Between You & Me are ushering in a new chapter with the release of their first independent body of work, SH!T YEAH. Made of six absolute pop-punk bangers, this release shows these guys are more than capable of forging their own path in the music scene.
They make a strong statement opening with “Kill My Vibe”, a collaboration with their former touring partners Knuckle Puck. Between You & Me go toe to toe with the U.S. heavyweights, proving they’re just as big a force to be reckoned with. It’s such a fun, feel-good song which gets backed up with the single “In The Middle”. “Nevermind” celebrates the simple things in life. It’s an anti-rock star anthem if you will about being content with your material lot even as you strive for musical success. “Every Morning” (no, not the Sugar Ray song) sees Between You & Me at their sexiest. If the lyrics didn’t already get me excited enough, the electric guitar solo takes this track over the edge. “YEAH!” takes a little dig at Insta culture while reminding us what really matters. “Sad Songs” rounds out this EP which is the definition of all killer, no filler. With big chords and a singalong chorus, it leaves the listener on such a high.
With most tracks clocking in at around the three-minute mark or less, SH!T YEAH is short and oh so sweet. As if there was any doubt, it establishes this band as one of the best modern pop-punk outfits, not just in Australia but on the world stage. They’ve got the goods. Listen, enjoy it, and make sure you snag a ticket to one of their upcoming shows.
A grand finalist in last year’s Toyota Star Maker competition, Robbie Mortimer is making good on his promise. His latest single “Blow the Speakers” is a high-energy country anthem that sounds like Robbie has been doing this for years. Robbie had nothing for praise for his partner in crime Jared Adlam, who co-wrote the song and produced it at his Machine Lab studios.
“Jared truly brought the best out of me as an artist and songwriter,” Robbie enthused. “Nothing was too hard. There were no silly ideas, just opportunities to make a high-energy country anthem and we did just that. I’m proud of what we created together.”
Robbie has a stack of gigs coming up as a feature artist for the Professional Bull Rider’s Association Monster Energy Tour. He’ll also play a few cool country festivals in the coming months. Here are all the places you can see him play.
Eora/Sydney singer-songwriter Bryan Estepa has got no time for musical trends. His latest single “Is There Anybody There?” feels like a total throwback to the late 70s, but that music’s classic for a reason. This song, which features guest vocals from Melita, doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not. If you’re still sneaking vinyl from your father’s or grandfather’s record collection, I know you’ll love this one.
Bryan hasn’t released music since “Back to the Middle” in 2021, noting that “The well kinda went dry after that. I’d normally be a little worried but I threw myself into learning a tonne of new concepts on guitar and got obsessed over my instrument like I did in my teens. I kinda forgot about my songwriting for a while. But ‘Is There Anybody There?’ came out of nowhere during that period and it formed pretty quickly. One of those truly inspired moments that as a songwriter that you dare not question.”
“It’s a song about loneliness and how we as individuals are just a miniscule number in the sea of humanity,” Bryan explained. “In those moments of realisation, we might wonder if anyone is there or listening to us.”
If you’re in Eora/Sydney, you can catch Bryan supporting Ashley Naylor Spaceship at MoshPit Bar tonight! Limited tickets are still available through trybooking.
Image used with permission from Chris Familton Publicity
“Sorbet”, the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne outfit Creature Fear feels like a sweet treat on the first listen, but this cool retro-pop track has got a bit of bite. It wasn’t until I stopped and paid attention to the lyrics, which explore mental health and how we manage it, that I really appreciated this release.
“The song paints a picture of an unhealthy relationship with food, using it as a coping mechanism and the complications that surround it,” explained songwriter and vocalist Cameron Graham. “While it was written in a way that’s somewhat ambiguous, ‘Sorbet’ expresses determination to break free from difficult patterns and persevere through mental health challenges, though at the same time expresses a lot of self doubt.” With a refreshed line-up, featuring new vocalist Louis Gaul and bassist Liam Brennan, and a bunch of fresh new material, Creature Fear will make their long-awaited return to the stage next week with a hometown gig, followed by some New South Wales shows in May. Here are all the dates you need:
It’s been two years since GRAACE released new music, but she’s back with a brand new single. “Jealous Type” is a brilliant return to form, with all the pop vibes you need to dance through your weekend. It’s a timely release from GRAACE, who grapples with coming of age and self-discovery in this song’s insightful lyrics.
“I learned in my early twenties that I wasn’t loving all the versions of myself yet” GRAACE admitted. “I can be a bitch and also be kind. I can be creative and also be lazy. I can be, and do, all of these things. As women, we’re so diverse and I was so sick of being pigeonholed. It feels so much more powerful and in tune with myself than a lot of stuff that I’ve released before. I’ve shielded away from talking about a lot of things in the past, but this time around I wanted to be very candid. I’m accepting that I’m not always the chill partner in a relationship, that sometimes I can become jealous, and that it’s OK to honour those two sides of myself.”
