It’s a career week for Troy Cassar-Daley, as “Between The Fires” (via Sony Music Australia) roars to No. 2 on the ARIA Chart.
That’s a career best solo chart position for Cassar-Daley, eclipsing the No. 3 best for his 2021 solo effort “The World Today,” and equal to the peak position of his 2013 collaborative album with Adam Harvey, “The Great Country Songbook.”
The artist that denies Cassar-Daley his first ARIA Albums Chart crown is, of course, Taylor Swift, whose latest blockbuster, “The Tortured Poets Department,” enters a fourth consecutive week at No. 1.
“Between The Fires” is the leader on the Australian Artist Albums tally, published Friday, May 17, besting “Cape Forestier,” the new release from Angus & Julia Stone, performers at the 2024 Rolling Stone AU Awards in Sydney (“Cape Forestier” debuts at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and No. 2 on the all-Australian albums frame).
“Between The Fires” is Cassar-Daley’s 12 solo studio album, and his most personal yet.
Following the death of his mother, with whom he had a deep connection, Cassar-Daley navigated the grief, channeled it. He set up camp at the old family home in Halfway Creek, on Gumbaynggir country where his mum lived out her life, and his nan before her, set up a recording studio and got to work.
A lot of people said “no” at the start of the project, Cassar-Daley tells Rolling Stone Australia, sister publication of Variety Australia, though he trusted the process and his team. It helped that he felt completely comfortable at the old family home. “I’m on my country. I’m at my most peaceful here.”
Going back to the old home, a place filled with so many memories, was symbolic. And to make a record there, in a spot at the heart of the house, he explains, “it was just obvious after a while that’s where I needed to be.”
Across his three-decade career, Cassar-Daley has collected five ARIAs and a mindboggling 40 Golden Guitar Awards, an all-time record.
Cassar-Daley will support the album with a national tour, kicking off Thursday, May 23 with a sold-out date in Pomona.
Stream “Between The Fires” below.