Scott Darlow may be a new name to you and for others but he’s been kicking around this music game and as an Indigenous activist for 10 years now. In his debut solo album Sorry, Darlow has become introduced to a larger amount of music listeners who are no doubt just getting to know more about the work and messages he’s been spreading right round the country (and abroad) over the past decade.
A descendant of the Yorta Yorta, Darlow’s debut album pays homage to his heritage, while the blend of traditional didgeridoo with contemporary rock and pop influences gives the artist a unique edge. As Sorry continues to reach listeners (it only came out on November 11th), Darlow takes us behind the scenes and gives us a little insight into the making of the album.
This is a custom 20 watt guitar amp that Dave Ulbrick made for me. The head is all valve and even has a transformer so I can switch it to 110 volts when I tour the USA. It has a matching 12 inch cabinet that has an Aboriginal flag sprayed on the grill!
It is an incredible amp and I love it! People who hear my record comment on how good the guitars sound – I wish I could take the credit. But that’s Melbourne amp maker Dave Ulbrick!
Petrus is a killer drummer and an even better bloke. One of my favourite things about this record is the fact we tracked all the drums and bass to 2″ analogue tape at in insanely cool studio in San Clemente in Orange County, California! The wave file versions through good speakers/headphones are massive and I still smile every time I hear the drums on this record!
Every time I play the yidaki (Aboriginal word for didgeridoo) or even record it, I’m aware that my cousins Marky, Cannon, Joppa and Cracker completely have me covered. So I’m trying my hardest to play and tell stories on it in a way that won’t shame me up in front of them! Hopefully my work on this record makes them smile! This pic was taken of me tracking the solo on “Solid Rock”. Double pressure – covering an all time classic song – knowing that this didge part will be compared to the original. In the end, I reckon it came up okay!
I had three go’s at recording the vocals on this record – just couldn’t get ’em right. And honestly it doesn’t matter how good your guitars are if your vocals suck. Adrian Hannan is a legend. He has produced and recorded everyone from Delta Goodrem to Vanessa Amarosi to Taxiride. He’s also an insane guitar player and bass player and cello player! He got my vocals happening – then we tracked more guitars. Then he mixed the record. He’s literally the best!
Jake Dewhurst played some of the guitars on this record. And he’s a killer player. He just won the Ibanez flying fingers competition! Back in March, Triple M asked us to re-record the Dr Dan theme and put some didge in it. The last person to record it was Slash! Jake totally killed it and so now our version of the Triple M Dr Dan theme is a bonus track on all physical album sales (CD and USB format).
Listen to Scott Darlow’s Sorry album below!
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Follow Scott on Facebook HERE and find out some more about his work HERE. Darlow will headline the Yurora Festival in Sydney on January 8th – grab tickets via http://yurora.com.
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