A Quick Chat With Mike O’Dowd
Introducing Mike O'Dowd, an Australian indie-folk luminary whose debut album 'One Lover Leaves' is poised to unravel an emotional odyssey through the intricacies of love, heartache, and self-discovery. With the lead single 'Game Of Love', O'Dowd offers a poignant glimpse into his musical narrative, complemented by a heartfelt music video that delves into the raw depths of his past relationship. As 'Game Of Love' kicks off the album, it introduces a thematic exploration of the intricate facets of love, a glimpse into the captivating and evocative soundscape that 'One Lover Leaves' promises to deliver upon its full release on September 29. We caught up with Mike O’Dowd to find out more about the single, his creative process and his other passions.
Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
I’m really happy with how this song turned out. It was the last song I recorded for the album. A lot of the tracks are quite measured and striped back, so I wanted this song to be recorded with a live band to capture as much energy as possible.
Who are some of your influences and why?
I’m influenced by great songwriting and lyrics. A few that really stand out for me are Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
I try to open myself up to writing whatever comes from my subconscious without second guessing or censoring anything.
I really just try to stay out of the way as much as I can.
What do you think makes a great song?
I think you need to create a mood or paint a picture in someone’s mind. Production doesn’t mean much as long as the story is getting through. I think that’s the main objective.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
My area of focus is on lyrics and songwriting. I’m always in awe of any musician that can pick up an instrument and solo or add atmosphere to a song.
For those reasons I’d love to work with Warren Ellis. I’ve seen him perform many times with the Dirty Three and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and I’ve been blown away every time.
When not working on music, what other creative outlets do you have?
I love photography and working with film.
I put together the film clips for my previous two singles and shot a lot of super8 footage for the my most recent single ‘Game Of Love’.
Who are some local bands we should check out?
At the moment I’m loving Leah Senior’s new album. I love her songwriting and the production is perfect. I collaborated with Jesse Williams on ‘Game Of Love’ and was very inspired working with him in his home studio.
Winter or summer and why?
Summer without question. I have a lot more creative energy in the summer. I was lucky enough to live overseas and chase the summer for a few years and I plan to start doing that again as soon as possible.
What else do you have planned for 2023?
My debut album is out on the 29th of September. After that I plan to play as many gigs as I can here and overseas.
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