Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly has been one of Australia’s—and the world’s—premier singer-songwriters for decades, having been introduced to American audiences with the mid-‘80s albums Gossip and Under the Sun and songs such as “Before Too Long,” “Darling It Hurts,” “Dumb Things” and “To Her Door.” His new album, Seventy, finds his voice and songwriting powers undiminished as he continues delivering deep reflections, vivid storytelling and ear worms, including “Rita Wrote a Letter,” a sequel to his 1996 song “How To Make Gravy.” Here he reflects on his life as a musician in Australia, his travels to the U.S., his evolution as a songwriter, his enjoyment of setting poetry to music, his years of being “a recreational heroin user” and what he has learned. Is songwriting his way to make sense out of being human? (Photo by Dean Podmore)