BIO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Horse Stories is the main band project of singer, songwriter, composer, producer and writer Toby Burke.

Burke has released three Horse Stories albums to date, one solo record, an experimental instrumental record (and accompanying photography project) under the title Perfect Black Swan, as well as working on scores, art instalations and contributing short stories to a recent anthology. All this whilst spending time living in London, Melbourne (his place of birth) and his more permanent base, Los Angeles, where Horse Stories first formed.

The most recent (and most critically-acclaimed) Horse Stories record, Everyone's A Photographer, was engineered and produced by Pall Jenkins of The Black Heart Procession in San Diego.

Upon its European release Everyone’s a Photographer earned yet more of the glowing reviews that Horse Stories have quietly been amassing over the past 5 or 6 years, in the ever-taste-concious and progressive UK music press. It was called the band's best work yet, in 4 star reviews from UNCUT, MOJO, NME and more.
The Australian release saw further aclaim, as the album was named The Age Album of the Week, given 4 Star reviews in The Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph. Plus it launched Burke into Rolling Stone’s “songwriters to watch” in 2006 and landed in the running for Australian Music Prize Album of the Year.
Its It seems that this record has truly nailed Burke’s reputation as a purveyor of the kind of slow-burning acoustic-based gems that appeal to both mainstream and indie audiences, alike.

The two earlier Horse Stories records [Travelling Mercies (for Troubled Paths) & One Hundred Waves] had alrready caught the attention of both the press and devoted fans . Between records and tours (with the likes of Hayden, Joanna Newsom, Willard Grant Conspiracy), Toby Burke released a record made completely solo, from home. Perhaps it was the time in isolation that nurtured a yearning to immerse him self in a bigger and more immediate ‘band’ sound.

Everyone’s a Photographer sees a combination of Horse Stories’ trademark sparse palette with added layers of harmony and instrumentation, thanks in part to new player Beth Balmer. Although the fresh sound may be a surprise to fans of Horse Stories’ existing work, the strength of writing and inspiring delivery - via Burke and long-time drummer Clinton Stapleton - are welcome calling cards of this ever-growing musical talent.

Other projects Toby is currently involved in:

Perfect Black Swan
and collective

-------------------------------

Photo by: George Byrne

LATEST RELEASE
-------------------------------

Everyone's A Photographer

"Tortured beauty" - Rolling Stone
“Wonderful” 4 Stars - UNCUT
Album of the Week - The Age
“Exquisite” 4 Stars - MOJO
“Awesome” 8/10 - NME