A spark in the music scene

A spark in the music scene

HAVEN’T heard of Scott Spark yet? That’s going to change after you read this.

The Sydney-based singer/songwriter has been making waves in the music industry ever since he burst onto the scene a few years ago. In June, he released his second album and his popularity continues to rise.

Spark’s music is more than just sounds and words. It’s an experience in immersion, taking you behind the curtains of a life in all its painful glory. Whether you’ve been a fan from the beginning, or are only just learning about him now – there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: his music takes listeners on a journey.

Spark’s first big greak was when he was unearthed by Triple J in 2010, and his debut album Fail Like You Mean It came along not long after. He went on to perform over 50 shows across the country, in regional communities and in metropolitan ones as well. This included supporting the likes of Washington, and Tim Rogers of You Am I.

It was a big year for Spark. While his recording career had launched a few years previously, it was 2010 that saw things really take off, and since then he has not slowed down.

In 2011, Spark was awarded the prestigious Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship. This granted him the opportunity and freedom to travel to New York, where he spent time refining his sound.

In 2012, Spark spent time in Los Angeles recording his follow up to Fail Like You Mean It — the recently-released Muscle Memory. He worked on this album with sound engineer Ben Tolliday, who has worked with artists like Alanis Morissette and Wolfmother.

The time spent abroad was time that saw him get to the heart of what it meant to create engaging music in a contemporary and constantly-shifting world. Spin a couple of tracks, particularly those from his recent release, and it becomes clear that as much as Spark has matured as an artist, there’s also an extra dimension to his music. It’s the type that doesn’t come along all too often.

He’s one part Sufjan Stevens, another part Rufus Wainwright — with a little Fiona Apple thrown in to the mix. His voice is unique while his music is a genre that is all too difficult to define — in the best possible way.

The tunes are heartfelt: a deft blend of soft and strong that contemporary Australian music rarely manages to get right. There’s universality to the words and themes present in his sounds. As he sings about life, love, loss, and everything in between. There’s a sense that Spark is a musician that has seen a lot in his time, and is continously exploring the world both in a physical and a mental sense.

Muscle Memory was first previewed at the Sydney Opera House for TEDx. These events are known for their innovation and diversity — making it the perfect platform to debut tracks from the new record.

“It’s not very good gym music,” Spark says while previewing the new album.

“Don’t jog to it. Maybe drive to it”.

That’s exactly where Spark’s music feels most at home — the accompanying soundtrack to tearing down one of those open roads that could, and probably will, take you anywhere.

Muscle Memory is out now.

Listen to Scott Spark’s latest single Tag Along:

**This article first appeared in the August issue of the Star Observer. The next issue comes out on Thursday (August 21) in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.  Click here to find out where you can grab your free copy.

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