The Australian Idol finale is becoming a distant memory, but Jessica Mauboy’s song “Right Here, Right Now” is still on regular repeat at my place. I was introduced to the song through Jessica’s performance on the show, and honestly it was one of the night’s real highlights. So given that Saturday evening, I figured it was about time I gave it some love here on Sounds of Oz.
“The only thing we can control in life is our present, and it’s a song that’s about finding peace and joy through accepting where you are now and leaning into it,” Jessica explained.
This is one of my favourite Jessica Mauboy tracks. Her voice is always strong, but hearing it soaring over those horns and keys is extra special. I also love those optimistic lyrics that remind us to embrace the now, warts and all.
Jessica will be back on our screens soon as part of The Voice Australia judging panel.
Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia
Lipstereo has just dropped their new single “Feedback,” the latest installment from their 2022 EP, Modern Mythology. It’s a bit more radio-friendly than their frenetic first single “Stop,” so it might just help them find a wider audience.
Lipstereo are certainly surrounding themselves with the right people. You can hear the stamp of master record producer Mark Opitz AM in that wall of guitars. Mark invited this technique when working with bands like AC/DC, The Angels, and INXS, and it’s used to great effect here.
“Feedback” is a fan favourite when Lipstereo play live. Hopefully they’ll announce some dates soon so we can all join in the fun. Until then, crank up the volume!
Image used with permission from Michael Matthews Media
Meeanjin/Brisbane electronic act and producer Du0 has joined forces with local hip-hop act Reo Cragun for his latest single “Overdrive.” With its sparkly synthesisers and pulsing beats, this irresistible track should make your Thursday easier to swallow. I’m getting real Daft Punk vibes, which might not be surprising as it was mixed by Nicolas Essig, who previously worked with the iconic French duo.
“I’ve been a big fan of Reo for a long time and to get the opportunity to work with him on ‘Overdrive’ is a dream come true,” Du0 explained. “I wanted to touch on some of my previous more funky tracks, so I focused on funking up the bass guitar to tie in with some more fluffy synth sounds in the chorus. I also got my previous collaborator Fingazz (who has worked with Snoop Dogg, Bruno Mars and Machine Gun Kelly) on there to lay down some vocoder and talkbox. Lyrically, it is about the freedom of young love and going all in on someone.”
“Overdrive” comes from Du0’s EP FLOAT, which drops on April 19.
I’m not going to say that sharing Ryan Martin John’s Myers-Briggs personality type has made me gravitate towards his new song “INFJ”, but it probably hasn’t hurt. There’s also that cool country-folk sound that reminds me of some of my favourite artists like Tom Petty and Jackson Browne. All in all, it’s really good stuff.
INFJ stands for introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judgemental. Being all those things works well for writers like us, but it no doubt makes performing challenging.
“As a musician I’m often wanting to use my platform for good change, but because I’m introverted, I find it hard to be a loud voice among the rabble,” he admitted. “This song acknowledges that and makes peace with it in a triumphant declaration.”
“INFJ” comes from Ryan Martin John’s debut solo album Goodness Gracious Graceless, which drops on April 28.
With so many live music venues closing down, it’s refreshing to see one welcoming bands back. The Lady Hampshire in Eora/Camperdown will make its long-awaited return as a dedicated live music venue this month.
The venue has already booked some quality acts, including Pacific Avenue and Fangz for the opening weekend. Both days will also feature free nail art and a pop-up tattoo stall.
“Bringing The Lady Hampshire back to life with live music as the focus, is exactly what Sydney has been asking for,” said Elliott Harper, the entertainment and event manager at PUBLIC Hospitality Group. “When it comes to entertainment venues, we only want to foster growth and success across our city and think The Lady will be the destination for all types of musicians and patrons. The first month alone has some of the most exciting gigs Sydney has seen this year and we can’t wait to bring it to locals and gig-goers.”
Here are all the gigs announced. Head to Oztix to buy your tickets or reserve your spot for the free shows:
14 April 2023 – Fangz, Dedpan, and Wicked Envy (FREE)
15 April 2023 – Pacific Avenue, Juno, and Darcy Lane
21 April 2023 – Radicals and Dial Denial (FREE)
22 April 2023 – Bugs and Special Guests
28 April 2023 – Highline and Turpentine Babycino (FREE)
29 April 2023 – Starve, Outsider, Signvals, and Keepsake (FREE)
5 May 2023 – Abby Bella May and Special Guests (FREE)
6 May 2023 – Close Counters and Special Guests
12 May 2023 – Bootleg Rascal and Lyall Moloney
13 May 2023 – Bootleg Rascal and Lyall Moloney
19 May 2023 – These New South Whales and Special Guests
20 May 2023 – Good Lekker and Special Guests
In 2019, I booked the trip of a lifetime cruising from Adelaide up the Western Australian coast. Then a little thing called the COVID-19 pandemic happened and we had to postpone it. A few times. Now after all this time, my husband and I are finally setting sail. Don’t worry Sounds of Oz readers, I’ve worked my arse off putting together some articles about fabulous music for your listening pleasure while I’m gone. You’ll barely miss me. However, if some major news drops and I’m not on it, you know why.
