Australian musician Daniel Hall is a prolific artist who has released a whopping 18 albums over the course of his career. His latest, Apollo, is packed with the kind of introspective, minor-scale synthpop that should please fans of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys.
I first encountered Daniel’s music in 2019 when he released a trancey electro track called “Twisted Reality.” In 2021, he dropped a trio of incredible singles—“The Watchman,” “The Fireman,” and “Corruption”—that would later appear on his 15th album, Human. That album earned a spot on my best-of-the-year list.
Now, with Apollo, Daniel takes his sound into darker, gloomier territory. Here are my three favorite tracks from the album, each offering a sense of the energy and reflection he brings to his latest release.
You can find Apollo on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Daniel Hall – “Some Things”
“Some Things” kicks off with pounding drum pads and whishing noises, setting it up as the most intense track on Apollo. Nearly every line begins with the titular phrase, “Some things…,” which creates a memorable, almost hypnotic hook. Daniel layers in unique touches like slicing sound effects that cut through the melody and an ornate, undulating melody with Middle Eastern flair.
Daniel Hall – “Jealousy”
I like Daniel Hall best when he leans into his darker, more cynical side—like in his 2021 song “Corruption,” a hard-hitting look at crooked politicians and power-hungry businessmen. “Jealousy” feels like a natural companion to that track. It opens with twinkling synth pads, then draws you into its minor-scale darkness with haunting melodies and a sense of brooding tension.
Daniel Hall – “Rush”
“Rush,” the second single from Daniel Hall’s Apollo album, opens with police sirens that set an urgent tone right away. Hall sings about danger with lines like “your life flashing before your eyes,” while eerie synth melodies add to the track’s unsettling vibe. The song’s cinematic tension makes it a memorable highlight from Apollo.
