Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Billy Ocean @ Darling Harbour Theatre, Eora/Sydney – 22 June 2023

For years one of my friends has told me that I needed to see Billy Ocean. When he announced his greatest hits tour, in winter when few other artists tour no less, I knew I’d run out of excuses. Now that I’ve been to my first Billy Ocean concert, I wonder why it took me so long.

Boorloo/Perth neo-soul artist Drea warmed up the crowds with a beautiful set. What a stunning voice she has. I was mesmerised as she layered vocal loops for her opening track before her keyboardist Alfred joined her for her remaining numbers. My husband leaned over and whispered that they reminded him a little of a modern-day Toni Braxton and Babyface. It’s a brave thing to perform a set focused on originals at a show that relies so heavily on nostalgia, but Drea was so captivating that the crowd couldn’t help but pay her respect. You could have heard a pin drop throughout her performance. I made a mental note to follow her on the socials, as she encouraged, to see where she’s playing next.

It’s also a brave thing to announce a greatest hits tour, then open with a song from a new album, but after nearly 50 years in the business, he’s earned the right to do as he pleases. We weren’t left waiting too long for those hits though. When an artist can bring out a track like “Love Really Hurts Without You” as the second song, and back it up with “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” just a couple of numbers later, you know they’ve got some songs in their back catalogue. He played all our favourites eagerly, relishing the opportunity to hold the microphone out to better hear us singing his words back to him. His wide smile seemed a permanent fixture throughout the set. I’ve seen artists get a little jaded after decades in the business, admitting they’d rather skip certain singles, but Billy Ocean celebrates his repertoire with pure joy.

You sometimes wonder when seeing an artist of advancing years whether they may be past their prime. Billy Ocean isn’t ready to be put out to pasture anytime soon. While the voices of so many of his contemporaries show signs of age, his vocals are still strong and clear. He might be a little slower, but he still loves shaking his hips and grooving to the beat. I imagined my husband and I might be one of the younger ones in the audience since we were under 10 when he had some of his biggest hits, yet I saw so many people half our age out with their friends and partners having a ball. Even those of us of advancing years forgot how old we really were and joined them on our feet dancing to the closing songs “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Going” and “Caribbean Queen.”

My friend was right. I should have seen Billy Ocean years ago. Now I’ve discovered how good he is live, I can only hope that he’s got a few more tours left in him. If he hasn’t visited your city yet, go! Trust me! Tickets are still available for the following shows:

25 June 2023 – Royal Theatre, Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country/Canberra
27 June 2023 – Thebarton Theatre, Tartanya/Adelaide

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Girlhood” – Hayley Marsten

Australia’s female country artists are releasing some incredible music at the moment. Just days after discovering Sammy White’s fantastic debut album Dirty Laundry, I’m getting swept up in Hayley Marsten’s sophomore album Girlhood.

Dramatic strings introduce us to the opening track “Getting Better”, indicating that this is no ordinary country song, or country album. Hayley has always had crossover appeal and she continues playing with genre here. While country sounds anchor the album, “Getting Better” has a classic rock feel made for long drives. The synth sounds of the next track “Drowning Myself” give it more of a pop feel. And then she delivers “Teen Movie,” a tender country ballad with lyrics that reference ‘80s cinematic legend John Hughes. I was once a shy teen who spent too much time hoping for my own Jake Ryan or a friend like Ferris Bueller to make my life more exciting, this one really resonated with me.

From rock to pop to pure country in just three tracks. Hayley Marsten isn’t an artist who likes to stand still. She’s a smart musician, adept at identifying the right sound to tell her stories. She turns up the energy for songs of strength like “I Am a Rich Man” and “I’m Fine, Thanks”. But then she can slow things down for more poignant moments, ensuring we catch every lyric of incredible, intimate songs like “I Knew the Pain” and “My Body Was Not My Own.”

