Publicity Campaign: Mark Howard - ‘Deep Dark Blue’
Acclaimed Phillip Island singer-songwriter Mark Howard returns with his boldest and most immersive work yet: ‘Deep Dark Blue’.
The album draws listeners into a world of atmospheric yet powerful instrumentation, raw emotion, and striking storytelling. It’s a journey through self-discovery and healing, shaped by the highs and lows of life on the road and the urge to keep creating.
Following the success of his debut record ‘Passing Strangers’, Mark toured across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Those experiences, and the momentum they created, set the stage for ‘Deep Dark Blue’. Mark describes the album as an intense journey, wrestling with the things we keep hidden and what happens when we finally face them.
Having previously released the single ‘Heaven Doesn’t Need You Like I Do’, giving listeners a taste of the album, Mark received praised for his work as “another sublime offering from one of Gippsland’s finest” (Nic V, South Coast FM), “captivating and beautifully executed” (Central Music, Brazil), and “full of sincerity, tenderness, and deep personal pain” (Indie&Folk Mood, Ukraine). His music has resonated globally for its honesty, high production value, and strong songwriting, having played in over 45 countries. The release also saw him chart #3 on the AMRAP regional charts, reaching over 60 local radio stations in Australia.
Working with producer Dave Prideaux, Mark pushed his sound into new territory. The album features hypnotic harmonies from Maddy May and Brooke Taylor, the groove-driven backbone of Graham King on drums, and mastering by Andy Stewart (Paul Kelly, Gotye, C.W. Stoneking). The result is a record that is bigger, more layered, and definitely his own.
‘Deep Dark Blue’ rewards repeat listens, offering sonic corners and lyrical depth that unfold with each play. Mark’s signature blend of coastal grit, vulnerability, and restless energy shines through, with influences echoing legends like Michael Hutchence and Nick Cave, yet always sounding uniquely his.
Whether it’s the haunting orchestral balladry of ‘Heaven Doesn’t Need You Like I Do’, the swagger of ‘My Girl Is On Fire’, or the experimental twists of ‘My Unlucky Heart’, this album invites listeners to sit with the things that scare them, to wade into the deep, and to find hope and understanding on the other side. Mark turns everyday moments into something larger than life, using music as a mirror for the broken and unfinished parts of ourselves.
With a highly anticipated run of shows in both Australia and Japan, Mark Howard’s ‘Deep Dark Blue’ is set to make waves far beyond his Gippsland roots.
