Corey Colum—

For Western Australian singer-songwriter Corey Colum, time on the road is more than a job—it’s a way of life. His new single Time Away is a nod to the FIFO workers, truck drivers, and touring musicians who live their lives in rosters, rotations and reunions.

“I used to do FIFO, and everyone I work with now still is,” Corey says. “They’re away from their families for a couple of weeks at a time; touring musos are the same. It’s all for a purpose. You’ve still got to make a dollar.”

Corey knows the routine, the long stints away, the early flights, the quiet moments at home between runs. While he may not be doing FIFO now, he’s still working, and the song draws on his own experience of time spent away from loved ones.

“It’s about treasuring the time you do get at home,” he says. “Even if you’re not in that life, you can see how people really make the most of their time when they’re back. And for the people who are doing it, it’s something they can relate to.”

Time Away was written with those working people in mind, those who live their lives in weeks on, weeks off, balancing work and family and making it all mean something. The track was produced by Josh Dyson, with a talented lineup including Luke Gallagher (lead guitar), Emily Gilleneau (fiddle), Jy Perry (pedal steel), Brad Forbes (drums), and Dyson on bass.

Time Away is Corey’s fourth single and features on his upcoming album, Patience.