With “2020 hindsight” singer-songwriter and multi-talented musician Scott Darlow realised COVID-19 had provided a much-needed chance to unplug from life on the road.
“I came back before last Christmas just spent,” the 37-year-old Yorta Yorta musician said.
“I’d probably toured too much.
“If I had hit the ground running, as I usually do in January, I probably would have fallen apart.
“I’ve spent the year really enjoying time with my wife and three kids, eating healthier and getting better sleep patterns.”
But as restrictions ease in Victoria, Darlow admits he is keen to return to the stage at Geelong Arts Centre on Friday night.
“It’s probably only the last month or so I’ve been thinking, ‘I wouldn’t mind going out and doing a show’,” he said.
The show takes place just days before the beginning of National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week on Sunday.
Like many of his shows, An Evening with Scott Darlow is “more than just a gig”.
Between his music, which sounds like a blend of Eskimo Joe and Goanna, he shares how his songs relate to Australian and First Nations culture and history.
“If you ever wanted to ask an Aboriginal person a question, here’s the opportunity,” he said.
“I hope it will be the prototype for a show which I’ve wanted to do all year, where I help people understand each other.”
Darlow described his chats and preambles as an “education-style Trojan Horse” for his audience.
“You’ve got to bring them on the journey,” he said.
Unlike many in the music industry, he refrained from doing online shows during lockdown, and Friday night’s gig is his first “proper” live-stream.
“Once the pandemic hit everybody was doing them,” he said.
“If you’re going to do something, you should do it well.”
Darlow grew up moving across Australia and Hong Kong with his Salvation Army parents, and learned to play the cornett in a Salvo brass band.
“I’m a bit of a gypsy at heart,” he said.
He now plays the guitar, didgeridoo and “anything you can blow into”, and his melodic voice belies his rugged appearance.
“I’ve got a deeper speaking voice than singing voice,” he said.
He remembered, with amusement, sending a sample to Eskimo Joe guitarist Joel Quartermain, who collaborated with him on new track You Can’t See Black In The Dark.
“When he rang me, he said, ‘who’s the woman singing in the chorus bit?’” Darlow laughed.
While he had enjoyed a welcome break during 2020, he was disappointed to have missed more than 100 gigs across Australia, including Brian Mannix’s End of the Line tour.
“That was probably the one thing I’ve missed about 2020 the most,” he said.
“We had a lot of dates booked and those shows were going to be a lot of fun.
“Brian is five minutes’ drive from my house. He’s a superstar of a bloke and a very talented.”
Darlow looked forward to seeing how Friday night’s show would pan out.
“I never really know what I’m going to do until I’m stage,” he said.
“If you’re around on Friday night and you’re in front of the screen or tablet, check me out and say hello – it’ll be a good night.”
