Daphne Camf, beloved Melbourne artist and member of NO ZU, SaD and more, passes away
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06.04.2021

Daphne Camf, beloved Melbourne artist and member of NO ZU, SaD and more, passes away

Image by Alan Weedon
Words by Tom Parker

Daphne passed away over the Easter long weekend.

Daphne Camf, the ever-talented Melbourne artist and lead singer, keyboardist and songwriter of local acts such as NO ZU, SaD, Rat Vs Possum, GAY, as well as her own solo venture, Hadrian Valentine, passed away over the Easter long weekend.

Daphne is being remembered as a true and loving friend to those within Melbourne’s underground community and beyond. Through her music, Daphne produced ambitious and boundary-pushing music – Saturn Rules The Material World was one of the most notable albums to come out of Melbourne in 2020.

Her work with NO ZU was also defining. The Melbourne band has forged their own idiosyncratic path within the Melbourne music scene and their 2016 album, Afterlife, still stands as one of the most dynamic and impressive Melbourne albums of the past decade.

Daphne was also a talented broadcaster and presented the show, Desperanto, on Hope St Radio. She also regularly featured as a co-host of No Pants on Triple R, where she amplified the music of women and non-binary artists.

“It’s with great sadness we announce the death of our dear friend Daphne Camf over the Easter Weekend. We are all devastated and processing heartbreak and grief. We send our love and support to all of Daphne’s family, friends and community,” a statement provided by Press Play and fellow Melbourne artist and good friend, Simona Castricum, said.

“To so many in Melbourne’s underground community Daphne was a true and loving friend. Kind, wise, spiritual, poetic and inspiring, Daphne reflected upon the wry and dark ironies between life and death, of love and pain: “dream of Land’s End, my soul in flight, the clay that forms you, is filled with light,” the statement continued reflecting upon Camf’s lyrics in SaD’s song, ‘The Poets of Antiquity’.

If you or someone you know needs support during this time, you can contact Support Act, crisis relief for artists, crew and music workers, on 1300 731 303, Switchboard Victoria for LGBTIQ+ support on 1800 729 367, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.