Darren Cross, guitarra rara, media entrevista robá

Sacao de una entrevista para Post to wire

-You’ve played in bands, a duo and now as a solo artist, do you ever envisage returning to a band format or does the solo, 100% independent setup, tick all the boxes for you now?

Um yeah, not sure. I just play acoustic guitar or tweak live field recordings and make ambient tracks now. I’m easy though – I just feed the muse….whatever it wants. In terms of singing, I highly doubt it.


-Is writing instrumental music a different mindset and process for you, compared to traditional songwriting with a vocal/lyrical component?

Yeah, writing vocal melodies is very very easy and natural for me so I miss the immediacy of that process. Writing with the acoustic guitar D.C Cross project is a lot more complicated. You have to practise a lot as well, or in two months it’s hard to play. Finding your own voice with one guitar is also challenging. I like the fact there aren’t many options. I’ve done the production thing before and you really can get lost within that realm.

-Your songs always have brilliant titles, do you ever start with the title and compose the piece from that or does the music always come first?

It’s always different. Sometimes the name corresponds to the location where I came up with the idea of the song, sometimes its to make a funny/sad/whatever statement. I don’t think I’ve made a song based around a title first yet.


-Are there certain challenges to playing singular acoustic music live in terms of finding the right venues for your music?

Absolutely. I’ve spent many years, even with my folk noir duo Jep and Dep (a quiet, menacing duo I did with Jessica Cassar) trying to find suitable places to play. Playing in Sydney is impossible with fucktards talking over the top of your music. It’s a horrible experience and very much a thing here in Sydney. Last year I did a bunch of touring and playing in awesome theatres with Ed Kuepper & Jim White and Xylouris White. I played at the Art Gallery Of NSW and also played at Peoples Republic. People were seated and listening, listening to the guitar. Even in massive venues like the Recital Hall in Sydney (supported Kuepper) people were silent and listened to my set. Maybe I was spoilt but I’m over doing pubs. Just recently I hired the Annandale Community Centre and put on my own gig with my own PA and it was excellent. I’m going to do more of them this year!

-What was the first album you bought on vinyl and what’s your most treasured vinyl record?

I think the first LP I bought with my pocket money was The Young Ones. My most treasured vinyl album is maybe an Australian pressing of My Bloody Valentine – signed by all members I won off my mate in a blackjack game.

-In the world of American Primitive Guitar, can you suggest three albums that someone new to the genre should start with to get a handle on the style?

 Leo Kottke / Peter Lang / John Fahey – Leo Kottke / Peter Lang / John Fahey (1974)
Leo Kottke – 6- and 12-String Guitar (1969)
John Fahey – Days Have Gone By (1967)