Joe Mungovan’s latest single “Parachute” is the mid-week pick-me-up you’re looking for. With all the energy of the lovechild of Spacey Jane and the Arctic Monkeys, it’s an ultra-catchy indie-pop gem that encourages repeat listens.
“It’s about knowing a relationship is doomed from the get go, but not being able to find the evacuation button before it’s too late,” Joe explained. “You know you’re going down and there’s no cushion upon landing.”
Joe has had a massive 12 months on the road headlining two tours and supporting Caravana Sun, Subtribe, Alex Lloyd, Pete Murray, and most recently Ben Lee. Follow him on the socials to see when he announces his next batch of gigs.
Slowly Slowly frontman Ben Stewart has lent his vocals to “Kept Me Alive,” the latest track from Philadelphia-based alt-rock act Grayscale. This song is such a banger. Crank up the volume and enjoy it!
“We are all huge fans of Grayscale at Slowly HQ,” Ben said. “When they hit me up with the concept of a feature, I was immediately drawn to ‘Kept Me Alive’. It’s a timeless sentiment that has plenty of parallels to our new record. Everything came together really easy and the song rips.”
Slowly Slowly and Grayscale recently tore up stages around the country, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we welcome them back Down Under.
While many of us are dealing with chocolate hangovers, I figured it was the perfect time to introduce you to Teenage Joan’s tasty new single “Sweet and Slow.” If you love angsty female-fronted acts, this ultra-catchy pop-punk gem will be right up your alley.
“The video concept stemmed from the “Slow dancing on your rigged game show/this live audience won’t leave me alone” lyric,” explained Cahli and Tahlia. “We had this idea to do an almost SNL gone wrong type video, where we are guests on a talk show, ruining every segment with our mischief. We really wanted to lean into the 60s/70s/80s TV show aesthetic, especially reflected through the set designs and our costumes which we usually create and source with our manager, who is also super crafty.”
When I heard Christopher Cross and Toto were heading to Australia, I was initially excited. But then my logical brain kicked in. It told me that I didn’t know enough songs to warrant spending the money, that I was too busy anyway to fit it in, that perhaps these acts would be showing their age, so I decided to pass. Then fate intervened and a friend gifted me his ticket when he couldn’t make the concert. I am so grateful that he did, because the show last night was absolutely brilliant.
When you have two massive acts on the bill, you get right to the good stuff. Christopher Cross opened with “All Right,” signalling that he wasn’t going to leave us wanting. He seemed genuinely touched by the enthusiastic reception we gave him, but how could we be anything but appreciative when he was treating us to ‘80s gems we remembered so fondly? His vocals were solid and his guitar skills so much better than I imagined. His stage presence is understated, without bells and whistles, but give me great music performed well and I’m a happy camper. The audience who rose to their feet for a standing ovation after he ended his set with “Ride Like the Wind” seemed to agree.
You could feel the energy crank up a few notches when Toto took the stage with their incredible instrumental, “Child’s Anthem.” Just like Christopher Cross, they didn’t leave us waiting too long for a sing-along. They had us all up on our feet for “Rosanna.” You know that feeling you get when a band plays an encore and you just feel that peak musicality and passion? That’s the feeling I got during “Rosanna,” three songs into the set! Usually if a band stays past that point the energy naturally wanes, because where do you go once you’ve peaked? Somehow though, Toto managed to keep us all at that point of exultation.
Toto is one of the tightest bands I’ve ever seen. I guess this is what happens when you’ve honed your craft as session musicians. If you’re even a casual guitar fan, you know Steve Lukather is one of the best in the business. I marvelled at his prowess. He shared his vocal duties with Joseph Williams, who backs up his incredible voice with oodles of charisma. These guys might be out front, but the rest of the band are no slouches.
Most members have industry resumes as long as your arm. Keyboardist Greg Phillinganes was Michael Jackson’s musical director and he’s toured with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, and John Mayer. Warren Ham on sax, percussion, and flute played with Kansas, Donna Summer, and Ringo Starr. Drummer Shannon Forrest has played on albums by Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Kenny Rogers, and Taylor Swift. Bassist John Pierce has played with Huey Lewis and the News since the mid ‘90s and recorded albums with Alice Cooper, Cher, and The Pointer Sisters. That’s just a snippet of the people they’ve worked with too. To say they’re good is an understatement.
The exception is Dennis Atlas, on synthesizer and vocals. His resume is less impressive, but he is the member of the band I recognised. Because Dennis auditioned with American Idol last year and got three nos. I remember his audition vividly. I howled at the TV, certain that Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan had made a mistake. Watching him every bit the equal of these musicians who’ve been in the business for decades warmed my heart. Remember the name Dennis Atlas; he’s a superstar in the making.
