Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Let Sabrina Sekuloski Take You Away With Her New Single “Red Convertible”

It might be only the first month of the year, but is anyone else hanging out for holidays? Because honestly, same. That public holiday might still be too far away for many of us, but Eora/Sydney singer-songwriter Sabrina Sekuloski can take you there for just a few minutes with her latest single “Red Convertible.” It’s an ode to freedom, escaping the nine-to-five grind and doing what makes you happy. Sabrina doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but this song is a lovely piece of pop which reminds me of easy-listening tracks from Colbie Caillat and Sheryl Crow.

“The songwriting process for this single started back in 2018 so it’s really nice to see this song come to life,” Sabrina explained. “I still remember writing the chorus, it happened really naturally and quickly. The lyrics and melody came out together and the vibe was so infectious that I started dancing in my room. I wrote the Billy Joel reference in the chorus first and just kept adding them in when we started working on the song in 2022. When there’s mention of ‘the piano man’ in the bridge, you can hear a piano being introduced which I thought was a nice touch. When I brought the song to my dad in 2022, he found an old guitar riff he’d written in 2019 that we thought suited the song – which is what you hear in the verse, it formed a cool groove for the song.

“‘Red Convertible’ came about from a longing to escape from the mundane day-to-day activities that leave one feeling uninspired and burnt out. The title of the track was taken from the last line in the chorus which is a daydream of doing things you’ve never done that make you feel alive.”

It sounds like Sabrina has more songs of escapism for us, as “Red Convertible” comes from her forthcoming EP called Scenic Route.

Image used with permission from Planetary Group; credit: Sasha Sekuloski

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

NedR Releases Stunning New Single “Stood Here Too”

As a John Mayer fan, I was instantly drawn to NedR’s new single “Stood Here Too.” The warm guitar tones bear more than a passing resemblance to a John Mayer jam, but when it’s this good that’s not a bad thing. NedR also has his own voice, which seems like it can do just about anything. Those falsetto notes are so compelling.

“Stood Here Too was inspired by a mate who was in the midst of packing up her late grandfather’s house. It talks about the memories that are attached to said place and the hope of seeing him again someday,” NedR explained. “I wrote this song with Dominik Dale who wrote and made the first initial demo with me and also mastered the final track. Through winning the Fender Players Plus competition, in collaboration with Studios 301, I got to work with Jesse Deskovic who recorded and mixed the track. And my drummer Matthew Ferguson who really enhanced the groove of this song.”

NedR also teamed up with Pat Taylor from Hustle Media for the gorgeous film clip.

“My videographer Pat really wanted to focus in on the image of the sun which is the main illustration throughout the song which was represented by the single spotlight featured in the video,” he added. “Our aim was to show a time of reflection that we go through when a loved one passes. A time to be by yourself and process your loss.”

NedR has such a gorgeous sound and real depth behind his music, so I hope we hear a lot more from him this year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Pat Taylor

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pierce Brothers and Tash Sultana Join Forces for “High & Unsteady”

Sometimes you hear about a song and you know it’s going to be good before you even hit play. “High & Unsteady” is one of those songs. A collaboration between Pierce Brothers and Tash Sultana, how could it be anything but brilliant? My expectations were sky-high, but this track is everything I hoped it’d be. Pure feel-good indie-folk goodness with all the energy you need to get moving on a Monday.

“I really enjoyed working with the guys,” Tash enthused. “We’ve been working together for years on the road, so I had a great idea on how to capture their sound.”

The admiration is mutual, with Jack commenting “We’ve loved everything that Tash has done over the years, and when they had the idea to collaborate, we jumped at the opportunity! Pat and I put together the bones of the track so when we got into Tash’s studio we had a base from which to create and explore new sounds. Tash is one of the most talented producers we’ve had the pleasure of working with, they brought so many new sounds to mix that we would never have even thought of. I didn’t know what a mellotron was before that day!”

“High & Unsteady” comes with a cool animated music video directed and edited by Patrick Pierce, who combined 35mm analogue and digital footage.

“About 12 months ago I found a video featuring this rare Japanese film camera from the 90s. It has 16 separate frames across two rows on it, and was used for things like shooting a golf swing. I was searching for about 8 months before I could find one and start testing it out,” he explained. He edited the clip in-house over a painstaking summer, noting that “Easily the biggest hurdle in this music video was the edit. I had to develop, scan, separate and animate over 3,000 individual images. It took months, and I’m certain that the response from the general public will be ‘Huh … nice filter.’ That said, I’ve had this idea for ages now, so I’m really happy I’m finally getting it out of my head and onto a screen.”

