Courtney Barnett first stepped into this same performance studio back in 2013 — when The SoCal Sound was still known as KCSN. During that early session, she performed “Avant Gardner” live on-air through a borrowed Gibson Titan III amp (which, somehow, lived in the studio up until earlier this year), while Nic Harcourt reflected on his own experiences alongside the conversation.
After years of sessions, interviews, and performances with the station, Barnett returns to where it all began — this time in its most stripped-back form: solo, electric guitar and vocals, live in-studio.
A Full Session, Live to Tape
Filmed live to tape, this session features performances of “Site Unseen,” “Mantis,” and “One Thing At A Time,” along with a conversation that dives into the creative process behind her new album, Creature Of Habit.
Now splitting her time between Los Angeles and Joshua Tree, Barnett describes this record as a departure from her previous work. It marks the first time she’s created an album outside of Australia, with much of it written and recorded in the California desert.
Working out of Rancho de la Luna, just miles from where she was living at the time, Barnett found a sense of openness that shaped the sound of the record — a contrast to earlier, more contained projects. The result is something that feels wider, more dynamic, and deeply tied to place.
The Duality of Creature Of Habit
At its core, Creature Of Habit explores a tension Barnett describes as a kind of duality — the pull between routine and restlessness:
“Kind of wanting to be in one spot… having a routine or structure… but also reaching for challenges and adventure.”
That push and pull runs throughout the album — not just thematically, but in how it was made. Moving between environments, shifting perspectives, and embracing change, the record ultimately lands somewhere in between.
A Record Shaped by Southern California
There’s a distinctly Southern California imprint on this album. From the vastness of Joshua Tree to the movement and energy of Los Angeles, the landscape itself becomes part of the story.
Even in the final stages of the album, Barnett describes driving through LA while sequencing the record — listening, reshuffling, and shaping the flow of the songs in real time. It’s a process that will feel familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to make sense of something creative while navigating the city.
Listen + See It Live
Creature Of Habit is available now on all streaming platforms, as well as on CD and vinyl via Mom + Pop:
https://www.courtneybarnett.com.au/
Courtney Barnett returns to Los Angeles for a live performance at the Hollywood Palladium on August 29.
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- · Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
- · Audio by Tristan Dolce
- · Host: Nic Harcourt
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