A therapeutic streak runs through the songwriting of Sydney-based country singer Tori Darke. Her 2022 single “Sit in a Bar” is about nursing a broken heart in a darkened room where at least you’re not alone, while 2023’s “Dodged a Bullet” brushes off a lover who cheated while she was away on tour. But not all of Darke’s songs centre on romantic troubles: 2023’s “Somewhere in Mexico” is a potent daydream of escape with the one you love, punctuated by stirring rock touches. Other tunes weave in electronic beats alongside more traditional country instrumentation, while 2022’s “Pick Me Up” pairs skeletal finger snaps and stadium-style vocal echoes with poignant mandolin picking. After taking some time between releases, Darke enjoyed a career resurgence after competing on The Voice Australia in 2021, and her work since then has proven savvy and rock-friendly enough to appeal to a much wider mix of tastes.