When Datura4’s Dom Mariani wrote “Dirty Laundry,” a friend was going through a tough time. And it was about to get tougher.
“Rumor spreads like wildfire, and in a world of social media, it gets amplified tenfold,” says the primary force behind the Western Australian retro-rock outfit. “That can really mess with lives. Even when it’s unsubstantiated, untrue or whatever, the thing is out there.”
Like many of us these days, Mariani has seen this sort of thing happen more than once. “But I’d like to think people are now getting wise to making up their own minds instead of relying on what’s on their screens,” he says.
From a musical standpoint, “Dirty Laundry” is indicative of the Datura4’s heavy psychedelic-blues m.o., with a touch of gospel to lighten the mood a bit. “I’ve always dug the electric blues players of the ’50s and ’60s, and I wanted to tip my hat to those guys,” says Mariani. “Our keys player, Bob Patient, cut his teeth on that stuff, so it made sense to have him jamming on it.”
The track also features Billy Rogers, a legend in the group’s hometown of Fremantle, a port city near Perth. “He plays some great saxophone, which brings a bit of a Fillmore East freakout,” says Mariani.
We’re proud to premiere Datura4’s “Dirty Laundry.” Look for the band’s new album, High On The Low Brow, June 19 via Alive Naturalsound.
—Hobart Rowland
