Delaney Davidson
Delaney Davidson (born 1972) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. His hometown is Lyttelton, New Zealand and he regularly tours the US and Europe.
Career and awards
After a variety of careers that lead Davidson to Switzerland in 2002, he joined The Dead Brothers (Voodoo Rhythm Records). He has since made five solo albums and two in collaboration with Marlon Williams.
In 2010, Davidson won the Sad Song Competition in Berlin and was declared champion of the One Man Band competition in Zurich the following year.
Anthony Healey, Australasian Performing Right Association's (APRA) Director of NZ Operations, said of the song "You're a Loser" from Davidson's album Bad Luck Man: "There is an honesty and integrity to all Delaney's songs and is evidenced in spades in 'You're a Loser'. This song is anything but a loser and we are immensely proud of the reputation Delaney has achieved both internationally and at home."[1]
In 2013, Davidson collaborated with fellow New Zealand musician Marlon Williams (of the Unfaithful Ways) for the album Sad But True – The Secret History of Country Music Songwriting Volume 1. It was received positive reviews in mainstream publications, with The New Zealand Herald dubbing the collaboration "seamless" and a "heady concoction of truth-seeking".[2] It was also praised for seamlessly harmonising the young "clean" voice of Williams with the "darker" vocals of Davidson.[3] The album later won Davidson and Williams won the New Zealand Music Awards' Country Music Album of the Year.[4] RIANZ managing director, Chris Caddick, congratulated Delaney and Marlon on their win. "Well done to Delaney and Marlon on their richly deserved Tui for the album Sad But True. Their take on a classic American art form is brilliantly executed and a real joy to listen to."[3]
Davidson followed up the first volume of Sad But True with two more installments, the second self-released on The Grand Ole Hayride tour. The third volume, Juke-Box B-Sides, reached number 12 on the New Zealand Albums Chart in February 2014.[5]
Davidson was also the winner of the APRA New Zealand Country Music Song of the Year[6] three years in a row.
In 2014, he co-wrote "Whiskey & Kisses" with Tami Neilson. It was later released on Neilson's album Dynamite, which Davidson also produced.
Davidson made his second appearance on the New Zealand Albums Chart in September 2015, with his album Lucky Guy peaking at number 24.[7]
Davidson's songs are prominently featured in season one of The Brokenwood Mysteries TV series.
Other projects
- Melbourne 1993 to 1996, ART exhibitions: Nocturnal Paintings and Prints.
- Played the lead role in the film The Road to Nod (Slowboat Films; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213128/)
- Theatre music for the Basel Stadt Theatre, Drei Groschen Oper.
- Executive producer for the Voodoo Rhythm 5 Short Films project between NZ filmmaker Damien Shatford and Swiss label Voodoo Rhythm.
- Produced Christchurch Arts Festival smash hit "Totally Weill", a selection of Kurt Weill's music (http://www.artsfestival.co.nz/totallyweill)
Discography
- 2007: Rough Diamond (Stink Magnetic)
- 2008: Ghost Songs (Casbah Records)
- 2010: Self Decapitation (Voodoo Rhythm)
- 2011: The Harbour Union, featuring Davidson, The Eastern, Lindon Puffin, Al Park, The Unfaithful Ways, Tiny Lies and Runaround Sue
- 2011: Bad Luck Man (Voodoo Rhythm)
- 2012: Sad But True – The Secret History of Country Music Songwriting Volume 1 (with Marlon Williams) (Lyttelton Records)
- 2013: Sad But True Volume Two (As "The Grand Ole Hayride" with Tami Neilson, Marlon Williams and Dave Khan) (Self-released)
- 2014: Sad But True Volume 3 – Juke-Box B-Sides (with Marlon Williams) (Lyttelton Records)
- 2014: Produced Dynamite for Tami Neilson (http://www.tamineilson.com)
- 2014: Swim Down Low (Outside Inside Records)
- 2015: Diamond Dozen (Squoodge Records)
- 2015: Lucky Guy (Southbound Music)
Press quotes
- "Another brilliant collection from one of New Zealand's best." – Lydia Jenkin, The New Zealand Herald, 29 May 2014 (review for Swim Down Low)[8]
- “Whiskey and Kisses is an adult Willie'n'Emmylou tear-stained barroom dialogue which would enhance the career of any Nashville or Austin singer and songwriter. It's extraordinary." – Graham Reid, The New Zealand Herald, 27 March 2014[9]
- “The relish on Davidson's lips ,however,suggests the Devil ought to be the one running scared" (4 stars) – Q (UK), August 2012)
- "Delaney Davidson – one of our country's best and hardest to define songwriters." – Ricardo Kerr, GrooveGuide, 8 November 2012
- "I think he is amazing." – Ray Columbu, March 2012
- "... a haunting power" – Nick Bollinger, New Zealand Listener, 17 November 2012
- "Wonderful" – Blues & Soul (UK; review of Bad Luck Man)
- "Sublime...raw and original" – Blues & Soul (UK; review of EP)
- "Like it was recorded in some revival tent in full flow" – The Beat (UK)
- "A rattling, twanging celebration" (5 stars) – The Independent (UK)
Videos
- "Big Ugly Fish" – from the album Swim Down Low
- "Candyman" from the album Sad But True Volume 3
- "Bloodletter" – from the album Sad But True Volume 1
- "How Lucky You Are" – from the album Sad But True Volume 1
- "Little Heart" – from the album Self Decapitation
References
- ↑ The Big Idea
- ↑ NZ Herald
- 1 2 NZ Music Awards
- ↑ NZ Music Awards Music Album Of The Year 2013
- ↑ "charts.org.nz - Delaney Davidson And Marlon Williams - Sad But True Vol. III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ↑ APRA AWARDS
- ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
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External links
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