Julia Stone announces collaborative album with cover of Midnight Oil’s "Beds Are Burning"

Stone started recording the LP in London over the new year period after learning that her mother had been evacuated from Lake Conjola, New South Wales.

When she showed producer and good friend Thomas Bartlett her favourite Australian songs one night, they both decided to record a cover of Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning".

Stone wrote of the cover on Twitter, "At first, recording this song was just a creative outlet for the sadness of watching Australia on fire. But i realised my sadness was deeper and more far-reaching than that, connected to the history of intense sadness in Australia in relation to many of the misguided political and social choices that have been made. I really wanted this song to connect with its origins - written 33 years ago about indigenous land rights - I began exploring the information relating to the inattention to indigenous wisdom on land management."

.... At first, recording this song was just a creative outlet for the sadness of watching Australia on fire. But i realised my sadness was deeper and more far-reaching than that, connected to the history of intense sadness in Australia in relation to many of the misguided.....

— Julia Stone (@JuliaStoneMusic) February 16, 2020

.....political and social choices that have been made. I really wanted this song to connect with its origins - written 33 years ago about indigenous land rights - I began exploring the information relating to the inattention to indigenous wisdom on land management. .....

— Julia Stone (@JuliaStoneMusic) February 16, 2020

Songs for Australia will feature covers of Australian songs by The National, Kurt Vile, Joan As Police Woman, Damien Rice, Dermot Kennedy, Martha Wainwright, Petit Biscuit, and more.

Stone says of the LP, "I couldn’t believe the responses I was getting. I received the most heart-warming replies from the biggest, busiest artists in the world. Most of these artists have toured here, have family here, friends here, have lived here or spent time here. Everyone has such great memories of this country and to see it in flames was breaking everyone’s hearts. I often got the response that people were so happy to be offered the opportunity to do something. Everyone feels helpless in times like this."

Money raised from the collaborative covers album will be donated to Firesticks, Landcare Australia, SEED, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, WildArk, and NSW RFS.