Melt in the Desert
Dave Crowe’s been making some serious noise in the desert over the years, earning his stripes as one of the best known musicians and music producers in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
By Tierney Seccull
He began tickling the piano ivories when he was just four-years-old, penning his first songs at the ripe old age of seven, and has performed in a range of styles including indie-folk or flexing his electronica skills through his electro-pop project, Resin Moon.
He’s supported big acts like Tim Freedman and Ball Park Music, won a swag of awards, performed at a bunch of festivals including Darwin Festival and Wide Open Spaces, which is on next month, by the way. This month, he returns to his indie-folk roots with the hotly anticipated release of his new tune ‘Melt’ at the Jump Inn.
“It’s a love song for summer. It’s about the summer heat, it’s about the desert, it’s about the shimmering NT sun,” he says.
“I wrote it based on an image from Central Australia – a photograph someone had taken of Kata Tjuta, The Olgas, out near Uluru. So the whole concept of the song started with a visual, and a stream of consciousness to describe that visual, so it was a different way of writing for me.”
Being inspired by his surroundings isn’t a new concept for Crowe, who constantly finds himself in awe of the rugged natural landscape of the Red Centre.
“It’s an awesome place to be based as an artist … There’s something special about the place, its geography, its people. As an artist, there’s a lot there to grapple with and try and make sense of. Hopefully, as artists, we’re contributing something positive to the culture here, the people here, and helping to try and make sense of some of the complex issues that are going on around this part of the world.”
Returning to his indie-folk roots has been a long time coming for Crowe, who says he’s felt the pull to make music with acoustic instruments rather than synthesised sounds.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now. The last few years, the indie-folk bug has been niggling at me,” he says.
“It’s been a nice and refreshing change to be playing more organic instruments and using real drums and bass, working with more natural sounds. It’s a nice change!”
Crowe’s set to drop a few more gems throughout the year, as he gears up to release a new album sometime in 2023. So if you’re kicking around the desert, jump along to the Jump Inn and get ready to ‘Melt’ with Dave Crowe.
Dave Crowe Single Launch + Jam Night
WHEN TUE 7 MAR | 7PM
AT JUMP INN
COST FREE
INFO facebook.com/davecrowemusic