Given that I’m sailing today, it seemed the perfect time to celebrate Sunny Luwe’s feelgood new track “Fly Like a Bird.” I might be on the water rather than in the air, but its relaxed feel and optimistic vibe certainly suits my mood right now. Hopefully it reflects yours too, or it can make your day a little brighter.
Sunny, who previously recorded under the name Dani Teveluwe, wrote this track with Grammy-nominated Aussie artist Sally Seltmann. She was “overcome with gratitude” to work with Sally, and you can hear that honest emotion coming through this work.
Sunny plans to offset all carbon generated through this release through donations to Queensland non-profit organisation, Rainforest 4.
“Over the past few years I have been working diligently at my career, however I felt I was denying my power to effect meaningful change,” Sunny explained. “I wanted that to shift that in 2023, so I’m really embracing my responsibility to myself, others and the Earth by offsetting my musical projects. I also wanted this to be fun, and bringing Sunny Luwe into the world in this way felt very natural and fun, as well as a good platform to educate others around carbon offsetting.”
There’s a lot more new music where this came from, with Sunny planning to release her first album under her new moniker later this year. She’ll also play BEMAC Live at the Queensland Multicultural Centre in Meeanjin/Brisbane on June 23.
Blending a little reggae with indie rock sounds, Boorloo-Perth act Sophian has won me over with their latest single “Georgia.” I’ll be surprised if you don’t find yourself grooving along to this one. If you’re into acts like Ocean Alley and Coterie, you’re going to be all about this.
“We are going behind a very beachy vibe. We want to inspire and spread happiness with this song,” said the band’s frontman and namesake, Sophian Manik. “The song itself is about a sailor falling in love with a mermaid but finding it difficult to maintain the relationship given their differences. It’s also a metaphor for what relationships in real life sometimes can be like. Things can be tough, but you can always work on turning them into something positive. We love the ocean and the beach. So, it was only natural for us to explore a song which would incorporate the ocean and also campfire vibes of bringing people together.”
Sophian are launching the single at The Bird in Boorloo/Perth on May 5. Their last single launch sold out, so you might want to pounce on some tickets pronto.
Aotearoa/New Zealand-born, Eora/Sydney-based artist Somber Hills is destined for big things. He’s just dropped his upbeat new single “YDS,” which celebrates being young, dumb, and stupid. If this doesn’t put a spring in your step today, I don’t know what will.
“Time moves so fast and the moments we love and cherish escape us so quick,” Somber Hills said. “Our motives and goals may stay the same but time will not wait, and if in a year you haven’t done enough to get where you’re trying to go, it’s gone, you’ll never get the time back. I had a painful year, but in the pain there’s learning and I learned that to truly enjoy what I’m doing I have to embrace who I am and not focus on what someone else thinks.”
Fresh from supporting Seth Sentry here in Oz, Somber Hills will play two shows in England with Jonny Craig next month. If you’re there, you can catch these awesome gigs at Bournemouth Live – Bear’s Bar & Venue on May 14 and The Underworld Camden on May 15.
Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia; credit: Billy Zammit
Darkinjung Country/Central Coast indie folk artist Joel Leggett can help you wind down the working week with his easy, breezy new single “Love is So Easy.” I love the way Joel’s cool voice brings his sweet lyrics to life.
“It’s so easy to fall in love with how good life can look through other people’s screens. Staying off our phones these days seems to be a superpower. It feels like they have been stitched into our DNA and have been made so essential in this life. I believe we all need to support each other and spread love because that’s such an easy thing to do. In the end, all we really have is each other,” he said. “And dogs.”
Right? The video, filmed, directed, and edited by Search media’s Harry Wills and James Quigley at The Grove Studios, shows Joel enjoying the act of creating the music you hear.
“It shows the live and raw process of recording my single ‘Love Is So Easy’ from arrival to departure. I was so lucky to be creative with friends and managers visiting the studio and getting involved with the process.”
To celebrate the release of “Love is So Easy,” Joel has been playing a few shows around his home state. Here are the remaining dates.
31 March 2023 – The Cambridge, Mulumbinba/Newcastle
1 April 2023 – Flow Bar, Baara/Old Bar (FREE)
2 April 2023 – Last Rites, Yaegl/Yamba (FREE)
After listening to “Violence”, the new track from Bundjalung Country/Gold Coast act THE RIOT, and I know you’re going to have an opinion. In a world where there’s a lot of forgettable music, these guys come out swinging. You might hate them or love them like I do, but you’re not going to sit on the fence.
“The guitar came out and Tyler and Gabe (Club Angel) went into a world of THPS (Tony Hawk Pro Skater). We had a few different choruses, but they weren’t feeling right. When we came up with the one you hear on the finished track we knew we had completed the song… that’s until Tyler decided he needed an extra riff at the end,” the band explained. “The tempo change worked out perfectly and glued the song together exactly how it needed. Then JD jumped on with a 1 take freestyle at the end and the song was complete.”
“Violence” comes from THE RIOT’s HAPPY TEARS! EP, which drops tomorrow. They’ll play shows in the East Coast capitals to support its release. THE RIOT say this song “feels even better live,” so if you like what you hear on the record, you won’t want to miss these gigs.
5 May 2023 – OAF Gallery, Eora/Sydney
6 May 2023 – Bad Decisions, Naarm/Melbourne
20 May 2023 – Warehouse Party, Meeanjin/Brisbane
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
