Jimmy Barnes’ vision for his 21st studio album was clear. “I wanted these songs to fit straight into my live set,” he tells Apple Music. “Normally with a record, you can maybe fit two or three of them in, and some of the rest you could put in an acoustic set, some in a soul set, but not all in the same rock set. These ones all fit in the same set.” Not surprisingly, DEFIANT is a full-blooded, guitar-fuelled affair, starting with opener “That’s What You Do for Love”, which features drummer Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin’s John) and acclaimed blues/rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. It also includes Jonathan Cain on piano, the Journey keyboardist who wrote Barnes’ 1985 classic “Working Class Man”, and with whom the singer collaborated on much of 1987’s Freight Train Heart album. Even when calling on influences such as Wilson Pickett in gospel/doo-wop closer “Sea of Love” or writing with Cold Chisel bandmate Don Walker in “Nothing Comes for Nothing”, DEFIANT wholeheartedly lives up to Barnes’ vision. Thematically, the album’s title speaks volumes, with Barnes singing about learning from past mistakes to become a better person (“New Day”, “The Long Road”), and his never-say-die spirit (the title track). The latter is particularly pertinent given the serious heart and hip surgery he endured in the years preceding the record. “I’m defiant where I don’t give in easy, I’ll always look for better ways to do things,” he says. “Part of the record was written while I was in hospital recovering from surgeries, and the doctors were saying, ‘You have to take three months off.’ And I’m thinking to myself, ‘No, I won’t.’” Here, Barnes takes Apple Music through a selection of songs on DEFIANT. “That’s What You Do for Love” “The song was written by Michael Paynter. He said, ‘I wanted to write [in the style of] your Freight Train Heart album.’ It reminded me of ‘Driving Wheels’, that era. Kevin Shirley was mixing it in Nashville, and Jonathan Cain was in the studio next door. Kevin played it to him and Jonathan said, ‘Can I play piano on it?’ Jonathan was instrumental in how I turned out as a solo performer because ‘Working Class Man’ was such a definitive song in my career, and then writing Freight Train Heart together was a really great thing. So to have him playing on this track, which was sort of paying homage to him in a way, was great.” “New Day” “The song’s about change and growth. It’s that defiant thing. When you think it’s all over, pick yourself up again and learn how to do it better. And it’s about getting a second chance as well. You can go, I want to make things better. You might not always make things back the way they were, or the way you really want them, but they’re going to be better if you can pick yourself up from things and grow.” “Beyond the River Bend” “I have a house called ‘River Bend’, which is on the banks of the Wingecarribee River [in New South Wales]. The river reminds me of my relationship with Jane [Barnes, wife]. Sometimes it’s gentle and flowing and smooth and other times it’s a torrent and crashing against the banks and destroying all it sees. So it was using the analogy of the river as a relationship. Like all good relationships you have ups and downs and tough times and great times, and it’s about embracing all those things that make the relationship whole.” “Never Stop Loving You” “This was written by Guy Davies, who played in my band back in about 1993, 1994. And he said, ‘I’ve been reading your books, I wrote this song about you and Jane.’ I think it captures how I feel really well. The guitar playing on there by Audley [Freed, formerly of The Black Crowes] is just phenomenal.” “Defiant” “I wanted to make a record called DEFIANT and I wanted to write songs about picking yourself up and about people not telling you what to do. About not just being defiant in a stubborn sort of way, but defiant in inner strength. Turn and face the wind, take what’s coming on the chin and move forward and learn from it. And I wanted to write a song about that.” “The Long Road” “Basically, it’s my story. And it’s that thing about, even though life is tough, if you’re gonna make right for all the things you’ve done wrong in your life, it’s gonna take time, and it might never be the same. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will survive. We all make mistakes. I was wild and I was crazy and full-on, but I’ve learned lessons and I’m working on myself and I’m trying to make myself a better person. That’s what the song’s about.” “Nothing Comes for Nothing” “It’s about giving love and not expecting anything back. A lot of people think if you declare your undying love it has to be reciprocated. But real love is about giving it and not wanting anything back for it. I sent the lyric to Don [Walker] and, of course, Don wanted to make it much darker, he wanted to make it you want everything in return, but we fought the urge and kept it about love being a gift you give away for free.” “Sea of Love” “‘Sea of Love’ is about being lost and awash and trying to find yourself. It’s about finding your way through storms, and Lord knows I’ve done that. And in times when you don’t know up from down, love will guide you through. It’s a message I’ve received more times than I can tell you. And most of the times I’ve heard it from Jane. When I’ve been lost the most, Jane is saying, ‘We’ll get through this.’ And her undying love has been that guide for me.”