Media release: From the vault! Brand new, previously unheard track from Renée Geyer to be released

Out Friday 5 September via Valiant Records

A previously unheard Renée Geyer recording will see the light of day this week, thanks to a surprise release from Valiant Records - officially endorsed by the late singer's estate.

Originally demoed in 1997, Cruel Or Kind was the result of writing sessions between Geyer and longtime collaborator John Clifforth (Deckchairs Overboard). The pair workshopped several songs during this period - one being the sultry, slow-burning Cruel Or Kind, originally intended for a now-defunct S&M-themed film project.

Fast forward to recent years, when members of pioneering Melbourne production outfit Filthy Lucre - Robert Goodge and Gavin Campbell - visited Clifforth's studio to dig through his '97 archive, hoping to uncover unreleased Geyer vocals. Filthy Lucre's Paul Main had previously collaborated with Geyer and Clifforth, resulting in the 90s house track I Need Love, released on iconic US dance label Strictly Rhythm under the Paul Main Project moniker.

Among the forgotten demos was Cruel Or Kind, featuring a commanding, dominatrix-inspired vocal performance from Geyer. The track immediately stood out to the producers, who took it back to Goodge's studio and reimagined the original 92 BPM soul version into a driving 125 BPM nu-disco/house cut.

Importantly, before her passing in 2023, Geyer heard an early sketch of the reworked track and gave it her full blessing.

"Renée had this timeless vocal power. It's always been in the back of my mind to finish something from those early sessions," says Campbell. "When we found Cruel Or Kind, it just clicked - and she loved the idea of it living in a dancefloor space."

To complement the original Filthy Lucre version, the team tapped production duo The Journey (Tom Evans and Jacob Malmo) for remix duties. Having commissioned the duo previously to remix Yothu Yindi's Treaty - a standout on Razor Recordings' 25th anniversary reissue package - The Journey delivered a version that honours Geyer's legacy while landing squarely in today's club landscape.

"We wanted something deep and sleazy to suit Renée's vocal, yet with enough power and energy to mingle with current club sounds and The Journey remix really hits the mark," Campbell says of the remix.

Cruel Or Kind - Renée Geyer X Filthy Lucre drops this Friday, 5 September on Valiant Records.

About Renée Geyer

Renée Geyer was one of Australia's most distinctive and celebrated soul voices. Emerging in the 1970s, she broke ground as a white woman singing with unmatched authenticity in the realms of soul, jazz, R&B and funk. Her hits included It's A Man's Man's World, Say I Love You, and Heading in the Right Direction, and she went on to collaborate with a wide range of international artists, including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Sting. With a career spanning over five decades, Geyer remained a fierce, uncompromising talent whose voice continues to resonate long after her passing in 2023.

About Filthy Lucre

Filthy Lucre is the influential Melbourne-based dance production team founded by Robert Goodge, Paul Main, and Gavin Campbell. Renowned for their genre-defying sound and pivotal role in shaping Australia's underground club culture, the trio broke through internationally in the early '90s with their landmark remix of Yothu Yindi's Treaty—a groundbreaking fusion of Indigenous music and dancefloor energy.

Across the decades, Goodge, Main, and Campbell have each remained at the forefront of Australian electronic music through a range of acclaimed projects. In 2017, Campbell and Goodge revived the Filthy Lucre moniker to mark the 25th anniversary of Treaty with a Razor Recordings release, reaffirming their legacy as innovators who continue to bridge cultures, genres, and generations on the dancefloor.

MEDIA CONTACT

Erin Jameson erin(at)jamesonandco(dot)com | +61 419 323 663