Directions in Groove
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 in Sydney, Australia |
| Founder | Alexander Hewetson, Terepai Richmond, Rick Robertson, Tim Rollinson, Scott Saunders |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, EPs, singles |
Directions in Groove, often abbreviated as DIG, was an Australian acid jazz ensemble established in 1991 in Sydney. The original lineup featured Alexander Hewetson on bass guitar, Terepai Richmond handling drums and percussion, Rick Robertson playing saxophone, Tim Rollinson on guitar, and Scott Saunders on keyboards. Starting as an instrumental acid jazz outfit under the name dig, the group incorporated vocals when Saunders began singing. Their discography includes three studio albums: Dig Deeper (March 1994), Speakeasy (August 1995), and Curvystrasse (September 1998). At the 1996 APRA Music Awards, they secured the Most Performed Jazz Work accolade for their track "Futures". Following their breakup in 1998, they reunited for select shows in 2008 and again between 2011 and 2013, during which they issued a fourth album titled Clearlight (October 2011).
1991–1993: Formation and EP
Directions in Groove formed in Sydney in 1991 with members Hewetson, Richmond, Robertson, Rollinson, and Saunders—who had previously played with Deckchairs Overboard and Bellydance. Hewetson, Richmond, and Robertson were alumni of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Jazz. Initially performing as an instrumental acid jazz group called dig, the addition of vocals by Saunders came later. Their popularity grew through a residency at Kinselas on Oxford Street in Sydney.
The band embarked on a national tour and released a self-titled five-track EP in April 1993, which led to signing with Polygram Records. Their signature sound fused elements of jazz, fusion, funk, rap, soul, and world music to produce accessible and dance-oriented compositions. After ongoing touring throughout 1994, Hewetson departed to join the rock-funk band Swoop and was succeeded by bassist Sam Dixon.
1994–1998: Dig Deeper, Speakeasy and Curvystrasse
In March 1994, DIG launched their debut album Dig Deeper, which reached number six on the ARIA Albums Chart and achieved gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipping 35,000 copies. To differentiate themselves from a Canadian band also named dig, they adopted the full name Directions in Groove. The album was released internationally through Verve Records, supporting tours across Australia and Europe that included a 1994 performance at London's Battersea Park as well as supporting Herbie Hancock and Bootsy Collins on tour. At the 1995 ARIA Music Awards, they received nominations for Breakthrough Artist – Album and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "The Favourite".
Their sophomore album Speakeasy, released in August 1995, was co-produced alongside Jeremy Allom—known for his work with Incognito and Björk—and peaked at number eight on the ARIA Albums Chart. Musicologist Ian McFarlane characterized it as a more polished and assured project showcasing strong instrumental skills. A limited edition version featured six live tracks recorded at Sydney's Basement venue. The group won the Most Performed Jazz Work at the 1996 APRA Music Awards for "Futures".
Directions in Groove’s third album, Curvystrasse, arrived in September 1998 with co-production by Lex Wilson. It reached number 35 on the ARIA Chart. The band disbanded soon after this release.
2008–present: Reunion and Clearlight Release
Following a sold-out performance in June 2008, the founding members came together once again. In 2011, Laura Stitt was introduced as the lead singer, coinciding with the launch of their fourth studio album, Clearlight, which was released on 14 October 2011.
Band Members
- Alexander Hewetson – bass guitar (1991–94, 2008)
- Terepai Richmond – drums, percussion (1991–98, 2008, 2011–13)
- Rick Robertson – saxophone (1991–98, 2008, 2011–13)
- Tim Rollinson – guitar (1991–98, 2008, 2011–13)
- Scott Saunders – keyboards, vocals (1991–98, 2008, 2011–13)
- Sam Dixon – bass guitar (1994–98)
- Laura Stitt – vocals (2011–13)
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Album Details | Highest Chart Position | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Dig Deeper |
|
6 |
|
| Speakeasy |
|
8 | |
| Curvystrassse |
|
35 | |
| Clearlight |
|
— |
Live Album
| Album Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Live 1999 @ Milton Theatre & The Basement |
|
Extended Play
| EP Title | Release Details | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Directions in Groove |
|
89 |
Singles
| Single Title | Year Released | Highest Chart Position | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Re-Invent Yourself" | 1992 | — | Directions in Groove |
| "The Favourite" | 1994 | 63 | Dig Deeper |
| "2 Way Dreamtime" | 99 | ||
| "Futures" | 1995 | 83 | Speakeasy |
| "Crime" | 1996 | — | non-album single |
| "Upside" | 1998 | — | Curvystrassse |
| "Strangers Talking" | 2011 | — | Clearlight |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards (Australia) celebrate outstanding achievements in contemporary music composition and songwriting, highlighting notable sales and radio play. In 1996, Directions in Groove secured the Most Performed Jazz Work award for their track "Futures".
|- | 1996 | "Futures" | Most Performed Jazz Work | |-
ARIA Music Awards
Each year, the ARIA Music Awards acknowledge creativity and success across various Australian music styles. Directions In Groove earned three nominations for breakthrough artist categories during 1994 and 1995.
|- | 1994 | "Re-invent Yourself" | Breakthrough Artist – Single | |- | rowspan="2"| 1995 | "The Favourite" | Breakthrough Artist – Single | |- | Dig Deeper | Breakthrough Artist – Album | |-
Mo Awards
From 1975 until 2016, the Australian Entertainment Mo Awards acknowledged excellence in live performance. Directions In Groove was honored with the Jazz Group of the Year award in 1996.
(wins only)
|- | 1996 | Directions In Groove | Jazz Group of the Year | |-