Expect more truth bombs when GRAACE releases a larger body of work later in the year. GRAACE also has a stack of shows coming up supporting Stephen Sanchez later this month and The Dreggs in June.
Jordy Burns proves that her strong debut single “Walls” was no fluke with the release of the follow-up “Second Chances.” This an upbeat pop number sounds so different from her more sombre debut, but its lyrics are every bit as powerful as its predecessor.
“‘Second Chances’ fell out of my brain on a pretty poignant day in a toxic relationship when I finally realised that this person wasn’t going to change,” Jordy admitted. “After a really heated discussion, as many pained artists do, I found creativity in some intense journaling and suddenly I was staring at the lyrics of my next song.”
“Second Chances” is the second single lifted from Jordy’s debut EP Games, which drops on April 18. She’s got a couple of local shows coming up this month, so get onto it Eora/Sydney!
6 April 2024 – Tokio Hotel, Eora/Sydney (FREE) 27 April 2024 – Bucketty’s Brewing Co, Eora/Sydney
I’m currently blissing out to “Tunnel Road,” the latest single from Eora/Sydney artist ANT ENOCH. Featuring Moreton, this dreamy piece of romantic pop is perfect for your long weekend.
“To be completely honest, probably the most terrifying part of my whole life was when this song was being written. This feeling of being in love but also terrified because you’re so open, so vulnerable,” ANT admitted.
“The danger of when you are so connected to someone is that you feel their feelings and it no longer feels like it’s just you,” Moreton added. “Love’s a risky business and it’s not always comfortable to be in big highs and really big lows.”
“Tunnel Road” is the latest single lifted from ANT’s upcoming debut EP Big Talk Big Party, which drops on May 17.
Jersey-born, Eora/Sydney based indie pop act Phoebe Over has blown me away with her latest single “Impact.” With a simple melody and lyrics that cut to the heart, Phoebe explores a relationship that could have been, if only the object of her affection’s heart wasn’t elsewhere.
“My song aims to forge a personal and emotional connection, finding resonance in the somber yet resonant melodies that mirror the unique pathways we navigate,” Phoebe explained.
Jersey’s loss is our gain Australia. Phoebe Over is the real deal.
Eskimo Joe haven’t released a single since 2021, but listening to their latest track “The First Time,” it’s like they never left. This song feels so familiar yet fresh. It’s got me all nostalgic about their music, but also excited about everything that’s still to come.
“We really look up to bands like the Rolling Stones and U2 – those guys who keep touring and creating music over and over again,” explained the band’s bass player and vocalist Kav Temperley. “It makes us proud of our musical journey and the people who have taken our songs into their lives. Eskimo Joe is still the three core members. It just wouldn’t be the Eskies without the three of us in a studio or on stage making music together – our friendship is as much a part of the band as the music itself. After an amazing 2023 of playing some huge festivals, there’s this indescribable energy when a massive crowd is singing your songs back at you. We wanted to capture that energy and infuse it into our recording. So, in the first week of January this year, over five days we wrote and recorded ‘The First Time’ at my studio in Fremantle.”
“We wanted to write something that set out to encapsulate the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, that looks back through rose coloured glasses conveniently forgetting the heartache and sleepless nights that came with a certain place and time in our lives. It’s easy in the loneliest moments to look back and take comfort in those memories secretly holding onto that feeling like an addict. The song is also a realisation that holding onto the past might also be holding you back from the present. The subject is nostalgic but so is the sound of this song, it sounds like it could have sat perfectly on the Black Fingernails album.”
“You put so much energy into each song, you build it up, tear it down, build it back up again until it matches the band’s vision. I love the energy in this song and the sentiment, and I’m stoked that we get to release it out into the world,” added lead guitarist Stu MacLeod.
Drummer and guitarist Joel Quartermain is equally enthusiastic, noting, “Once it’s out in the world, a song truly exists. Hopefully people connect with it.”
Eskimo Joe will play Lookout Festival, alongside choice international acts Live and Incubus, before headlining an acoustic theatre tour. Expect to hear all your old favourites and choice new cuts like “The First Time” at the following shows.
Boorloo/Perth emo artist RinRin has really impressed me with her latest single “Miss Miserable.” An ode to her younger self, the track effortlessly combines pop-punk and metal influences.
We do not have enough artists like RinRin on the local scene. Her music is so fierce and powerful. She’s playing in such a male-dominated space, but if this song’s any indication it doesn’t phase her one bit.
RinRin has toured with the likes of Caskets, Windwaker, The Plot In You, and our own RedHook, as well as headlining her own shows earlier this year. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see her ripping up stages again.
