SCOTT DARLOW: ‘DEADLY HEART’ ALBUM TOUR INTERVIEW

Melbourne-based Yorta Yorta artist Scott Darlow recently announced his new record, Deadly Heart, set for October 27 release, sharing the album’s title track – a duet with The Jezabels’ Hayley Mary, alongside the announce of an epic thirty date regional tour of Australia, consisting of mostly free entry shows.

Australian Musician caught up with Scott Darlow mid-tour via a zoom call this week. Scott was in Tennant Creek just prior to a 6 hour drive to the next gig. AM editor Greg Phillips was in a warm office on a cold Melbourne day and going nowhere, as he spoke to Scott about the tour, his gear, the upcoming album release and the fabulous new album title track single Deadly Heart, which is out now.

MORE ABOUT SCOTT DARLOW
Regarded for his passionate activism and advocacy work, the album is Scott Darlow’s latest effort at spreading an ever-important message. The new single Deadly Heart explores the Nation’s ability to really walk as one with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The duet asks tough questions around how one can elicit change to work towards a stronger and united future while remembering an important past.

Darlow grew up abroad as his father travelled for work, but this unconventional childhood gave him an insight into always being the outsider. This unique perspective has fed into his music which often explores the complexities of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations. “Deadly Heart is something I tried to write that’s parallel and horizontal simultaneously. On the one hand, it’s about a couple just trying to stay together. But it’s also about a nation that’s trying to come together. I wrote it through the pandemic, about us as a nation continuing to journey together and listen to each other. To sit and listen to each other’s stories, so they can become our stories.”

Darlow says he creates music for his family and his community. “It sounds silly, but I’m just trying to be the best version of myself that I can be every day. But you know, every day I get up and I want to make a difference for Aboriginal people in everything that I do. I know that sounds cliched, but it’s just the truth of it. What can I do next week to make a difference? If I can do that through my music and someone takes away a better understanding of what I’m trying to get across, that’s what it’s about for me.”

Darlow is hoping this album connects with listeners who might not always be open to the conversations he’s having on Deadly Heart and that they come on the journey with him. “I’ve been really lucky to have the support of rock radio and I hope this album connects with listeners who are searching for these stories that I want to tell through my music so we can continue to bring our nation together through these personal stories I’m sharing with them”.

Excited to hit the road on this extensive regional run and with just two of the thirty shows ticketed, Darlow explains, “I grew up being told stories about Australia’s legendary pub rock scene. Bands like Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, AC/DC and INXS who would be playing in pubs all over Australia. So post covid, I want to drive around this entire country and put on killer rock shows for Aussies everywhere. This country has such a rich, incredible history of guitar driven rock bands, and I want to help keep that heritage alive with this tour. I’m so excited to drive around Australia in a bus with my best mates, a PA and some loud Fender guitars and amps, and play these songs for anyone who wants to go back to the future with us!”

As well as writing and releasing music, a former school teacher, Darlow uses his days to sing and speak in schools all over Australia, the UK and Asia, and will be interspersing a host of school appearances in towns all across Australia, as an additional aspect to his already impressive regional run of shows. “I love using my music to share my culture, talk about identity ie, what does it mean to be a ‘real Australian’ in 2023, and also teach about the effects of colonisation on First Nations people.”

“I also play and speak in prisons around Australia. The sad truth is that we as First Nations people are massively represented in jails, both adult and juvenile, all over Australia. I spend time in prisons using music as a vehicle to connect, and then just get to encourage the brothers and sisters inside that there are pathways for us as First Nations people to succeed. Sometimes it’s just about reminding those guys that they’re loved and valued. It’s an incredibly uplifting and equally depressing part of my job.”

Since entering the Australian music scene in 2003, Yorta Yorta descendent Scott Darlow has been a mainstay of Australia’s Indigenous and independent music industry. The versatile singer-songwriter, guitarist, and didgeridoo player has sold more than 50,000 albums worldwide and has extensively toured Australia, Asia and the USA.Darlow is a passionate Indigenous activist and World Vision spokesperson, regularly speaking in schools, businesses and churches across Australia about his indigenous culture, Australian history, racial tolerance, harmony and important social matters. His key word “FLUTE” (Forgiveness, Love, Understanding, Tolerance and Empathy) has become so popular that schools and businesses have included it in their curriculums and charters.

Deadly Heart is released on October 27 through Reclusive Records and is available to presave/preorder now.
Tracklisting:
1. Congratulations
2. You Don’t Own God
3. Deadly Heart (feat. Hayley Mary)
4. Summer’s Coming
5. Arrows
6. This Is Australia
7. Falling To Pieces
8. You Can’t See Black In The Dark
9. Twenty Two
10. Brother
11. Cruel To Be Kind

https://www.scottdarlow.com/

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SCOTT DARLOW: ‘DEADLY HEART’ ALBUM TOUR INTERVIEW

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