As the rain descended on an unseasonably cool autumn morning, it seemed that the afternoon’s shoot was going to be a boggy one. But come 4pm, the air had cleared and the sun’s last remnants cemented themselves against the backdrop of the harbour in Balmain.

Young Werther: Cornish Green

We took Young Werther (known to his mum as Mick) down by the waterfront. To one side, a young couple with their child in tow made several attempts to fish from the choppy waters. Elsewhere on the grass, dogs and their owners savoured the day’s end. It seems we weren’t the only ones to make the most of this sunny point. Encroaching upon us from the decks of the aptly-titled fun boat were the strains of something unquestionably, unintentionally hilarious. Laughing, Mick and I recognised the voice of Diana Ross immediately, echoing out across the water.

Young Werther: Around the World

Young Werther: Come On Back Here

We took it as a good sign – Mick’s first song completed, we moved to make the most of the afternoon light and set upon a sculpture overlooking the harbour. His gentle, folksy ballad matched perfectly with the ebb and flow of the water, lapping against the shore wall. Unreleased, previously unrecorded track ‘Around the World’ made the most of the marine setting, his lyrics unexpectedly echoing our surrounds. Finally, we set upon a wooden structure for our final shoot, marveling at its ability to enmesh itself firmly in the gnarly tree branches around it. With batteries running low and the light fading fast, Mick squeezed in one last song, and with that, the shoot was over. Later that night, Mick performed in a church along Darling Street, and undoubtedly won his audience over with his languid, beautiful songs.

– Lexy

www.triplejunearthed.com/youngwerther
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