Tony Dupé

He moved from this space after a few years and lived in a series of isolated wooden cottages in the hinterland and adjacent valleys nearby around two hours south of Sydney NSW, Australia. In these spaces he produced many more albums for artists such as Holly Throsby, Jack Ladder, Sophie Hutchings and Grand Salvo. In these spaces with direct access to nature and a collection of instruments the records became recognised for the immediacy and naturalness of the sound and performances. Songs were augmented by Tony’s unique approach to arrangement which involves a collage of natural instrumentation that is playful and atmospheric but attends to the heart of the lyric and artists intention. Saddlebacks second album Night Maps is released and acclaimed such as these words by writer and composer Marcus Whale “Night Maps is a journey, eight beautiful sketches of a place and time no other artist could convey so clearly.... a collection of meticulously arranged sonic essays that sound like nothing else, yet openly and intimately communicate emotionally with a listener”.

In recognition of the cumulative impact of isolation Tony moved to Berlin to seek a new engagement with music through formal training in cello and an immersion in the music scene and surrounding communities and culture. Returning to study a masters in improvisation in Sydney, then relocating to melbourne to continue studying and lecturing in music production and composition. He also continued production with other music artists such as Lucy Roleff working in churches, halls and other culturally and sonically resonant spaces. He released Assembly: Organ and Birds at Pella Desert Church a work that channels the external live desert birdsong into an isolated country church where Tony plays pipe organ. US label Lost Tribe Sound then released his next album which is a collaboration with screen composer Claire Deak entitled the old capital where they create a home orchestra overdubbing more than 35 instruments into a domestic symphony. Acclaimed as a “quietly stunning debut’ and a “dizzyingly beautiful tapestry of sound”. Tim Clarke from Dusted magazine writes that “Deak and Dupé are astonishingly skilled composers and arrangers, piecing together intricate, dusty instrumental tableaux that become more mesmerizing and moving the more time you invest in them”.

In pursuit of new approaches and narratives Tony then releases Margaret Hammett Lives, an album featuring female voices, bells, organ and strings that communicates a sense of his great aunt’s story. Margaret was placed in the Abbotsford convent at 19 years of age for having a child out of wedlock and lived there until her death in her 80’s. As a child Tony visited her in this prison-like environment where she had spent her life in harsh conditions working in the laundry and isolated from the world.

Jan Willem Broek wrote that “Dupé navigates quite easily from neoclassical, film music and folk to drones, ambient and electro-acoustic music. The beautifully often ethereal and mysterious vocals stand out here, in addition to the beautiful and varied instrumental interpretation."

Tony continues to make music and is currently writing a creative manual in self-production for songwriters and composers who identify as artistic rather than technical. This is part of a PhD and he has presented at conferences in Boston and Stockholm on this subject.