Olivia Newton-John, a name synonymous with musical brilliance and cinematic charm, holds a special place in the hearts of millions. While her career and personal life have been extensively documented, the story of her sister, Rona Newton-John, often remains in the shadows. Yet, Rona’s influence and spirit are profoundly felt in Olivia’s work, particularly in the album ‘Hotel Sessions’. This extended play (EP) is not just a collection of demo tracks; it’s a heartfelt tribute to Rona, showcasing the deep bond between sisters and the enduring power of family.
‘Hotel Sessions’, produced by Brett Goldsmith, Rona’s son and Olivia’s nephew, is a poignant project that brings together previously unreleased recordings from 2002 to 2011. These intimate tracks, captured in various Melbourne hotels, offer a raw and personal glimpse into Olivia’s artistry. The album’s dedication to Rona Newton-John adds layers of emotional depth, transforming it into a moving testament to her life and legacy. This article delves into the story behind ‘Hotel Sessions’, exploring Rona Newton-John’s life, her impact on Olivia and Brett, and how her memory is honored through this musical endeavor. Through an exclusive interview with Brett Goldsmith, we uncover the personal narrative that shaped this unique album and the remarkable woman at its heart: Rona Newton-John.
Rona Newton-John was more than just Olivia’s sister; she was a vibrant personality in her own right. A former model who moved within circles of rock stars and fashion icons, Rona possessed a unique coolness and sharp wit. Brett Goldsmith fondly remembers his mother as someone with strong opinions and a keen eye for talent. In our interview, he reflects on what Rona would have thought of ‘Hotel Sessions’: “I think she would like it. My mother was a fan of Olivia’s. She was a big fan of Olivia’s voice.” He further elaborates on Rona’s critical yet supportive nature, “I would send my records for her reaction and she would criticize them in terms of my songwriting and my voice, which she told me she thought was getting better.” This honest and constructive feedback from Rona clearly played a role in Brett’s musical development, highlighting her influence within the family’s artistic endeavors.
The inception of ‘Hotel Sessions’ was almost accidental, evolving from a desire to experiment with production and showcase Olivia Newton-John’s iconic voice. Brett explains, “Hotel Sessions was originally for me to put my production sound on Olivia’s voice. That’s how it was originally conceived.” Initially, the project was about musical exploration and collaboration between aunt and nephew. However, tragedy struck when Rona Newton-John passed away in May 2013 after a battle with brain cancer. This profound loss became the catalyst for transforming ‘Hotel Sessions’ into a tribute. Olivia’s subsequent cancellation of her Las Vegas shows due to grief became the turning point. Brett recounts, “The inspiration [for release] was Olivia cancelling her [impending] Las Vegas show after Rona’s death. Then, we said let’s make this happen and put this in some sort of cohesive order. We figured Rona would like that we were working together.”
The decision to release ‘Hotel Sessions’ as a tribute was a natural and heartfelt response to Rona’s passing. It became a way for Olivia and Brett to honor her memory and celebrate the familial bond they shared. Brett confirms this sentiment: “Do you consider this record a tribute to your mother?” Scott Holleran asks, to which Brett responds, “I do now, yeah.” The album, therefore, transcends its musical origins, becoming a deeply personal and emotional project rooted in family love and remembrance of Rona Newton-John.
The journey of creating ‘Hotel Sessions’ was organic and collaborative, involving not just Olivia and Brett, but also key figures like Mark Hartley, Olivia’s manager and the album’s executive producer, and publicist Michael Caprio and his partner Randy Slovacek. Brett credits Mark Hartley’s instrumental role in shaping the EP: “Mark Hartley turned to me and said how would you feel about taking a few of these songs and turning it into an Olivia record? I didn’t have to think about that for very long. So, Mark was very instrumental.” Randy Slovacek’s enthusiasm and input were also crucial in bringing the project to fruition. This collective effort underscores the supportive network surrounding Olivia Newton-John and the shared desire to create a meaningful tribute to Rona.
