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Written during lockdown, Stephanie Wilson's first solo album Parrot King (released September 23, 2022) has a strong connection to her local area near the Cooks River on the land of the Gadigal and Wangal people. A king parrot who visited her courtyard daily became the heart of the album. Vocals and guitar were recoded in Upper Kangaroo River and the album mixed in Bermagui on the South Coast of New South Wales by Ben Moore (Harvest Recordings). Strings were recorded in Glebe by Damian de Boos-Smith (Sound Planet). The album features some of Sydney's most established artists including Ivan Jordan (drums and percussion), Anthony Kable (trombone), Michaela Davies (bass), Ben Adler (violin), Paul Ghica (cello) and Tam Morris (backing vocals). Review of Parrot King: Listening to Parrot King is like sharing a journey with Stephanie Wilson. You are right there, in the thought and process of this beautiful creation. To be more precise, it's a gorgeous 39 minutes of listening pleasure. It's gentle, insightful and humble. It never tells you what to think or feel, instead it paints landscapes for you. Landscapes to dip into and bask in the warmth, imagine the space, consider the moment, ponder the simple and complex at the same time. All openly and honestly shared. "Just look at the beauty you've become." It swirls like a whimsical parrot feather in the breeze, yet a predetermined destination is always in train. Verses cascade like waterfall over rocks, the splashes crisp and cleansing on your face. Each track sure footed up a gentle slope that takes you to a lookout over sweeping plains. You pause, the fresh air fills your lungs and your head declutters, replaced with awe and reflection. The deft production is suitably light-handed, with acoustic guitar and sweet lush wispy vocals abound. A milieu of considered and nuanced colour within the arrangements offer reward on subsequent listens. Such as the final run of Deepest Blue, a brief ear candy progression that occurs just the once, leaving you wanting more. In fact, each track so completely neat in its length. No extension of passages. What is said is said. No more, no less. If Radiohead once bleakly mused on society: "of all these weird creatures that lock up their spirits, drill holes in themselves and live for their secrets" I think, in a way Stephanie's message offers an elegant release valve for all folk dealing with their life loads. It's how you frame it that really matters. "There's ink in the pen, but the paper’s all wet, write it on your skin so you don't forget." - Mike Dub