His approach to melodies is solid!” — Tommy Emmanuel
Photo Credit: Mike Dawes (Adam King Photography); Tommy Emmanuel (Alysse Gafkjen)