I love Girlhood for similar reasons that I love Dirty Laundry. Both albums unfold like diaries, telling the stories of the strong women at their centre. There are light moments of cheeky humour and darker moments that reveal anger, pain, and loss. In the case of Hayley, her latest release shows a natural evolution. Her debut Spectacular Heartbreak was excellent, but I think Girlhood is even better. Take a listen and check her out on one of the remaining shows on her Girlhood tour, which continues tomorrow night.

23 June 2023 – Low 302, Eora/Sydney
24 June 2023 – The Servo Bar, Dharawal and Dhurga Country/Port Kembla
31 August 2023 – Oodies Café, Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Country/Bundaberg

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Howlite Back to Their Best With “Still I Find”

After the pandemic halted their creative flow, Naarm/Melbourne act Howlite are back with a beautiful new single “Still I Find.” This is their first release in two years, and it’s definitely worth the wait. If you love the hauntingly beautiful tunes of acts like London Grammar and Sylvan Esso, I know this will be right up your alley. The vocals from Alison Thom draw you into an epic electronic soundscape.

“The refrain line was originally ‘Still I find, I can’t cry’. It was about going past the threshold of emotion and just feeling numb to everything,” explained Alison, who wrote the song during her hometown’s lockdowns. “But while workshopping the demo, I had a realisation that this darkness wasn’t really helping me anymore, it wasn’t making me feel any better. So, instead, we shifted the lyrics to: ‘Still I find, hope inside’. The song represents itself in that way: our human ability to choose to be optimistic and reorient ourselves to see the best in the situation.”

The cinematic feel of “Still I Find” is reflected in the stunning music video, the first in a trilogy of interconnecting clips for the band. Filmed in Melbourne’s inner north and directed by Guy Perkins and Mike Ridley (Fractures, Gordi, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever), the video pays homage to retro science fiction TV programs. Through its depiction of an alien who crashes into Earth, Howlite explores themes of connection, acceptance and the belief in the capacity for good.

After recently launching the single for hometown fans, Howlite are planning a string of dates to reconnect with their fans. Follow their socials for news of those shows when it breaks. Until then, you can catch Howlite supporting Tia Gostelow at Naarm/Melbourne venue The Night Cat on October 7.

Image used with permission from Canteen Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

FLETCHER Bringing Shows Down Under

Try as I might, I struggle to keep abreast of all of the great music that’s released. Focusing on Australian artists in my blog helps me keep my finger on the pulse of the local industry, but I often miss awesome international acts until they announce they’re touring. While I missed New Jersey native FLETCHER when she dropped her debut album, GIRL OF MY DREAMS, I’ve been making up for lost time in the last 24 hours. If you love great pop music in the vein of Olivia Rodrigo and Due Lipa, you’re going to love FLETCHER.

The good news is that there’s still time to come up to speed, and nab some tickets for her upcoming Australian tour. While the first Melbourne show has sold out, she added another one in Victoria’s capital. That means there are still tickets in every city available, but they won’t last long. Get onto it music lovers:

2 December 2023 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney
4 December 2023 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
5 December 2023 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne
7 December 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
9 December 2023 – Metro City, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Dirty Laundry” – Sammy White

I’m not interested in artists with a lot of polish. I want to know about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I want it raw and real. And that’s exactly why Dirty Laundry, the debut album from country singer-songwriter Sammy White, is so appealing.

As the title of her album suggests, Sammy isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. This is a confessional body of work with songs that touch on Sammy’s sense of self and her relationships, especially with fellow country artist Brad Cox. He guests on the romantic ballad “Love on the Line,” which touches on the challenges of sustaining a relationship as travelling musicians. Songs celebrating the strong women in regional areas like “Country as Cow Shit”, “Diamonds and Dolly”, and “You Sound Like Me” are bound to resonate with her fans. However, you don’t need to be from the country, or even a fan of country music, to appreciate this music. I really related to the picture of a peaceful, uncomplicated love she draws in “Countryside.” “I’ll Do Me, You Do You,” the beautiful ballad of acceptance featuring Brad Butcher which closes the album, is another stunning song.