The album art for ‘Hotel Sessions’ is as unique and improvisational as the recording process itself. Brett Goldsmith, also a talented photographer, captured the cover image unexpectedly at a soccer match. He describes the serendipitous moment: “I was actually at a soccer match—and I’m not that into soccer—and I saw this flock of seagulls. My iPhone was actually on the HDR setting… and I happened to get that shot.” The resulting double image of seagulls, coupled with city shots of Melbourne for the CD packaging, resonated deeply with Olivia. Brett explains, “When I sent the images to Olivia, she loved them. There was no manipulation of the image, though. It just looked so haunting.” This haunting and evocative imagery perfectly complements the intimate and demo-like nature of the ‘Hotel Sessions’ tracks, adding another layer of artistic expression to the project and reflecting the emotional tone of remembrance for Rona Newton-John.
Working with Olivia Newton-John in a producer capacity was a unique experience for Brett Goldsmith. He describes Olivia as a consummate professional with clear artistic vision, yet also respectful and trusting of his expertise. “Like most artists, Olivia knows exactly what she wants,” Brett notes, “She left me alone – she respects me as a photographer and as a musician – to work. The same goes with production. In fact, there wasn’t a moment when she questioned my grooves, arrangement or production.” Olivia’s perfect pitch and serious approach to singing impressed Brett, highlighting her dedication to her craft. This mutual respect and understanding between aunt and nephew fostered a creative environment where ‘Hotel Sessions’ could flourish as a genuine and heartfelt tribute to Rona Newton-John.
While ‘Hotel Sessions’ comprises five carefully selected tracks, there were other recordings from those hotel sessions, including an unreleased song that faced technical difficulties. Brett mentions, “I did record one other song written for Olivia—but I got another engineer to come into the hotel and unfortunately he distorted the vocal. It sits in my computer.” This glimpse into unreleased material hints at the potential for more music from these sessions, further emphasizing the organic and evolving nature of the ‘Hotel Sessions’ project, born from spontaneous creativity and familial collaboration in honor of Rona Newton-John.
Brett Goldsmith’s musical journey is intertwined with Olivia Newton-John’s influence from a young age. He recounts her early encouragement: “Olivia bought my first guitar for me and encouraged me to become a musician. She’d told me: ‘you’re a great songwriter’.” This early support played a pivotal role in shaping Brett’s career path. Despite having his own musical endeavors, including his band The Chantoozies and his solo work, a duet with Olivia on ‘Hotel Sessions’ never crossed his mind. He explains, “I never thought about that. I mean, Olivia sings duets with [singers such as] Tony Bennett.” His focus remained on capturing Olivia’s vocals authentically within the intimate hotel setting, prioritizing her performance and the tribute to Rona Newton-John above all else.
Each song on ‘Hotel Sessions’ carries its own story and impetus, reflecting different facets of life, love, and loss. “Ordinary Life”, originally written by Brett, takes on a new dimension when sung by Olivia. Brett explains the song’s essence: “The whole point of the lyric is feeling pretty ordinary. The flipside is feeling pretty extraordinary. We all have ordinary types of days. The idea is that you can get through them, no matter how mundane [things seem]—you have an extraordinary story.” Olivia’s interpretation brought a mature perspective to the lyrics, subtly altered to reflect her own experiences.
“Best of My Love” delves into the complexities of love and heartbreak, a theme relatable to many. Brett describes it as “a love song, really, with a bit of heartbreak. It’s a story about people who give their all and get nothing back.” His inspiration drew from the Emotions’ song of the same title and the musical style of Nile Rodgers, showcasing his diverse musical influences.