When talents like this come together? Oh boy. And separately in extended solos? Mind-blowing. When you have such incredible musicians in front of you who genuinely enjoy playing together, it doesn’t matter how many songs are familiar. You can just appreciate what they do.
Even casual fans like me got their sing-along moments with the final two numbers, “Hold the Line” and “Africa.” No encore, no bullshit, just giving the people what they want. I feel so lucky that fate intervened and put me at that show last night. It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. If you missed them on this Australian tour, you missed out.
Kiwi-born and Australia-based, country singer Kaylee Bell won’t even let the arrival of a new baby slow her down. She recently teamed up with Australia’s own Tom Seaforth and New York hitmakers Zach Zadek and Michael Heyeka to write her latest single, “Ring On It.” This playful country-pop anthem is one for all those people waiting around for their partner to get down on one knee.
“I wanted this song to feel like a total moment—big energy, big hooks, and just pure fun,” she enthused. “Tom and I had a blast writing it, and it’s that perfect mix of playful and powerful.”
Kaylee has some massive international gigs coming up. She’ll play Country Jam USA in Wisconsin this July before heading to the United Kingdom in August for the Country Calling Festival.
Merpire has dropped a delicious taste of her new album with the release of her new single “Bigger.” It feels like a natural evolution for this artist who won me over with her music pre-pandemic. The vulnerable lyrics I’ve always loved are there, but the music’s a little darker, grungier, and yes, “bigger.”
Merpire says “Bigger” is “The most exciting song on the record for me.” The track features an assortment of talented musicians, but Merpire singled out the contribution of James Dring, who played electric guitars, bass, drums, beats, and percussion.
“I was mesmerised watching [Dring] find and manipulate sounds to add to the song,” she said. “One of those moments where I felt I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I gave him complete freedom to do whatever he wanted production-wise with the 3 stems I gave him – my vocal, the guitar chords and the main guitar riff, then we went to his studio to finish off the vocals. I was in love with the first thing he sent back. He nailed the dark, sexy, sinister mood. I couldn’t be happier with the result.”
Tom Petty is one of my all-time favourite artists, so when I heard Kingswood had covered his 1994 hit “You Wreck Me,” I knew I had to get my ears around it. While I often appreciate people reinventing songs, I kind of love that Kingswood have stayed so true to the original. They’ve brought their own voice to it, but they also seem to understand that this one of those classics that doesn’t need to be messed with.
“It’s love, chaos, and obsession colliding at full speed,” the band said about this song. “The feeling of being completely wrecked by someone, it’s something we’ve all lived through. Surrendering to a force greater than you’re able to control. The reckless pursuit of something you can’t quite hold onto. When we play it, we’re tapping into that raw, untamed emotion—like going into a boxing ring.”
Kingswood always seem to be on the road, so it’s probably not surprising that this new release also comes with a tour announcement. And it’s a doozy. They’re playing in so many places that there’s bound to be a Midnight Mavericks show near you.
Following the viral success of their last collab “Focus on Me,”Paulina and Tom Thum have released a brand-new song today called “Jaded.” While their last track was pretty chill, this one ramps up the energy. It’s exactly what you need to get moving midweek!
Paulina says “Jaded” is “about finding your strength and exposing the truth in the most fun, unapologetic way possible.”
“We wanted to create something that felt like a throwback to a sweaty Miami nightclub in the 80s but with a twist,” Tom added. “It’s nostalgic yet forward-thinking, organic but polished.”
It sounds like a classic dancefloor banger, so you may miss that its creation was a bit left of center. The pair sampled random objects, including beer cans and lighters, to create the sounds they were looking for. Too cool!
Belle Haven are back with their first new music for 2025. “it’s not that deep” is an angsty emo anthem that explores the frustrations associated with being misrepresented and pressured to conform to the expectations of those around you.
“You don’t have to carry the weight of someone else’s version of you,” explained Belle Haven frontman David De La Hoz. “People will paint you however they need to fit their story, but sometimes that’s all it is. It’s not that deep.”
Belle Haven are having a little downtime after touring the country with As December Falls in February. Hopefully we see them back on stages doing what they do best really soon.
Naarm/Melbourne soul songstress Nardia has just dropped a gorgeous new single “Is It You,” and it’s exactly what you need to listen to right now. Stop what you’re doing and press play, because this is absolute fire. Nardia’s vocals and the soaring instrumentation are just beautiful.
“’Is it You’ captures that moment of intrigue when you meet someone and feel an undeniable pull toward them,” Nardia explained. “The song explores the tension between attraction and curiosity, the desire to uncover someone’s true essence, and the mystery that makes love both exciting and uncertain, leaving you feeling uncomfortably excited.”
“Is It You” gives us a taste of the music we’ll hear when Nardia releases her album Own Every Scar. She’s actually travelling to Nashville today to finalise that release and get it to you this July. Based on this single alone, I can’t wait to hear it.