Listening to Dirty Laundry, it’s difficult to believe that Sammy was nominated for New Talent of the Year at the 2022 Golden Guitar Awards. Just a year on she sounds so seasoned, confident in her vocals and her message. This album paints a picture of a performer who knows herself and is unafraid to share that with the world. It’s refreshing and so exciting to hear. Dirty Laundry is out now. Sammy is currently supporting Brad Cox on his Australian tour, so make sure you get there early if you’ve got tickets to the remaining shows:

22 June 2023 – The Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
23 June 2023 – Manning Bar, Eora/Sydney
24 June 2023 – Anita’s Theatre, Thurraral Country/Thirroul

Images used with permission from Sammy White

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Setterfield Drops “Life Ain’t So Bad” Ahead of Canadian Show

Josh Setterfield may be one of the most consistent artists in the country scene right now. He has an uncanny knack for releasing banger after banger, and his nostalgic new track “Life Ain’t So Bad” is no exception.

“This song has been a turning point for a lot of things in music for me so far,” Josh said. “Sure, it’s about going through the dark and finding the light, and writing this song has led to some of my proudest moments with other tracks.”

Not content with conquering the Australian country scene, Josh is set for world domination. He’s just played his first shows in the United Kingdom and in September he heads to Canada for the Live Laugh Love Festival in Barrie, Ontario. Before that, he’ll play the Gympie Muster on August 26.

Image: Josh Setterfield EPK

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Australia’s Newest Pop Sensation, Heleina Zara

If you caught Peach PRC’s recent shows, you probably already know how fabulous Heleina Zara is. For everyone else, let me get you up to speed. This Aussie-Filipina artist is pure pop perfection. Her new single “Alphabet Soup” is so catchy, I can’t stop listening.

“I wrote ‘Alphabet Soup’ during a time when I felt out of place and when I was at a loss truly believing that my generation was incapable of actual emotional intimacy and nurturing relationships,” she admitted. “It’s brutally honest – which makes it a bit jarring to think about now but it’s also the reason I love it so much. It marks a point in my life where I was confused and rolling with the punches with an unapologetic mindset.”

She might seem like an overnight sensation, but Heleina has been writing music since she was 14 years old. That commitment to her craft and her knack for creating crowd-pleasing pop should see her go far.

Image used with permission from Island Records; credit: Allegra Messina

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna O Wows Me With “Set It On Fire”

Becoming a mother can be a wonderful time for many women, but it’s not always butterflies and rainbows. Anna O reveals her truth in her powerful new single “Set It On Fire.”

“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of … post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared,” she admitted. “One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”

I can’t stop listening to this one. The lyrics are incredible, but I’m also really digging those layered vocals and unique electro soundscape Anna O’s created. Coming hot on the heels of “We’ve Got Time,” Anna O is delivering some of the best music of her career.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Nostalgic New Anthem, “Cool Kid”

Boorloo/Perth alt-pop act Joan & The Giants have just dropped their fabulous new single “Cool Kid,” and I know you’ll want to listen. The fabulous nostalgic ‘90s sound grabbed me from the get-go, but it’s the powerful lyrics exploring frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s feelings about coming out that have really stayed with me.

“Coming out as bisexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality,” she explained.

“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”

Joan & The Giants are touring all over the country next month to support the release of “Cool Kid.” Check them out at a venue near you:

5 July 2023 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
6 July 2023 – Royal Hotel, Gadigal Country/Bondi (FREE)
7 July 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
8 July 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewery, Garigal Country/Brookvale (FREE)
9 July 2023 – Yulli’s Brews, Gadigal Country/Alexandria (FREE)
12th July 2023 – The Retreat, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE)
14th July 2023 – The Espy Basement, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15th July 2023 – Gods Bandroom, Boon Wurrung Country/Mornington
16th July 2023 – Post Office Hotel, Arrarrkbi Country/Coburg (FREE)
21 July 2023 – Froth Brewery, Noongar Country/Bunbury
22 July 2023 – Hally’s Bar, Undalup/Busselton (FREE)
23 July 2023 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Quedjinup/Dunsborough (FREE)
5 August 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR