Daren Sirbough

I just woke up, where am I stories

1. Woke up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, alone, in the north of Brisbane. The rest of the band is flying to the next show while I need to figure out how to get back to Sydney to work for a couple of days. The air so fresh you can smell it. Looking out I am surrounded by the wide open space in which I feel so small yet so at home.
2. Another night I wake up to the sound of Passion pit to get us all up out of bed after having quite a late night partying with some bands and fans in Adelaide. My blanket reeks of unwashed hospitality yet it was the only thing that would keep me warm that night. I’ve had 2 hours sleep and need to get up to catch this flight. All sense of comfort today is lost. I am tired, haven’t washed the paint off my face from the night before, sweaty from dancing and need a shower and to brush my teeth so that I can feel somewhat normal today. I officially feel like a sardine in a can with no freedom. The only difference is that I want to be on this ride.
3. This night I wake up on a comfortable floor in Perth (yes the floor is now comfortable). One thing I have now learned is how to sleep anywhere. What I would give for my bed. I need some time to myself. There is no time for ‘me’ time. Better suck it up for another week.
4. Did I just wake up in a youth hostel and call it ‘luxurious’? Yes I did. The view of the eastern coastline is beautiful in Dunsborough Perth. It’s a bit of a shame that the sharks are out, otherwise it would’ve been nice to have gone for a swim.

Every night I ask myself why I didn’t bring my own pillow.

Parte 3 coming soon

The past month has been somewhat of a blur. Waking up, driving to a rehearsal, copious amounts of coffee or energy drink to stay awake, catching a flight, getting other work done while travelling, searching for power points so my phone doesn’t die, sound checks, meeting people, sleeping on floors, beds, couches, anywhere.

It’s exhilarating. I’ve seen a lot of Australia in 3 weeks and have so many amazing people. You have to forego certain luxuries during this season of life. Sleep, personal space, time to yourself and the list goes on.

I realised that Sydney is overpriced for everything. It cost me $20 to catch a taxi from one side of Adelaide to the other which would’ve normally costed me $80 in Sydney. Food and accommodation is also cheaper. People are also much nicer. I think it has something to do with the pace of life, which is much slower everywhere else. People just seem to enjoy life more outside of the suburban sprawl.

Music has a way of bringing people together. One person I know drove 2 hours to come see a show we were playing at. Music breaks down walls, insecurities and assumptions about people. Music is a way to simply be free.

Also, I’ve learned to just dance by myself when I like a song that’s played somewhere. As odd as that may sound, I feel so free. I don’t care about anything else but that moment, and it is exhilarating. In that short space of time, I am free.

I haven’t written this well, but I don’t know when I’ll get time to write well. living off 6 hours sleep regularly for the past month.

Parte 2 coming soon.

Last year I made a decision to get serious about my craft. It has been such a tough journey, but it was moments like last night that will now remind me every day for the rest of my life why I made that commitment to myself and to the music. I can’t begin to explain the joy that is making beautiful music!