Courtney Barnett is set to release her new album "Creature of Habit" on Friday, but the journey to completion was fraught with writer's block. The 38-year-old Australian musician, known for her sharply observant lyrics, found inspiration in an unlikely source: a praying mantis she encountered at a Joshua Tree home in California.
Barnett described the struggle of writing the album over three years, saying, "I'd come away from a day of writing with one word that I had changed that I was happy with." She acknowledged the cyclical nature of self-doubt, noting that each time it feels catastrophic, but she has learned to persist by showing up and editing.
The album's cover features a close-up of a praying mantis, which Barnett says served as a guiding message. The song "Mantis," her favorite on the album, reflects the writing process. Other tracks like "Stay in Your Lane" and "Great Advice" also address the creative struggle, with the latter sarcastically dismissing unsolicited opinions.
Themes of change permeate the album, with the word "change" appearing in four songs. Barnett says she didn't notice this until after finishing the album, but it aligns with recent life changes, including moving to California and shutting down her Australian record label. She tours the US in May and August.
