Former Powderfinger guitarist and songwriter Darren Middleton returns with Pathways, a new solo album that finds him putting songwriting firmly ahead of production. Due for digital release on September 4 (vinyl available now), the album grew from songs written over the past couple of years, beginning with “Stay in This Moment”, which Middleton describes as the catalyst that made him want to complete another record. Unlike his previous album Novella, a largely instrumental classical guitar project, Pathways is centred on vocals, lyrics and the traditional process of building songs around guitar and piano. Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips caught up with Darren about the creation of Pathways.
MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Middleton says the album’s title reflects his interest in the choices people make and the different directions that songs and life can take. He also prefers to leave his lyrics open to interpretation, explaining that he often connects with songs as a listener in ways that may differ from the songwriter’s original intention. For him, lyrics remain the most challenging part of songwriting, despite melodies coming relatively naturally.
The recording process was deliberately stripped back. Middleton worked with Melbourne musician and producer Alex Markwell as a sounding board and recorded much of the album on an eight-track tape machine, embracing an instinctive approach where songs were generally given only a couple of takes. Rather than pursuing the highly polished sound of contemporary digital productions, he wanted Pathways to feel authentic, human and slightly imperfect.
Middleton also invited a number of friends and fellow musicians into the sessions, including Kelly Day, Nick Cester of Jet, ARC keyboard player James Fleming and You Am I’s Davey Lane. Day contributes a duet vocal to “I’m With You”, while Cester and Fleming provide backing vocals and Lane delivers the guitar solo on “When I Met You”. Middleton says bringing other musicians into his recordings keeps the process more enjoyable and allows their individual character to become part of the songs.
The album also reveals Middleton’s affection for vocal harmonies, something he traces back to influences including The Beatles and Neil Young. He sees the human voice as a particularly powerful instrument because of its individuality and ability to create a direct connection between a songwriter and listener.
For the gear-conscious, Middleton discusses his preference for keeping things simple, using an early-1970s Gibson J-45 as the main acoustic guitar and an old Neumann microphone for the acoustic recordings. He also admits to preferring well-worn strings over fresh ones, believing new strings can sound too bright and lively.
Although Middleton has continued to perform with the Australian Rock Collective, he admits he sometimes misses the regularity of being in a band. He enjoys the freedom of solo work but says he would like to be working and travelling more with music. He is also keen to take Pathways onto the stage, potentially with a three-piece lineup that would allow him to reproduce some of the album’s drums-and-bass arrangements.
Beyond music, Middleton is preparing his first photography book, a project that draws on his long-standing passion for photography dating back to his Powderfinger years. He has recently been scanning a large collection of film and is now compiling the images for the book.
Ultimately, Middleton says his ambitions are relatively straightforward: he wants to work and travel more with music and continue singing and playing for as long as he can. With Pathways, he has created a record that reflects that philosophy – intimate, song-driven and deliberately human, with the emphasis on the emotional connection between the performer, the song and the listener.