Everything old is new again, as the saying goes…certainly, with shows like “Stranger Things” being all the rage with the youngsters, 80s’ nostalgia is everywhere. However, artists like Australian singer/songwriter/producer Damien show that perhaps the following decade may be the next big thing.
Damien’s newest single, the hard-driving “Empty”, definitely plays as a throwback to the days when Nine Inch Nails and a somewhat-less problematic (but equally as controversial) Marilyn Manson served as musical role models for the disenchanted youth who were burned out on what alt-rock had become by the mid-to-late 90s. Unlike those aforementioned artists, the mononymous Damien manages to bring a sense of fun to the proceedings, which is rare (and welcome!) for this genre. Opening with a capella cadence, “Empty” is the perfect example of the “from a whisper to a scream” dynamic, and is all the better for it. Production-wise, everything is on point…a place for everything and everything in its place. The false-ending leading to the grand finale is another clever touch…some deep care was put into the creation of this song, and it certainly shows.
Damien may be a relatively new artist (having released his first album in 2021), but he already has shown a knack for writing some of the catchiest darkwave I’ve yet heard and does it with no little bit of style and panache. Being able to take what could’ve been a rote throwback on the surface and managing to sound both nostalgic and forward-looking at the same time is no small feat. Throw this one on your favorite playlist and let the groove carry you away…you’ll be glad you did.
Listen to "Empty" on Spotify here -
You can check out Damien’s website here: