Damien
He's well known on the blog but for those who don't know the artist so far, here are some sentences about him: Ipswich alt-electro-rock (darkwave) musician Damien is a queer, non-binary artist who powerfully pushes against mainstream conventions with poignant, post-punk political commentaries. Emerging in early 2020, Damien's music blends electro rock with elements of both pop and industrial, and pairs this with lyrical content that is simultaneously clever and catchy.
"Wrong Age, Wrong Race, Wrong Gender" (Album/EP)
Das Album wurde schon länger angekündigt und jetzt ist es draußen. Damien's zweiter Long Player ist auf dem Markt. Einerseits ein Fingerzeig Richtung heutiger Gesellschaft andererseits very danceable.
Industrial meets Electro Dance Experimental auf der einen Seite, dem gegenüber stehen neue Nummern wie "Dreamer" oder "Body" die mehr als überzeugend klingen. Angetan bin ich vor allem von "Dreamer" einem Song der unscheinbar klingen mag, aber das Potenzial eines musikalischen Meilensteins in sich trägt, dazu serviert uns Damien mit "Body" feinsten Electro Pop der durchaus die Charts erobern könnte.
Altbekanntes gibt's von seinen Vorab-Releases wie "Love yourself" oder auch "Melbourne Afternoon" um nur zwei zu nennen. "Wrong Age, Wrong Race, Wrong Gender" schimmert und glänzt ist aber zugleich auch nachdenklich, "Wrong Age, Wrong Race, Wrong Gender" ist Damien und Damien ist "Wrong Age, Wrong Race, Wrong Gender", ein musikalisches Chamäleon des Dark Wave das uns wieder voll überzeugt hat!
Your new Album "Wrong Age, Wrong Race, Wrong Gender" is ready for the release, how would you describe it in some sentences, what can the listeners expect?
It's a blend on industrial, electro and pop. If you could imagine Gorillaz, Halsey and The Dandy Warhols having a musical baby together, it may sound something like my album.
What is your favorite track on the Album?
It's hard to say, presently I think 'Body' is my favourite musically, but lyrically I probably like 'Dreamer' the best.
How much "Damien" is hidden in the songs?
Every track is speaking directly from my own experience. If you follow the full trajectory of the album you will begin by meeting me as young, insecure boy desperate for love, then as the album continues you will see me mature and develop into someone who begins to connect with others and starts longing for all humanity to grow in awareness and connection with one another, and then finally the album closes with my final existential dread that perhaps all of this is meaningless.
I guess the Album represents a broad spectrum of your personal taste, what are your "all time top 3 songs" right now, in this second?
Great question! Right now my top three songs are:
'I'm So Evil' by The Rockefeller Frequency'
"Zombie" by Siiickbrain and
I've had "BYOB" by System of a Down
on my playlists a fair bit lately too, which is a bit of a throwback.
Is there a chance to see on stage with the new album, if so, when and where?
Only in Australia at present, I have a quite a few shows and festivals happening here before the end of the year. International touring is certainly something I'd like to do in the near future, but as a single parent and an independent artist, it's difficult to coordinate as
12 month of work, do you think it's time for a break?
Definitely not. I am already working on the next album, and hope to have more new music by the end of this year.
What's in your opinion the most significant difference to your first Album?
I think this album is more polished, and the processing on the vocals in grittier and edgier than the first album. It feels 'bigger' to me. I also like that this album is only 7 tracks. It's really just a long EP, so there's no filler tracks on there and it can be easily digested in one sitting without skipping anything.
...and last but not least what's next?
As mentioned, i have quite a few shows and festivals lined up in Australia before the end of the year, and will be promoting this album heavily. Hopefully, if it gains interest, that may spark opportunities to tour internationally depending on whether an audience exists for my music outside of my hometown.
Either way, I am writing more music as we speak, that I am very excited about, and look forward to sharing some of that by the end of the year too.
Photo by TamCam Images
