Australian singer-songwriter call me su has officially stepped into the solo spotlight with her compelling debut collection, ‘Burringbar St’. Shaking off the polished production layers that dominate modern streaming charts, the record delivers an uncompromised, grit-infused dose of alternative rock and dark blues that feels entirely human.
Su is hardly a newcomer to the craft. Having spent the early 1990s onward sharpening her pen, she spent a decade anchoring the rock outfit All Hat No Cattle. However, her recent years have focused on a deeper, quieter pursuit: carving out a singular storytelling voice. That voice was ultimately tested and refined on the pavements of Mullumbimby, where she busked original material for passing locals and travellers.
Named after the very street where she performed for spare change, ‘Burringbar St’ captures that raw, unfiltered busking energy. Musically, the album relies on a stripped-back foundation of expressive guitar work and a commanding voice, leaning heavily into a haunting gothic country aesthetic. Rather than writing autobiographical confessionals, su builds vivid, transportive landscapes populated by restless dreamers, outsiders, outback roads, and eerie psychological phantoms. For listeners who appreciate the darker corners of roots music, her penchant for murder ballads will feel like a welcome homecoming.
To preserve the authenticity of the street performance, su collaborated with producer Michael Di Cecco to keep the tracks as immediate as possible.
“I asked my amazing producer Michael to catch the immediacy of my busking set,” su explains. “Burringbar St is where I sing and play, and my audience is drawn from the two pubs and several restaurants nearby. There were a couple of second takes, but the record is exactly as you would hear it, if you met me on the street.”
Throughout the seven tracks, ‘Burringbar St’ prioritises narrative integrity over technical perfection, leaving deliberate space for listeners to interpret the fates of her deeply realised characters. It’s an album of soulful moments and undeniable heart, layering authentic moments with a dark country aesthetic to create an unfiltered snapshot of life.
The new album is available now across all major streaming platforms. To catch her upcoming performance dates or glimpse behind the scenes of her songwriting journey, follow call me su on Instagram and Bandcamp.
