''Change Colours'' is the third

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by British-Australian recording artist

Reece Mastin Reece John Phillip Mastin (born 24 November 1994) is an English-born Australian singer and songwriter who won the The X Factor (Australia season 3), third season of ''The X Factor (Australian TV series), The X Factor Australia'' in 2011. Mastin ...

, released on 9 October 2015 by Social Family Records. It is the first studio album released by Mastin since leaving

Sony Music Australia Sony Music Entertainment Australia is the predominant record label operated by American parent company Sony Music Entertainment in Australia. Prior to 1995, SMEA published and distributed video games in Australia & New Zealand on behalf of So ...

, and the follow-up to his 2015

extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...

'' Rebel and the Reason''. The album is described as a rock album "high on raw feelings, with songs ripped straight out of real-life experiences that cut to the heart of the matter". It was announced and became available for pre-order on 11 September 2015.

Content and themes

Several songs on the album are about Mastin's split with ''

Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip to Kangaroo Point, N ...

'' actress

Rhiannon Fish Rhiannon Fish (born 14 March 1991) is a Canadian-born Australian actress. Her first screen acting role was Lisa Jeffries in the television soap opera ''Neighbours''. She starred as Rocky in the Disney Channel show ''As the Bell Rings'' and as ...

, which, according to Mastin, was less than amicable. Mastin claims "there was a lot of arguing" but they ended on "good terms". Mastin states he wrestled with being so honest on the record but writing about how he felt proved to be "therapeutic". The album also documents

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner wikt:turmoil, turmoil and includes feelings of dread over Anticipation, anticipated events. Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response ...

and depression, with Mastin noting severing ties with

and the 2014 Lindt chocolate café hostage crisis as having an impact on him.

Reception

Aneta Grulichova of ''

The Music The Music was an English alternative rock band, formed in Kippax, Leeds in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the releas ...

'' awarded ''Change Colours'' two-and-a-half stars out of five, saying; "Reece Mastin was reborn with his EP '' Rebel and the Reason''; now his new record has left rock'n'roll fans high and dry with a mushy, sad album." ''Australian Music Magazine'' gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying that it's a "raw, honest record that we love, and we hope more of Australia can change their opinion of Reece, this is the new Reece." Lauren Katulka of music review website ''Sound of Oz'' said about the album: "Change Colours isn’t like the other Reece Mastin albums, and that’s exactly why it’s so special. It showcases the work of a young artist that is releasing music he believes in, perhaps for the first time. If you’ve dismissed him as just another reality show winner, it's probably time to rethink your stance." ''Change Colours'' debuted on the ARIA Album Chart at number 12, falling to number 72 in its second week. ''Change Colours'' also debuted on the ARIA Australian Artist Album Chart at number 5.

Release and promotion

''Change Colours'' was released on 9 October 2015 as both a digital download and on CD. Mastin made a number of in-store appearances, performances and signing throughout October across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia to support the album.

Singles

In late September, Mastin asked his fans to vote on which song they thought should be the album's first single. It was announced on 1 October via Twitter that "Even Angels Cry" had been chosen. It premiered on

The Kyle and Jackie O Show ''The Kyle and Jackie O Show'' is an Australian breakfast radio show hosted by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O (radio host), Jackie O on KIIS 106.5 in Sydney and KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne. The show is syndicated in the late drive slot on the KIIS N ...

on KIIS 106.5 the same day. It was released on 2 October. "Heartache Blues" was confirmed as the second single with a release date of 22 April 2016.

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2015 albums Reece Mastin albums Social Family Records albums