Mustered Courage ft. Mark Gable Run To Paradise Interview

Mustered Courage ft. Mark Gable Run To Paradise Interview

Run to Paradise – An Iconic Classic Aussie Rock Song Now Immortalised in Australian Based Bluegrass Music





Featuring Nick Keeling (Banjo), Julian Abrahams (Guitar), Josh Bridges (Double Bass) and Josh Bennett (Mandolin), Mustered Courage's steady rise and insatiable work ethic caught the attention of Lost Highway Australia who signed the band to a worldwide recording deal in 2014. The signing was consummated with the release of a rootsy cover of Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" which garnered further accolade from not only Seal himself but fans and media alike with Rhythms Magazine raving, 'the ourpart harmonies are right on the money. And the string picking, whether lightning fast or mellow and relaxed, is incendiary." The single also featured an original instrumental B-side titled -Candle Creek' which earnt merit on its own giving Mustered Courage their first Golden Guitar Award for Instrumental of the Year at the 2015 CMAA Music Awards.

That same year, the band released their third album White Lies & Melodies – their first album via Lost Highway, which earnt the band a nomination for ARIA Country Album of the Year.



Run To Paradise available on iTunes and Spotify now. |

Interview with Mustered Courage

Question: How did the collaboration with Mark Gable come about?

Julian Abrahams: We met Mark on the main street of Tamworth on our first trip to the festival in 2012. Mark approached us and introduced himself and told us that he loved what we were doing.

Being a young band this meant a lot to us. In the following years we would often cross paths in Tamworth. Finally, one year I suggested that we should do a bluegrass arrangement of 'Run to Paradise' at one of our Tamworth gigs.

Mark thought it sounded like fun so we got him on stage and ripped through our version with him and it brought the house down. Aussies love this bloody song and we loved delivering a version that the country and bluegrass people could get into as well. Seeing as we all loved the sound of the version we suggested putting it down in the studio when we were hanging out with Nash Chambers (brother to Kasey) doing some recording. We layed it down in the studio and now we are proud to release it into the world

Question: Can you talk us through the process of putting a bluegrass twist on Run To Paradise?

Julian Abrahams: The chord progression lends itself very well to the traditional bluegrass sound so it made a lot of sense. For any music nerd out there, it's a 1-4-5 kind of thing, or G C D, which is perfect for bluegrass and country music. It's easy. Just play it on acoustic instruments, whack a rolling banjo and a mandolin on there and call it bluegrass.

Question: How would you describe Mustered Courage's music?

Julian Abrahams: The simplest way is to say we're a bluegrass band. Most people don't really know what that really is, but this song is a good example of the traditional sound. Acoustic guitar, banjo, the chop of the mandolin which is the backbeat acting as a snare drum, double bass and usually a fiddle thrown in for good measure. We also write more modern sounding pop stuff harmonically and then arrange it for the bluegrass instrumentation. Some would describe it more in the Americana category. We've said alternative bluegrass and we've also said progressive bluegrass. Genre labelling is all a bit a silly really. It's too hard!


Julian Abrahams: Depends on the crowd. Sometimes we like the up tempo bluegrass bangers like 'Still Shinin'"… sometimes we like the more intimate and intricate songs like Cruel Alibis. It really depends on the crowd and the room we are playing to . We change our setlist dramatically from gig to gig. Keeps it interesting!

Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Julian Abrahams: We love doing both. Their both such different beasts. A lot of magic can happen in both arenas.

Question: What is the story behind the name, Mustered Courage?

Julian Abrahams: Mustering the Courage to be in a band with conflicting personalities. It's the vibe of being in a band in general. It's super challenging. Like living, sleeping and working together constantly. That's what being in a band is. You need the courage to get past the tough times. Friendship and business are challenging when intertwine.

Question: How did the band come together?

Julian Abrahams: Nick and myself played together in a hip hop/funk band for 8 years together prior to Mustered Courage formation. We moved to Melbourne together to be rap stars and ended up starting a country band. True story. See Casual Projects here: YouTube

Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Julian Abrahams: Life, love, the lack of money and struggles with balancing the so called music industry with basic survival.

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Julian Abrahams: Vulfpeck, Jude Perl, Kasey Chambers, Theo Katzman, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton.


Julian Abrahams: AC/DC and my older brothers CD collection.


Julian Abrahams: Billy Joel.

Interview by Brooke Hunter