“Some preach Heaven, some deserve Hell, all souls come together at The Halfway Hotel”
With a driving beat, rocking feel, and even a mini-rap thrown in, Murray river region Musician & The Voice 2022 contestant Danny Phegan bursts out of the gates with new single, The Halfway Hotel.
Written about his bar at home on his property at Walla Walla, southern NSW, known as the Half-Star Hotel, the single was inspired after a conversation with a mate he was drinking with. This is the first single he’s released since his time on The Voice as part of Keith Urban’s team, where he won over the judges, turning three chairs, and Australian music lovers with his authenticity and Australian humour and turns of phrase. “The bar was built in 1884 on our farm and I’ve turned it into my own bar and called it the Half Star Hotel – I thought
about putting in a split system air conditioner and turning it into a full star, but I haven’t,” he laughed. “I had a mate come out to have a beer with me – he’s quite religious and I’m not – and he said you should write a song about the bar because it doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe in, everyone gathers here. It took me 15 minutes and it just fell out.”
The Halfway Hotel takes the listener to a dusty saloon, complete with pianola and burlesque girls where patrons leave their firearms at the door and horse thieves terrorise the town.
“It’s a tongue-in-cheek song about living just outside a small town with those ideas and ideals that crystallise people and they have to put their weapons at the door and let all souls come together,” Danny said. “I want listeners to simply enjoy it because there are enough ‘done me wrong’ songs around, so this is a song simply to enjoy.”
The film clip, shot by award-wining videographer Duncan Toombs of The Filmery, brings the scene to life, and Danny assured us it will be the only time we see him dressed as a priest – you’ll need to watch it above to find out that story.
Since being voted off The Voice in the first Battle Round, Danny has returned to farming with plans to release further singles over the coming months so keep an eye out for more. The Voice experience is one that he will cherish and was an encouraging and nurturing
environment where his goal was to have his wife and children meet Keith Urban – he achieved that and more, capturing the attention of Australia’s music lovers with his friendliness and genuine country charm.
