Neil Finn to livestream rehearsals and recording of new album

Neil Finn, who’s been livestreaming performances since 2003 to capture the immediacy of the moment, will now livestream the recording of his next solo album Out Of Silence.

The sessions, at his Roundhead Studios in Auckland, will be experienced through his Facebook page.

Finn explains, “Every Friday in August at 7pm NZT / 5pm AEST, I will be performing on a live stream from my studio in Auckland.

“During these Friday sessions you will be witness to a series of musical happenings featuring friends, family, fellow songwriters and singers playing tunes both old and brand new.  

“You can follow the progress of new song arrangements as we build towards the last stream on August 25. This final performance will be the actual recording of my new solo album.”

Fans can watch as the eleven songs develop through the sessions.

The results – recorded in one three-hour session –  will be mixed, mastered and released on September 1. 

Out Of Silence will be a follow up to 2014’s solo Dizzy Heights.

He has not formally announced who the other musicians will be on the project. 

But New Zealand’s The Spinoff attended a session at Roundhead Studios last weekend, and reported that the “singing group” was made up of singer-songwriter Don McGlashan; Amelia Murray (Fazerdaze); Sean Donnelly (SJD); James Milne (Lawrence Arabia); Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins); Sam Flynn Scott (The Phoenix Foundation); Sandy Mill; EJ Barnes (Jimmy’s daughter); Jimmy Metherell; Harper Finn (Tim Finn’s son); Reb Fountain; and Victoria Kelly who is co-writing the album’s string parts.

The pop maestro directing the session from behind his piano, was skilfully tapping on the singers’ personal traits to include in the arrangements.

Finn said that his enthusiasm for livestreaming increased after fans were allowed to watch Crowded House rehearse before their shows late last year at the Sydney Opera House.