Aaron Schembri - City Lights

City Lights is the debut studio album by Australian blues musician Aaron Schembri, released in September 2019 via Bradshaw Music.

City Lights features guest appearances by Normie Rowe, Ross Wilson, Russell Morris, Kevin Borich, Colleen Hewett, Phil Manning, Wilbur Wilde, Mark Gable, and John “Swanee” Swan all singing and playing on his original songs.

Aaron Schembri began performing around Melbourne in his first local pub band at age 15. By 17 he had started performing with and developed a close relationship with the late Ross Hannaford of Daddy Cool. He’s gone on to perform with many of the featured guests listed above whom he invited to play on his debut album City Lights.

In 2015 Aaron began recording City Lights, consisting of nine original songs and an old Robert Johnson blues cover “Come on in My Kitchen”. Highlights of the album are a tribute to Aaron’s late grandfather Fred Schembri; the first ever duet between Russell Morris and Colleen Hewett; and a tribute to the late great Australian guitarist Ross Hannaford, who mentored Aaron through the early stages of his career.

Aaron’s special guest artists performing on “City Lights”, are Normie Rowe, Ross Wilson, Russell Morris, Colleen Hewett, Phil Manning, Kevin Borich, Wilbur Wilde, Mark Gable, Mike Rudd, James Cupples and John “Swanee” Swan.

Aaron co-wrote “Living Hell” with James Cupples and began co-writing a song with Ross Hannaford “Dont You Worry Now” which features Daddy Cool’s Ross Wilson singing the lead vocals.

“Each track has a different inspiration behind it, covering all aspects of my inspirations from reggae, rock, blues and country. The artists on the album have also been big inspirations to me musically. As much as they are my peers, I’m a huge fan of their craft, “Aaron said.

“I first met Ross Hannaford when I was 17, we jammed together a venue called Musicland. We hit it off and started doing duo gigs together and even had Ross guest-spotting in my band over the years.

“I had worked with most of these artists before, I played bass for Normie Rowe at the Go! Show concert at the Palais Theatre. Phil Manning, Mike Rudd, James Cupples I work with regularly. Everyone was all for the concept and the idea of the project and it all just fell into place for me.”

Aaron has released his first single “Good Enough For You” and is excited to have his album out for people to hear and enjoy.

This album is on black vinyl, pressed in Australia via Bradshaw Music.