William Crighton joins Noise11’s Paul Cashmere to discuss his powerful fourth album Colonial Drift, a deeply personal record exploring identity, history, place and collaboration.
In this interview, William Crighton explains how the album title emerged from conversations about Australia’s complex cultural legacy and the idea of belonging to a land shaped by many histories. He reflects on how Colonial Drift expands on themes introduced in Water And Dust, while moving toward a more hopeful and celebratory perspective of life in Australia.
A major focus of the discussion is Crighton’s songwriting partnership with his wife Julianne, who played a central creative role in shaping the album’s lyrics and direction. The pair co-wrote most of the record, marking Crighton’s most collaborative studio project to date.
The interview also explores the profound influence of Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst, who co-wrote and helped produce key tracks including War Zone and Horizon. William Crighton shares emotional memories of working with Hurst during his final years and explains how those sessions reshaped the music. Contributions from Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie are also discussed, offering insight into the creative chemistry behind the recordings.
William Crighton talks about how living in the United States and China broadened his songwriting perspective, and why Colonial Drift feels like a creative reset similar to his breakthrough self-titled album.
The conversation also touches on touring plans, family life, winning an ARIA Award, and why this album represents a significant milestone in his artistic journey.
Watch the full Noise11 interview with William Crighton now.
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