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Jacob Diefenbach
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Jacob Diefenbach
Genre: Pop, Indie
Region: Brisbane, QLD
Members: Jacob Diefenbach - Piano/Vocals/Production
Sounds Like: The Dresden Dolls, Rufus Wainwright, tori amos
Influences: tori amos, Danny Elfman, Classical
Artist Website: www.jacobdiefenbach.com

In the densely populated ghetto of contemporary singer-songwriters, the word "unique" can rarely be used with any real meaning. Love it or not, Jacob Diefenbach hits mighty close to the mark (Whitesides, www.singleoftheday.com).

'Master of Disguise' - the follow-up to 'Ripping Stories For Boys', Jacob's first release - is an eclectic, dynamic and irresistibly seductive follow-up release for the Brisbane-based artist. As before – but with undeniably more vitality, showmanship, and panache – Jacob presents seven captivating portraits on one very spunky – very addictive – CD.

The overarching theme for 'Master of Disgiuse', as the title hints, is identity, and the thinly veiled (and highly explosive) fault lines that run beneath our surfaces, waiting to erupt.

Jacob Diefenbach glides between musical styles and mindsets – between “scathing”, “vulnerable” and “sassy” – like a skilled martial artist manoeuvres between Shinto Ryu and Ba-Gua; that is to say, with a seamless ease that leaves you just a little breathless (and a lot impressed).

Over the course of Master of Disgiuse, Diefenbach is scene queen, office bitch, shit-kicker, devoted friend, and struggling partner. Jacob explains:

When things are peachy, our pieces sit together like patchwork; neat, tidy, and interlocking. But there are times when our pieces divide and clash like immense tectonic plates.

As explosively as Diabolical, a tempestuous and (for those who’ve seen it live!) unforgettably passionate number about hate-mongers concludes; Master of Disguise, the title track, begins in stark contrast, with a sweet – almost whimsical – ode from father to infant son.

As the song (and years) unfold, the listener takes an epic journey, looking on as Father’s dreams lie in tatters (“He knows all the moves to Vogue. I should blame Kylie Minogue!”) and Son sublimates his deepest dreams and desires . The result is a story that jogs along to the beat of an infectious eighties synthesiser and is at once funny, sad and, like so many of Diefenbach’s songs, disarming and powerful.

In little over two years on the scene, Jacob Diefenbach has two, critically-hailed CD releases to his name. Diefenbach has supported Boston-based punk duo, The Dresden Dolls, for the Brisbane and London legs of their world tour; performed for the Brisbane Cabaret Festival, after an invitation to perform as their annually featured “up-and-coming artist”; supported Australian cabaret icon, Paul Capsis, at The Vanguard in Sydney; and Aria nominee, Kate Miller-Heidke, for the Brisbane leg of her Trash and Treasure Tour at The Globe in October last year.

Despite all this, Jacob remains implacably focused and realistic:

"It’s a funny business. The specter of “mainstream success” can overshadow and diminish the small but crucial breaks of “struggling” artists. Even the most hardworking musicians are made to feel naïve and foolish, simply for believing. Until my Pa can buy my CD in K-Mart, he’ll keep sending me letters, politely implying I make the switch to the law."

This idea is most apparent in New Age Nothing and Faker. Both are dark, somewhat cynical, tales about the perversion of creative passion in favour of what’s “normal” and “easy”. New Age Nothing is the wry, brutally honest – and last-ditch – depiction of a modern-day artist, struggling to negotiate the opposing tides of consumption and creation (and ultimately drowning in them).

Jacob’s live shows have been a talking point for audiences and reviewers alike. Although Diefenbach’s voice has been likened to artists like Tori Amos, Freddy Mercury (Human Glue), and Rufus Wainwright, the only way to have any real idea is to come along and hear for yourself.

With 'Master of Disguise', Jacob Diefenbach cements his position as one of Brisbane’s most exciting, up-and-coming artists.

If Brisbane’s any indication, after unveiling his new release as part of an East Coast tour later this year, Jacob’s beautiful (sometimes brutal!), piano-driven brand of storytelling will leave audiences in Sydney and Melbourne hungry for more.

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"Ripping Stories" is a glimpse into a world that is much like our own, but where things come into focus in ways they've never done before. No matter how many confessional singer-songwriters you've got in your record collection, to listen to Diefenbach is to see things differently." (Brandon K. Thorpe, 'Mogenic.com')

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reviews

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Human Glue
rating:  3/5
An enjoyable song. The verse is very catchy and fun, but the song loses something in the chorus. Maybe a little subtlety in the chorus...or more oomp...




Faker
rating:  5/5
Darkly chilling and intense. Hypnotic and terrifyingly painfully desperate. A musical journey into the depths of conformity, self distruction and ho...




Human Glue
rating:  5/5
This bouncy pissed off little number promises to deliver powerful retribution to anyone turning their back on jacob diefenbach. Taking into account h...




Faker
rating:  5/5
Spooky and eerily compelling. The inner being screaming for recognition and salvation.



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This project is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Music Board Section.