Darlinghurst (band)
Darlinghurst | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Country music |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels | Helium Records, Nybor Records |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | www |
Darlinghurst are an Australian country music duo (formerly group), formed in 2017 by Jason Resch, Pagan Newman, Cassie Leopold and Matt Darvidis.[1] The group's debut self-titled studio album was released on 24 September 2021 and debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Country album chart and No. 9 on the all music genre album ARIA chart. The group's first six singles peaked within the top 5 of the Australian Country Radio chart.[2]
On 30 November 2023, Darlinghurst the group became a female duo with Resch and Darvidis leaving the group.[3]
History
[edit]In the late 2000s, Jason Resch lived in the United Kingdom, working as songwriter where he co-write "The Promise" for Girls Aloud, "The Boy Does Nothing" for Alesha Dixon and "All Fired Up" for The Saturdays as well as songs with Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys.[4] In 2013, Resch relocated to and lived in United States before returning to Australia in 2015, intent on creating a new band. Resch says "After the run of hits in Britain and the two-year writing sessions in Los Angeles and Nashville, I returned to Melbourne at the end of 2015 with my options open. I've always loved music and always wanted to write great songs. But I knew something would happen and I figured if I met up with like-minded people, we'd form a band."[1]
In 2017 in Melbourne, Resch was recording at Secret Sound Studios when its co-owner, producer Peter Dacy, told him of two singers using his studio to record original country songs. The plan was for him to write some songs for them, but as soon as Resch met Cassie Leopoldand and Pagan Newman they decided to form a band.[1][5] Leopold had performed backing vocals for Christine Anu and Olivia Newton-John while Newman had recorded a soul album in the United States and was a music teacher.[1] Leopold and Newman had toured together in a number of tribute bands with Newman saying in 2019 "It was so much fun... with Cassie we were doing a whole heap of seventies and eighties. We did ABBA, Soul Sisters, we did Beach Boys. I'm probably missing a whole heap, but we delved into a lot of them."[6]
In 2019, Leopold came up with the name for the band saying "I'd just written a film script called Darlinghurst about a group of misfits who come from all around Australia to audition for a musical, which is being staged to save a music theatre from being taken away from its owner. It had a country music feel to it, the 'darling' aspect had strong connotations to country music and besides, it was the only name the three of us would agree on."[1]
In 2019, Matt Darvidis was added based on a suggestion from Dacy.[4][1]
On 2 August 2019, Darlinghurst released their debut single "Sorry Won’t Get You Back".[1] This was followed by singles "So Long So Long" "Picture Frame" and "Gotta Go Rodeo" which all reached the Country music top five.[7][8]
"Where Do We Go" was released in January 2021,[9] "Unfaithful" was released in May 2021,[10] and "You Stopped Making Sense" featuring Shannon Noll was released in August 2021.[11] All seven singles appear on their debut self-titled album, which was announced on 28 July 2021 alongside an Australian tour.[2]
On 22 July 2022, the group joined Amber Lawrence on her release, "Living For The Highlights". [12]
On 24 March 2023, Darlinghurst released "A Little Love" with Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows. Camilleri said "A Little Love' is a joyous, upbeat pop country song with a universal message. I knew Darlinghurst could turn a rough diamond into a gem of a track with their musicality and incredible harmonies… like a vintage guitar with fresh strings."[13]
In January 2024, the new duo of Pagan and Cassie released "Unapologetic" that hit #1 on the Countrytown Hottest 50 Chart.[14] They followed with the bluegrass track, "Gypsy Girl", in June 2024 [15]and the country rock anthem, "I Shouldn't Be Drinking" in August 2024.[16]
Band members
[edit]Current members
[edit]- Pagan Newman – vocals, songwriter (2017–present)[1][3]
- Cassie Leopold – vocals, songwriter (2017–present)[1][3]
Former members
[edit]- Jason Resch – vocals, songwriter, guitar (2017–2023)[1][3]
- Matt Darvidis – vocals, songwriter, guitar (2019–2023)[1][3]
Discography
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [17] | ||
| Darlinghurst | 9 |
Awards and nominations
[edit]CMA Awards
[edit]The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Darlinghurst | New Talent of the Year | Nominated | [20] |
| 2022 | Darlinghurst ("Where Do We Go") | New Talent of the Year | Won | [21] |
| Darlinghurst | Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year | Nominated | [22] | |
| Darlinghurst ("Darlinghurst") | Contemporary Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | Darlinghurst | Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year | Pending | [23] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Darlinghurst sets off to refine the Australian country-pop sound". The Music Network. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Darlinghurst Postpone Album Release". www.broadwayworld.com. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "BREAKING: Darlinghurst Announce Member Departures". Kix Country. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b "About the Band". www.darlinghurst-band.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "DARLINGHURST Release New Hit "Where Do We Go"". 3knd. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Hamley, Sophie (21 August 2019). "Interview: Darlinghurst". sunburntcountrymusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ Arbour, Mallory (22 September 2020). "Darlinghurst is on the brink of their 4th Top 5 with Gotta Go Rodeo". countrytown.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "2021 Nominee Australian Country Music Awards New Talent of the Year". www.muster.com.au. October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Where Do We Go by Darlinghurst". Apple Music. January 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Unfaithful by Darlinghurst". Apple Music. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "You Stopped Making Sense by Darlinghurst ft Shannon Noll". Apple Music. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Living for the Highlights by Amber Lawrence and Darlinghurst – Video Premiere". Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows (ft. Darlinghurst) "A Little Love"". YouTube. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ^ "Countrytown Hot 50". Countrytown. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ Music, Sunburnt Country; Hamley, Sophie (11 June 2024). "Video premiere: 'Gypsy Girl' by Darlinghurst". Sunburnt Country Music. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "iTunesCharts.net: 'I Shouldn't Be Drinking' by Darlinghurst (Australian Songs iTunes Chart)". www.itunescharts.net. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "Darlinghurst by Darlinghurst". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Darlinghurst by Darlinghurst (CD)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "2021 Golden Guitar Nominees Revealed". Kix Country. November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ Maguire, Kemii (20 April 2022). "2022 Golden Guitar Awards see Cassar-Daley take out Slim Dusty record, Shane Nicholson and Ashleigh Dallas collect top gongs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Toyota Golden Guitar award nominees announced for event's 50th year". On With the Show. November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Troy Cassar-Daley, Michael Waugh, Kasey Chambers Lead 2025 Golden Guitar Nominations". Country Town. 19 November 2024.