Eyes on the Music: Aus Music Scene
Eyes on the Music: Brett Wood in Conversation with Aus Music Scene
Originally published in Aus Music Scene | ausmusicscene.com.au | 29 July 2025
Aus Music Scene published a Q&A with Brett Wood on 29 July 2025, timed to the release of his single Eyes and a point deep into a 60-date national tour with Pete Murray. Wood answered questions about the song, his creative process, and the career that brought him to this moment.
On the inspiration behind Eyes, Wood was specific. He wanted to write in the style of Bill Withers, capturing what he described as "that thing Bill did where he'd sing over one chord and really milk a bluesy melody," while drawing on the modern blues electricity of Gary Clark Jr and the spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan. The guitar solo tips its hat to the end of SRV's Life Without You, melodic and considered rather than showy. The first line he wrote was "What do you believe in lately," built around a minor groove, and the chorus grew from the phrase "eyes in the back of my head." The song came from a real place, a period of distrust and disharmony, a sense that things were not as they seemed.
On the question of the most interesting person he had worked with, Wood answered without hesitation: Tommy Emmanuel. He recalled Tommy introducing him to Chet Atkins and the conversation that followed, Chet talking about recording with Elvis Presley. "Hearing Chet talk about how amazing Elvis's voice was in person was a heavy conversation for a 19-year-old kid from Melbourne, Australia," Wood said. Tommy Emmanuel is confirmed as a guest on a track on Wood's forthcoming debut album.
At the time of the interview, Wood was about 22 shows from the end of the 60-date run. His next marker was immediate: the launch show for Eyes on 7 August at Stay Gold in Brunswick.
Read the full Q&A at Aus Music Scene.
Brett Wood's debut album is coming in 2026. Singles Real Piece of Work and Eyes are out now on all platforms. Visit brettwood.com and follow @brettwoodmusic.
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