What is Kembla Saltworks?
Kembla Saltworks is the artist identity of Illawarra songwriter and producer Ken Davis. With a career spanning five decades, Ken has quietly built a catalogue of songs marked by emotional depth, lyrical honesty, and a deep connection to place.In the 2000s, Ken was a founding member of Inside Out, a collaborative CCM collective that released two albums—Never Give Up and What If. He also served as the inaugural Musical Director of the Dapto Community Carols, helping grow the event into a beloved local tradition over its 12-year run.Now writing and producing under the name Kembla Saltworks - to avoid confusion with other public figures—Ken is stepping into a more personal and reflective phase of his musical journey. His sound draws on the poetic fire of Bob Dylan, the raw vulnerability of Neil Young, the grounded storytelling of Paul Kelly, the grit of Aussie pub rock, and the occasional shimmer of electronica.Outside of music, Ken works as a counsellor in the mental health space—an experience that deepens his understanding of the quiet storms people carry and shapes the compassion at the heart of his songwriting. His music is not just an artistic expression, but a kind of emotional cartography—for anyone who’s felt lost at sea, worn thin by life, or aching to be heard.A lifelong lover of the surf and sand, Ken finds solace and inspiration in the rhythm of the ocean—a natural companion to the ebb and flow of songwriting. Whether with a guitar in hand or watching waves roll in along the Illawarra coast, he’s drawn to the hidden stories beneath the surface.With new releases on the horizon, Kembla Saltworks offers songs for the shipwrecked and storm-tossed—music that doesn’t chase trends, but seeks truth, heart, and healing.
Big swells start July 9 with the debut single Little Boys.
Hop on the list to catch the best of what’s coming.
Listen
Here's one from the archives
Thank You
I'll be in touch, after I get back to shore...have a great day!
Get in Touch
The Next Wave
Some songs don’t wait for the world — they show up early, honest, and rough around the edges. Low Tide is one of those.Written during lockdown, it’s raw, real, and never released — until now.Sign up for Songs from the Sea, our occasional, spam-free newsletter — and get the demo for free.
