Darren Middleton

Most people will recognise Darren Middleton as the guitarist for iconic Australian band Powderfinger, but five years on from the band’s split there is much more to know about this artist.

As Middleton builds a reputation as a solo artist, with his second solo album Splinters due for release on November 6, the transition has come with some of its own challenges. “On one level you really take for granted that kind of security blanket of familiarity you have. Once I mentally got around the idea that this is just me and I’ve got to stand on my own two feet, that was the biggest hurdle really,” said Middleton. “Also for me I was going from backing vocalist to being the lead singer, so having to hold that position was a big change for me but also really exciting and refreshing as well.”

Since his debut solo record Translations Middleton has developed a newfound confidence in his own ability as a vocalist. “This time around I’m much more comfortable with who I am as a singer,” he said. With this on board, Middleton has been able to take a little more time writing and recording Splinters, which he believes has allowed him to “step away and realise where I can make the songs better before committing them to the record.”

Ahead of the albums full release Middleton is heading out on tour for a run of stripped back preview shows. “There’s just going to be three of us on stage,” said Middleton. “I find it [the stripped back format] really challenging but if you can lay yourself out up there, it’s really rewarding because people on a deeper level love that kind of connection because there’s no flashy lights or tricks involved, it’s just ‘whatever I’ve got you can have’.”

These preview shows will certainly influence the final product of the record, as Middleton has yet to finish recording the second half of the album. “I want the first half to slightly inform what I do with the second, and by touring and living with the songs in a live format you get an instinctual feeling of how and where to go,” he explained.

In closing, Middleton summed up his feelings ahead of the shows: “I love playing music live, I’m really comfortable with it and really looking forward to these shows and playing some new songs.”