Melding a refreshing audacity with a disarming vulnerability, Melbourne-based singer songwriter Deborah Hocking has securely placed gothic folk rock on the musical map. Her live performance will transport you through a labyrinth of emotions; dark and intoxicating, yet complete with an evocative back porch charm.
The spirit of her live performance has been captured on Deborah's twin releases, D-Day and Stage. One reviewer writes, "It becomes apparent that Deborah's stuff is not run of the mill folk rock... the lyrics head into much darker and more introspective moods than most dare to tread. Having ascertained that Deborah is dark, the music is certainly not depressing or angry. It is actually kind of uplifting." (Frank Boner, bonemachine.net)
The potency of her lyrics and the beguiling nature of her live performance have drawn comparisons with two of Australia's leading divas, Deborah Conway and Sally Dastey.
"It doesn't take much listening to Deborah Hocking in order to realise why she has been praised by various folk communities. Lengthy and literate songs that touch upon the whimsical as much as they dig beneath the skin, these are what you'll find on her twin releases D-Day and Stage." (Richard Vogt, mono.net)
A momentous twin CD launch at one of Melbourne's rock stomping grounds, the Evelyn Hotel, is testament to Deborah's popularity with both punters and industry pundits alike. In addition to captivating audiences, Deborah's songwriting has been winning her not only widespread recognition, but also numerous awards. These include picking up multiple awards in several different categories at the Redgum Festival and being short-listed for two consecutive years for the Ranges Folk Festival Songsmith Award.
In 2003 Deborah added bassist John Dynon and drummer Matthew Rose to her lineup to form a powerhouse trio, the Deborah Hocking Band. Their 5-track EP Left to Spare, a collection of full-sounding folk rock gems with an energetic and sometimes playful slant, was released to critical acclaim in the Melbourne music circuit, spawning a successful tour of regional Australia.