Paul Kelly On Seventy: 13th Floor MusicTalk Interview

Paul Kelly, the veteran Australian singer-songwriter, marks his seventieth birthday alongside his new album titled Seventy. This milestone is celebrated through about a dozen fresh songs. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda discussed with Paul the importance of turning 70 and his outlook for the future.

Reflecting on Turning Seventy

Marty: "The album is Seventy, you are 70, and believe it or not, I’m 70 too. So I’m even more curious to hear about your thoughts on this age because it seems to be a major milestone, doesn’t it?"

Paul Kelly reflects:

“I’ve never been one to pay much attention to how old I am, but suddenly it changes how people treat you. I remember three big birthdays clearly. Forty felt like a significant one — it felt like ‘okay, I’m an adult now.’ Forty was also when people close to me started dying. That happens quite a bit in the music business because many of us die young. So that age felt like a real turning point — some of us keep living, and some don’t.”

Significance of Milestones

Turning 40 symbolized adulthood and the loss of friends in the music world.
Reaching 70 feels like another profound marker of life experience and survival.

Paul Kelly’s new album captures the essence of reaching this later stage of life, exploring both its challenges and celebrations.

Author's Summary

Paul Kelly’s Seventy album and reflections offer a poignant look at aging, survival, and the evolving significance of life's milestones in the music industry.

The 13th Floor — 2025-11-05