Darling James

We've all had them. Those heart-wrenching conversations we know could have been avoided but for lack of effort. But when it's all too late and the ill communication has taken its toll we end up in a take-no-prisoners situation. Darling James calls this an "Ultimatum Talk". And it's the name given to his debut single; a sizzling, hypnotic, building track that details the stinging event and aftermath of receiving his own ultimatum talk. From a beguiling ukulele loop to a psych-rock explosion of organs and drums "Ultimatum Talk" is a masterclass in minimalism and personal disaster. You will not escape unscathed. Using this more elusive moniker, Melbourne-based James O'Brien formed Darling James as a vehicle for the songs he was piecing together late at night in bedroom recordings while also touring extensively as a sideman for other acts. Of course, O’Brien is no stranger to the Australian music scene and has delved into many projects since he first came to attention with seminal Brisbane indie-darlings The Boat People. This is the band with which he would experience and endure most, as a co-frontman and songwriter of at least eight triple j high rotation singles from three acclaimed albums that also made their mark on Los Angeles’ KCRW and the UK’s Radio 1. They travelled to the U.S. no less than eight times (playing South By South West twice) toured the UK multiple times and played on home soil at the likes of Big Day Out, Woodford Folk Festival, Valley Fiesta, Sunset Sounds and support slots for the likes of David Byrne, The Shins, Powderfinger, Crowded House, Washington, Tim Rogers, Augie March and countless headline tours. Beyond this list, O’Brien co-wrote and sung YesYou’s breakout radio hit “Half Of It” in 2011 and worked as side man in the much-lauded Machine Translations with whom he toured nationally multiple times, performing with people such as Mick Turner (Dirty Three), The Church, and Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil). Working as bassist for Kate Miller-Heidke O’Brien performed at Splendour In The Grass and Southbound as well as tours in Australia, Singapore and Vietnam. As Darling James, O’Brien produced and music directed 8 First Dates at the 2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival which featured debut performances of new songs by Ainslie Wills, Angie Hart and Jae Laffer amongst others, backed by Darling James. Fast forward to, well, today and “Ultimatum Talk” is upon us. Written about the blurry weeks following the slow, painful death of a real-life long-term relationship, it’s a story of disappointment and denial. Detailing the bewilderment and protestation of a rejected protagonist who "didn't even try and just hit the town", he chooses hedonism over repair, while taking fraught glances backwards. The talk in question really happened, and in a weird twist of fate the song's debut performance was in the very location where the scene took place. Single-handedly recording almost every instrument, “Ultimatum Talk” was originally demoed with the help of talented multi-instrumentalist Dan Parsons on drums. Coming together in just two hours as the track was being laid down, “Ultimatum Talk” sat dormant without a space to come alive before rediscovery and reinvigoration during Darling James' early performances. The track was then recorded in Bakehouse's Fitzroy facility before over-dubs were laid down at producer Robin Water's studio and the song's signature organs were added in Darling James' shed on a vintage Hammond left there by a friend. Final over-dubs were done with producer John Castle (Vance Joy, The Bamboos, Megan Washington) who also mixed the track. As O’Brien demonstrates, there can be many twists and turns in a creative life and there are many, many ways to make music, good music. “Ultimatum Talk” is just the first for Darling James. Darling James is an indie-pop group based in Melbourne, Australia.