Adalita, Mick Harvey and Andrew Duffield have joined forces to create a stunning tribute to raise funds for Australian artist Ollie Olsen.
The trio has reworked the classic Rooms for the Memory, originally composed by Olsen in 1978 and later popularised by Michael Hutchence, the frontman of INXS, in 1987.
The song featured in the cult Australian film Dogs in Space, directed by Richard Lowenstein, holds a special place in the hearts of many. To honour Olsen and support him during his battle with Multiple System Atrophy (a form of Parkinson’s), Adalita, Mick Harvey, and Andrew Duffield recorded their version at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios in January of this year.
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Renowned producer Nick Launay, who mixed the original and this new version, also participated in the project. Filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, who directed the original Rooms video, captured the entire recording session, interweaving footage of Hutchence and Olsen from the past with the modern-day clip. The video is set for a digital release today – June 16.
The extended format of Rooms for the Memory 2023 will be released this weekend, on July 14, through DRW Records. This release will include Olsen’s original version of Win/Lose from Dogs in Space and a reworked rendition by Kav Temperley, the frontman of Eskimo Joe.
“It’s just a hauntingly brilliant and beautifully written song and when myself and a few of Ollie’s friends heard he was not well, we felt we needed to do something to help,” said Jane Gazzo, the song’s executive producer. “Remarkably all the musicians, including Adalita and Mick Harvey – two of the country’s finest artists – were completely up to donating their time and had belief in the project. I think this is a stunning rework and I really hope the music industry and public get behind it and give it the new lease of life we know it deserves.”
All proceeds from the sales of the vinyl, CD, and digital versions of the song will directly contribute to assisting Ollie Olsen and his ongoing medical care. Olsen, a prominent figure in electronic and avant-garde music in Australia, has been diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy, a degenerative condition for which there is currently no cure. The Australian music industry has rallied behind Olsen, raising over $20,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to date.
Rooms for the Memory 2023 stands as a testament to the power of music and the collective support of the music community. It is an opportunity for music lovers to contribute to a worthy cause while experiencing a hauntingly brilliant and beautifully written song in a renewed form.
Rooms for the Memory 2023 Track Listing
- Rooms for the Memory – Adalita (2023) single edit
- Rooms for the Memory – Michael Hutchence 2023 remix (1986)
- Rooms for the Memory – Adalita (2023) full mix
- Win/Lose – Kav Temperley (2023)
- Win/Lose – Ollie Olsen – Dog In Space Version
- Rooms for the Memory – Adalita (2023) Kraus mix
Rooms for the Memory featuring Adalita is available digitally today. Pre-save by heading here.
