Paul Kelly On Seventy: 13th Floor MusicTalk Interview
Paul Kelly, the veteran Australian singer-songwriter, turns seventy and marks this milestone with a new album titled Seventy. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke with him about the significance of reaching this age and his reflections on it.
Interview Highlights
Marty: The album is Seventy, you are 70, and believe it or not, I’m 70 too. I’m curious about your thoughts on this milestone because it seems significant.
Paul Kelly: I’ve never really focused on how old I am, but suddenly it changes how people treat you. I remember three big birthdays clearly. Turning forty felt like a major moment—it felt like becoming a full adult. Forty was also the first time I noticed people close to me—friends, collaborators—starting to pass away. That happens a lot in the music business; quite a few of us die young.
That stage of life felt different; some of us keep going, and some don’t.
Summary
Paul Kelly reflects poignantly on aging, recognizing 40 and 70 as turning points marked by adulthood and loss in the music world, underscoring how age shapes experience and perspective.