Growing up on a farm during the millennial drought in western NSW, Edwina Lumsden, saw first-hand the toll it took on rural communities.
Edwina, or Fanny as she is professionally known as, has written a song that aims to spark a discussion on mental health and to let people know its okay to ask for help.
Fannys song Real Men Dont Cry (War On Pride) is the third single from her number one ARIA Country Album chart album Real Class Act.
“I grew up out at the Tallimba area.. through the millennial drought so I definitely saw that take its toll on people around us and people really close to you,” she said.
Fanny said while the song is very poignant right now, she also wanted to talk about mental health in a larger context and how it affects everyone.
“It was just something Id been thinking about for a long time… I didnt release it because of the drought it just kind of worked out that way that the conversation was happening at the same time, which worked out well,” she said.
“I wanted it to be a connotation that people take with them. Maybe its not something they talk about straight away, but maybe when theyre out feeding their cows later on they can be like how are you going? and someone might (talk)…
“I knew people were talking about it (mental health) but I just wanted to bring it to light a little bit more.”
The release of this poignant single and its video follows the announcement of Real Class Act as a finalist for Best Country Album in the 2018 ARIA Awards and as Fanny hits the road for the Under Our Hills Hoist tour.
Being an ARIA nominated artist isnt something Fanny takes for granted, especially considering she is an independent act.
“Were the only independent act nominated, we did this ourselves through our own record label and we crowd funded the record. For it to be nominated for an ARIA is just amazing,” she said.
Her current tour sees Fanny and her band playing in peoples backyards across regional Australia.
“Its fantastic, were having a great time. Its a really different way to tour and you get to know people really well,” she said.
It has certainly been a busy year for the rural singer. Not only has she performed across Australia, but Fanny also travelled to America to play at Nashville.
She and her husband, Dan, also welcomed their first child in July.
Fanny says she is humbled by the support from the regional communities who have allowed them into their towns to perform.
“I would also just like to thank the communities for hosting us over the years and for those that were going to go out to,” she said.
“It is all about these small communities and we love them so much and we love that we get to play in their halls and they let us into their communities for a night. Its a privilege.”
If you would like to find out more on Fanny please visit www.fannylumsden.net
This story Singer aims to ignite a discussion on mental health with new song first appeared on Western Magazine.
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Nyngan Observer
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