“End in Peace”, co-written by Olivia and Brett, emerged from the profound impact of 9/11. Brett shares the emotional context: “I watched 9/11 happen. It was overwhelming… and everyone was so sad about what happened. That’s all I had.” The song became a poignant expression of grief and a yearning for peace in the face of tragedy. Interestingly, Brett initially hesitated to share the direct inspiration with Olivia, feeling it wasn’t his place as an Australian to impose meaning on an American tragedy. However, the song resonated deeply with Olivia, highlighting the universal themes of loss and hope.
“Bow River”, a cover of an Ian Moss song from Cold Chisel, was reimagined by Brett with a slowed-down groove. He explains his creative process: “I came up with the idea to completely change the groove. I slowed it down. I recorded the whole music track in a particular key, then I rang up Olivia and she ended up nailing the vocal.” This reinterpretation demonstrates Brett’s production skills and his ability to bring a fresh perspective to existing songs.
“Broken Wings”, originally by Mr. Mister, was another cover choice driven by Brett’s production ideas. Despite not being a huge fan of the original, he envisioned a new arrangement: “I just had an idea to produce a version of that song even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the original. I must have picked up my guitar and I think it was in A minor with no singer in mind. I got a groove and I thought this record was really cool.” This track, along with the others, showcases Brett’s ability to curate and produce a cohesive EP even with diverse song origins, all contributing to the heartfelt tribute to Rona Newton-John.
The inclusion of dance remixes by David Hornos, known as DayBeat, added another dimension to ‘Hotel Sessions’. Brett stumbled upon Hornos’ remixes serendipitously after initially overlooking his messages. Impressed by Hornos’ work, particularly his remix of “Broken Wings”, Brett incorporated these dance versions into the EP. This unexpected collaboration broadened the album’s appeal and showcased the versatility of the ‘Hotel Sessions’ tracks, while still maintaining the core emotional resonance as a tribute to Rona Newton-John.
Growing up in a family immersed in the entertainment industry significantly shaped Brett Goldsmith’s artistic trajectory. His father, nightclub entrepreneur Brian Goldsmith, and his aunt Olivia Newton-John provided a unique and privileged upbringing. Brett acknowledges this influence: “Yes—in everything. You couldn’t find a 14-year-old collecting every vinyl record [like I did]. My dad having the hippest clubs when I was 14 or 15 years old…” His exposure to music and performance from a young age, coupled with the encouragement from both his father and Olivia, fostered his passion for music and photography. He recognizes the double-edged sword of privilege, acknowledging the pressures and expectations that come with it. However, he also emphasizes the importance of personal drive and seeking help when needed, lessons perhaps learned and reinforced through the life and memory of his mother, Rona Newton-John.
Rona Newton-John’s legacy, as described by Brett, is multifaceted and deeply personal. Beyond her outward beauty, she was an intelligent and cultured woman with a sharp wit and a unique perspective on life. Brett reflects on her essence: “She was the coolest. She is known by people who didn’t know her as being beautiful—and my mother was beautiful—but within and behind that beauty was a great fashionista and reader and writer and movie watcher who had talents of her own.” Rona’s diverse interests, her unapologetic personality, and her unwavering support for Brett’s artistic pursuits define her enduring legacy. ‘Hotel Sessions’, in its entirety, stands as a poignant and beautiful embodiment of this legacy, a musical tribute that captures the spirit of Rona Newton-John and the enduring love of her family.
In conclusion, ‘Hotel Sessions’ is more than just an album of demo tracks; it’s a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute to Rona Newton-John. Through Brett Goldsmith’s production and Olivia Newton-John’s evocative vocals, the EP encapsulates Rona’s inspiring legacy, her vibrant personality, and her profound impact on her family. It serves as a reminder of the enduring power of familial bonds and the lasting resonance of a life well-lived and deeply loved. For fans of Olivia Newton-John and those discovering her work, ‘Hotel Sessions’ offers a unique and intimate glimpse into her artistry, intertwined with the touching story of her sister, Rona Newton-John. This album is a testament to love, loss, and the enduring power of music to honor and remember those who have shaped our lives.
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