This is the life and sound of Martin Doluz, an Artist who has always been drawn to music as his primary and most essential form of expression. “If I felt as though I could express myself completely through speech or written word… If I could explain to everyone how much I love them, I wouldn’t need music and poetry. Music completes the communication of what I feel.”
Whether in the well-formed rock or pop song or the open field of improvisation, Doluz goes for the jugular. Leaving himself completely exposed to the audience, heart, soul, strengths and weakness– you will find no better friend to sing along with in this journey of life as you cry out for more.
“Life is to be cherished and lived fully… many people in my life have tried to steer me toward the safe and stable path which is in many ways anything except music– anything but rock and roll. I have to rock, I have no choice anymore. Every time I deny it people get hurt; mostly me as I am denying an essential part of my existence.”
David McDaniel, an engineer by education, discovered Martin’s completed songs early in their friendship along with some well recorded but incomplete version of the tracks on VOLTAGE. It was David’s insistence that the project be completed as a result of their time together hanging out as friends. This became what you hear today. Working with just a handful of musicians: Jake Bagshaw (Drums), Mike Avenaim (Drums), Janie Andrews (Vocals), and Oliver Kelso (congas), Martin and David were able to complete the tracking for the record. Although Martin’s multi-instrumental capabilities make up the majority of the content for what you hear, David’s contributions on keyboards and synths add a sincere depth and complexity to the final arrangements. If you were to witness this close friendship at work, you would understand the simpatico that makes The Black Reds a band and not a one-man show. The team shares a great love for R&B, Pop, and experimental music but David’s love of electronic music brings a different intellect to The Black Reds. While Martin’s untamed punk rock and bebop roots provide the chaotic whirlwind that is essential to foundation of creation, David’s approach and perspectives from electronic music bring modern instruementation and workflow to the duo’s production. Very seamlessly as one finishes a thought or task the other picks it up and moves it even further into The Black Reds movement: something classic, yet fresh and relevant, familiar yet original. Listen again and you hear something new you missed before, listen again and try not to dance and sing along.
There is another element to The Black Reds who has become the third regular, non-performing member of the band. The tracking for VOLTAGE was almost complete when David reached out to Adrian Breakspear, one of David’s favorite producers of Indy Rock in Sydney, Australia. Adrian’s efforts taking on the task of mixing VOLTAGE and guiding the final stages of tracking were essential, but as usual with this passionate and heartfelt duo, they all became close friends. So much so that before the completion of VOLTAGE, Martin and David made the trek to Sydney to meet up with Adrian, check out Sony Music’s studios and also attend a show in Adelaide with Gang of Youths, who’s recent album “Go Farther Into Lightness” Adrian had just finished recording and producing. This trip not only sealed the friendship of Martin, David and Adrian, but Gang of Youths as individuals and as a band inspired them to rally and put the greatest push into making the Album VOLTAGE and The Black Reds a reality. This reality is one that we all get to experience on this Modern Classic Album: VOLTAGE and on the stage with The Black Reds. If you get a chance to experience The Black Reds, DO IT.
