Tasmanian singer/songwriter Dewayne Everettsmith lets us into dark and tender moments in his young life through music.
In his dreamy tunes he tells of losing his mother to a speed overdose, conflict with his adoptive parents and the beauty of his first kiss with partner Michelle.
The 26-year-old singer/songwriter's latest single It's Like Love is released on Valentine's Day ahead of his debut album Surrender, which is out in March.
He will also perform a string of shows across Australia throughout February and March.
Everettsmith hopes sharing his own intensely personal stories inspires others to get through their own challenges.
"I feel like I've got a story to tell and there are people who need to hear it or who want to hear it or who would find their own comfort in hearing my story," he says.
"It's worth inspiring people if that's what me telling my story does."
Everettsmith was adopted out at aged four and then went to live with his adoptive grandparents 10 years later.
After playing at indigenous music festivals, he rose to national attention when he made it into the Top 40 on Australian Idol aged 19.
Most of the songs on Surrender were written when Everettsmith was in his late teens.
"At that time in my life I remember being very unsettled," he says.
"I didn't know what I was going to do with my life - when, how, why.
"So all of those songs came about through heartache and turmoil and then the later songs were written when things started picking up - I fell in love (and) had kids."
The song Caught On Your Lips is about the first time he kissed partner Michelle - he was too shy so she smooched him.
Overdue reflects Everettsmith yearning for an apology from his adoptive parents and then realising he didn't need it anymore.
"I don't need an apology now, I don't need it to move on and I've accepted what's happened," he says.
Everettsmith wrote I've Got No after his mother died of a drug overdose and him realising how disconnected to the world she felt.
"She was kind of viewing herself as a third party, she was viewing her life from above," he says.
"That's what that song is about - I've Got No, I've got no connection to anything, I've got no belonging to anything and pleading for someone to give it to you.
"Because we all want a place to belong and we all want a place where we are taken in and loved."
After his Idol appearance, Everettsmith started performing for Tourism Tasmania and appearing at G'Day USA.
He was then asked by Tourism Australia to become involved in an international campaign, and so It's Like Love was born.
* Surrender is released on March 14.
* DEWAYNE EVERETTSMITH SHOWS:
February 12 - Soda Factory, Sydney
February 16 - Prince Alfred College Oval Kent Town, South Australia (supporting Gurrumul)
March 6 - Kulcha, Fremantle
March 8 - Kings Park, Perth (supporting Gurrumul)
March 9 - Spiegeltent, Hobart (10 Days On The Island)
March 11 - Arts Centre Gold Coast
March 14 - Factory Floor, Marrickville
March 16 - Casterton/Sandford Football/Netball Club
March 20 - Captains at Mariners, Batemans Bay
March 21 - Southern Cross Club, Canberra
March 23 - Northcote Social Club
March 26 - Civic Centre, Wagga Wagga
March 27 - Lizottes, Newcastle
March 28 - Lizottes, Central Coast, NSW
March 29 - Lizottes, Dee Why, NSW
