*Warning: This article discusses themes of domestic and family violence. If you or someone you know is impacted, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800respect.org.au – available 24/7.

When Lyn Bowtell sat down at The Dag Songwriters Retreat in Nundle back in 2023, she didn’t plan to write Scene of the Crime. The deeply personal track, now the lead single from her new album Paper Cuts, emerged unexpectedly. And, like the experience behind it, it wasn’t something she could walk away from.

“Sometimes songs don’t give you a choice. They arrive, and you just have to find a way to give them the attention they deserve,” Bowtell says.

What began as a raw, unfinished fragment eventually became a collaboration with Kevin Bennett (The Flood), who helped shape the chorus and bring the song to life. It was, by all accounts, one of the hardest songs Bowtell has ever written. Drawn from her own experience of domestic violence, coercive control and alcoholism, it quickly became more than just a personal reflection, it became a mirror for others.

“That happened to me. That’s what my sister went through. That’s what my daughter is facing.” These are the words Bowtell hears from women after shows. For many, Scene of the Crime feels like their story, too.

“We are in a crisis as a society. I don’t have the answers, but I know change begins when we create space for these difficult truths to be told and with this song I’m opening a conversation, standing in solidarity with survivors, and encouraging action.”

The video, directed by Tracy and Josh Beveridge of Roaming Creatives, features actress Esther Sparkes and walks a careful line between sensitivity and realism. “Everyone felt the heaviness and emotional weight of this story. It wasn’t easy to sing nor to film, but the subject matters too much to gloss over or dilute.”

Though confronting, Scene of the Crime is far from the only moment of vulnerability on Paper Cuts, Bowtell’s new 11-track album released on September 5. Described by Bernard Zuel as “an album of interconnected storytelling that keeps pulling back a layer then another layer,” it’s Bowtell’s most personal and ambitious release yet. Two years in the making and the first time she’s taken the reins as co-producer alongside longtime collaborator Damon Morton.

“Paper Cuts is the culmination of everything I’ve been writing and creating since late ’23. The title is a play on the lead single, Paper Cut - because when life cuts you, it leaves marks, and these are some of my marks.

“This is the first album I’ve produced alongside Damon, and I’ve never had so much fun in the studio. I laughed, I cried, and I found 11 songs that mean the world to me,” Bowtell said.

“Taking the reins as producer was something I knew I had to do. It scared me, but I had to give myself the opportunity to step up,” she added. “These are my songs, this is my story, and I knew exactly what I wanted to say.”

That sense of ownership and artistic clarity runs through the entire record. From the pulse of Cold Shiver to the delicate finality of the title track, Paper Cuts is built on emotional honesty. It doesn’t just tell stories, it invites you to sit in them. 

The Window Seat, inspired by a moment shared at her SHE Songwriting Retreat, is “overwhelming to sing, but a beautiful reminder of love, loss, and connection.” Ride, a nostalgic snapshot of childhood freedom and resilience, captures what it means to keep showing up: “It’s about choosing to ride – to participate in life, not just watch from the sidelines.”

“Scene of the Crime,” though, remains the album’s emotional centrepiece. “I never wanted to write this song. It was painful but necessary. Kevin Bennett helped me finish it, bringing empathy and artistry to something hidden that needed to be spoken aloud.”

Bowtell also celebrates the musicianship behind the album, with contributions from some of Australia’s best players including Bill Risby, Jeff McCormack, Rod McCormack, Josh Schuberth, Benji Pocock and Gabi Louise. Clare O’Meara’s accordion shines on Ride and Window Seat, a quiet nod to Bowtell’s father, who played the instrument himself.

“To come out the other side and still be in love with every song is a testament to how important these songs are to me.”

With Paper Cuts, Lyn Bowtell doesn’t just deliver a powerful country album, she offers an unflinching look at life’s deepest wounds, and a reminder that healing begins when we’re brave enough to speak.