Dan Sultan
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Dan Sultan

Tables are set out through the main room at the Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex in Geelong. On stage is a simple red curtain as a backdrop and simple amplification setup for the solo tour of Dan Sultan. This is the first time that anybody has really heard of Dan Sultan in around four years and there is a particular hype and buzz in the room as he takes to the stage to play two cracking sets of music, debuting tracks of his (then) upcoming third album Blackbird. Fast-forward four months and Sultan is a Record Store Day Ambassador and announced on the line-up for the triple j One Night Stand in Mildura. It’s been a hectic few months, and Sultan has just finished playing support to ‘The Boss’ when we caught up for a chat.
“Mate, I think that is absolutely correct. It was a very pinch yourself moment, but what you see is what you get. Obviously on stage he is renowned for his lengthy performances, and I think the longest I saw him play was for nearly four hours straight, and off stage he is like that as well. He’s happy to take time out and get a photo and have a chat to you, and his whole staff and crew are awesome as well. It was great.”
The absence of Sultan in the Australian music scene for the past few years has been in some part due to regaining control of his music and career. “I had to take a lot more control and responsibility of my life and career. I wasn’t in a good place, and changes really had to be made. Since then, things have been great and I have been feeling good about things. This tour is shaping up to be the biggest that I have done to date and I can’t wait to get back out on the road again.”
Uninspired and unable to write after the release and tour of 2009’s Get Out While You Can, these positive changes in Sultan’s life allowed for the concept of Blackbird to take shape. It took a few years to get back into the groove of things again, but after that was achieved Sultan wrote 35 songs within the space of six months, thirteen of which made the cut for this latest release. “I was uninspired and it was a dark time. It was unfair on Scott [Wilson, Sultan’s former writing partner] and my old management. After not writing for three years, this was a huge positive. There is definitely more studio albums to come, but we’ll just see how this one is received first.”
Heading off to record the new album in Nashville, Tennessee, it was only natural to ponder whether the tracks have a more country/bluesy feel to them. With Josh Jones and Peter Marin from Sultan’s old band heading over with him, the end result is a rocking set of tracks that showcase a new side to Dan Sultan. “It was a bonus that we headed to Nashville to record. We really wanted to work with Jacquire King and he works in Nashville, so one thing led to another and it all snowballed from there.”
The producing credits of King include Tom Waits and Kings of Leon, so to have King behind the helm of this new project allowed for some of the pressure of recording a new sound away from home to be lifted off Sultan. “We were all working very hard on those sessions. It was twelve- and thirteen-hour days, six days a week, but I think that was really necessary to capture what we were trying to throw down.”
The title of the album is a reference to Blackbird Studios, where the sessions were recorded. One of the prized possessions of the studio is an elusive guitar of which Sultan’s signature is now etched on in between Buddy Guy and Neil Young. “There are moments in your career that you never forget and I think being given the opportunity to sign that guitar and record at Blackbird is one such case. There have been some great albums recorded there and it was a positive environment for these songs to develop in I think.”
From his 2006 debut record Homemade Biscuits, the success that has followed Sultan in the years following came as somewhat of a surprise. Now an ARIA award-winning artist, Sultan takes his career day by day and doesn’t over-think things too much. “It’s the old cliché, but you’ve just got to take it one day at a time; hopefully things work out, as it is very hard to succeed. I’ve been very lucky throughout my career and I just keep practising each day and honing my skills.
“Nashville allowed me to become a better guitar player than I was, as well as a better musician and singer. You always hope for the awards and accolades after all the blood, sweat and tears you put into your music. I’m very thankful for everything that has happened.”
With Josh and Peter along for the ride, along with Ash Naylor from Even fame as well as playing in Paul Kelly’s band, the upcoming shows on the tour are set to be nothing short of phenomenal. Horns, keys and a bigger setup for some of the shows, it’s going to be both a retrospective look at Sultan’s songs, as well as what the future holds.
“It’s going to be great to be heading out on the road again. Don’t expect me to be doing a Bruce Springsteen though. I’m not going to be playing every single one of my songs. I’ll be out there for three hours otherwise. That said, you will definitely hear all your favourites from the other records. Playing live is another dimension and allows me to go into another place and shift into another gear.”
A cracking live band and a new album from the man with the tunes and a whole lot of swagger, it will be interesting to see what Sultan comes up with next. In the meantime, head out and see him in full flight on this tour.
When&Where: The Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, Geelong – July 18
Written by Tex Miller