Lost News

WRAP UP OF NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN OUR REGION BY EDITOR, JESSICA WALSH

The fog is rolling in already, as we enter the humblest, most grounding time of the year, our infamous Winter. It's a season for hibernation... or adventure, with a feast for the senses on offer at every turn. Immerse yourself in the winter beauty of our Daylesford region, with festivals a plenty, and many a great food and wine experiences on offer.

Sound is key, as we slow down and listen to the rain. Mahmood chats with incredible singer/songwriter Harmony Byrne. Relatable and raw, with that hypnotic strumming drawing you into a soothing degree of sadness, the perfect soundtrack to Winter.

Visually - we are delighted to welcome back Borealis on the lake, a mesmerising experience for the eyes and ears.

Taste, La famiglia reimagined. Our renowned Passing Clouds offers a dining experience in their reimagined space, powered by charcoal and wood.

We visit Rocket and Belle, a not-so-secret haven for vintage wares & industrial antiques, full of nostalgia.

As we turn to winter we seek out comfort foods, and what more appropriate than the humble potato, abundant in our region. We have a yarn with long time farmer George Wicker.

Mahmood has a chat with Dave Frazer, a great guy who brings a wonderful weekend to Daylesford, Winter Sounds - A weekend of intimate performances in some of our most iconic and extraordinary spaces.

Last but not least, we present you with the scent of our freshly printed LOST Magazine.

Welcome to Winter in Daylesford, allow us to warm your soul and awaken your senses.

Jessica Walsh Editor

Singer and songwriter Harmony Byrne moved to this region roughly four years ago, “not really intending to plant roots but the area kinda planted me,” says Harmony. “Sure feels like home now.”

In May, she performed “heart breakin’ & heart makin’” duets with David Elias, under the banner Hymn & Her, in the hills of Yandoit. “It all began when the 'Her' fell in love with the 'Hymn'. Both being songwriters we naturally began exploring music together.”

Harmony’s music has a slow-dance rhythm, a confessional tone and an ethereal voice.

“I remember listening to Jeff Buckley expression and knew that's how I wanted to sing; with composure, rawness, and a true embodiment of the voice.”

Harmony was raised in a family of seven children, “[it] was pretty chaotic. But with music I was allowed to be loud...well, some of the time,” says Harmony.

Music became a path to some other imaginative space.

“Mum didn't want us watching TV, so when we weren't tearing each other's hair out, we were using our hairbrushes as microphones instead. Music became our source of entertainment, I still remember one of the first songs me and my sister Serene wrote called "Bad Girl"... what a banger!”

These days, Harmony writes from the vantage point of lived experience. It’s an internal, emotive sound that lingers in the

Regional dining

French inspired, four course seasonal 'prix xe' menu, in a beautiful winery setting.

Open for lunch

at its best. attwoodswines.com.au/dining bones. She adds “I always carve out little windows throughout my songs where you will be able to see me.”

These windows are flooded by the juxtaposition of lush and sparse feelings from the region.

“I think my writing has become more spacious by living out here. I used to rush through my songwriting process, pushing myself into the wee hours. While I still do that occasionally, I more so enjoy musing over lyrics for months at a time. The openness of the region has given my songs the room they need to bloom.”

Her writing process moves like the seasons. She says, “Sometimes the song comes flooding, at other times it's a light shower. If I'm ever in drought, I read through old journals... or watch a bit of trash (Nashville) and I'm suddenly rebooted.”

Harmony recalls one of her earliest songwriting projects, Eagle Eyes, “I wrote it when I was 16, pining over a boy or three, and recently dug it up as it was one of my Mums favourites.”

She decided to record it herself, and added a homely touch, “My fav mug (by local artist Bridget Bodenham) made a percussive debut appearance and the shower transformed into a recording booth. I never intended to release the song but my label loved it.”

With the help of a producer in Los Angeles, she released Eagle Eyes as a single last year, “I'm so happy to have it out in the world (thanks Mum!)”

Harmony Byrne @harmonybyrne