The Countrytown & KIX Country Centre Stage Artist is Darlinghurst

Countrytown in partnership with KIX Country is proud to announce country-pop band, Darlinghurst as this week’s ‘Centre Stage’ artist. Every week we'll be shining a light on a single artist every week across all platforms including online features, airplay, and social support.

Consisting of Jason Resch, Pagan Newman, Cassie Leopold and Matt Darvidis, the story of Darlinghurst is an interesting one. After four years and a run of hits in the UK, as well as stints in Los Angeles and Nashville, Jason returned home to Melbourne at the end of 2015.

Two years later, he met up with Cassie and Pagan in 2017 and they decided to form a band. Cassie did backing vocals for Christine Anu and Olivia Newton-John, and played theme parks in the US, meanwhile, Pagan cut an RNB/Soul album in the US and is a music teacher. Wanting to expand into a four-piece, their producer suggested Matt – a guitarist from a family of musicians.

Since their debut single, Sorry We Won’t Get Back To You in 2019, Darlinghurst have been blazing a path through Australian country music. They released their debut self-titled album in September 2021, which landed at #1 on the ARIA Country Album Chart and features their seven previous singles – four of which reached #1 on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart. Two of their singles have also tasted US success – So Long So Long and Gotta Go Rodeo.

They scored a nomination for ‘Best New Talent’ at the 2021 Golden Guitar Awards. The following year, they were awarded ‘New Talent Of The Year’ for their track, Where Do We Go, and were also nominated for ‘‘Contemporary Album Of The Year’ and ‘Group or Duo of the Year.’ 

The four piece recently teamed up with Amber Lawrence on the title track from her seventh album, Living for the Highlights, and previously released with Shannon Noll on You Stopped Making Sense. 

Their brand-new single, Hangman hits the ground running; a jangly guitar opens the track, giving way to a stampede of percussion. Recorded at Secret Sound Studios, it’s foot-stomping, southern feel instantly makes you feel like moving, while the song’s lyrics cleverly deliver a discerning message. 

Cassie says, “Not unlike a ligature to the neck that brings unconsciousness, so too, metaphorically, a toxic relationship does the same. Hangman is about breaking the cycle and hanging in limbo.”

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Keep up to date with Darlinghurst via their Facebook page here.