Pierce Brothers plan on starting work on their next album this year, but you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to see them play. They’ve announced a bunch of festivals and single launch shows, and have plans to tour Australia, South Africa, and Europe to boot. Get your tickets for the following events:

4 February 2023 – Music in the Vines, Baragil/Macarthur
11 February 2023 – Hello Sunshine Festival, Wurundjeri and Bunurong Country/Scoresby
25 February 2023 – Tumbafest, Ngarigo Country/Tumbarumba
10 March 2023 – Cambridge Warehouse, Mulubinba/Newcastle
11 March 2023 – Lighthouse Festival, Darkinjung Country/Norah Head
24 March 2023 – Marlo Hotel, Marloo/Marlo
27 May 2023 – Tropic Sounds, Thul Garrie Waja/Townsville
5 July 2023 – Big Red Bash, Wirrarri/Birdsville
19 August 2023 – Mundi Mundi Bash, Wilyakali Country/Broken Hill

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Dara Munnis

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Go Set Release Killer Comeback Song, “West Into the Sun”

Not a lot of bands survive 20 years. Fewer still rock just as hard as they always did. But the release of The Go Set’s new single “West Into the Sun” proves they’re doing just yet. I also have it on good authority that their new album The Warriors Beneath Us, which drops on March 17, is one of their best.

“We have done it the hard way,” admitted The Go Set’s frontman, Justin Keenan. “I don’t know a band that has slept on as many floors as we have. We have done 1,500 shows and played in 27 or 28 different countries, and you are always building from scratch every night when you do that.”

But of course, struggle builds greatness. Such is the case with The Warriors Beneath Us, which came out of a brand new challenge for the band: the COVID pandemic.

“We weren’t playing live so revenue was down but during COVID we discovered we could record ourselves at home without being on the clock in a big studio,” Justin explained. “An idea for a song would come from me and we would send it around to our home studios. We could add, subtract, layer, and that became the creative process. That was new for us. We didn’t have a budget but we had all the time we needed to make the record we wanted.”

The Go Set will mark the release of The Warriors Beneath Us with their first tour in three years.

“It’s exciting to be reconnecting with people and getting out on the road. We’ve had limited opportunities over the last couple of years and we’re really excited about sharing the new material at these shows. It was something I think we may have taken for granted a while back, but a couple of years of lockdowns and unprecedented difficulty has actually made us realise how much we truly appreciate each other, playing live, and sharing our music with people around the world”.

Tickets for all those Go Set shows are on sale now, so grab yours before they sell out!

31 March 31 – Vinnies Dive, Bundjalung Country/Gold Coast
1 April 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
2 April 2023 – Platform 5, Turrbul Country/Nundah
14 April 2023 – TBC, Naarm/Melbourne
15 April 2023 – Crown and Anchor, Tarntanya/Adelaide
21 April 2023 – The Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre, Nipaluna/Hobart
22 April 2023 – The Royal Oak, Therrernotepanner, Leterrermairrener and Panniher Country/Launceston
23 April 2023 – Kindred Hall, Tommeginne Country/Kindred
28 April 2023 – Moshpit Bar, Eora/Sydney
29 April 2023 – Dicey Rileys, Woolyungah/Wollongong

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear, The Waifs, and Busby Marou Play Port Mac’s Charity Festival

Top Aussie acts Boy & Bear, The Waifs, and Busby Marou will hit Port Macquarie in April for Ride the Soundwave, a music festival that aims to do good in the local community. The brainchild of local charity Make a Difference, ticket sales will benefit homeless and disadvantaged people in the Hastings region of New South Wales’ Mid-North Coast.

Ride the Soundwave is part of Port’s Ride the Wave Festival, which also features surfing and skate competitions, markets, and a family fun zone.

“So far, the surf and skate events have really taken off and are fully subscribed each year, so they’re here to stay. It’s the music event that needs more support, so we’re hoping people who love live music will get behind us and make the event a success so that it can become an annual fixture on the Port Macquarie calendar,” explained Make a Difference committee member and local school teacher Erin Denham. “We need to sell all of our tickets for this to happen – with 100% of all money raised going back to Make a Difference, and helping those in need. It’s a win win – festival goers will get to enjoy an awesome line-up in a spectacular setting for a great price, all while feeling great that they’ve in essence made a charity donation to help those in need.”

Ride the Soundwave will hit the picturesque Port Macquarie Town Beach Reserve on April 29. Tickets cost just $90. It’s not a lot of money for all this talent, but it’ll make a big difference to locals in need. Get yours now from Ticketebo.

Image used with permission from Cardinal Spin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Smyrk Gets Real With “I Don’t Want to Meet Your Mother”

Society might try to sell us on forever love, but most of us go through a few relationships that are destined to burn out. Anna Smyrk gets honest about that with her latest single “I Don’t Want to Meet Your Mother.” With its refreshingly honest lyrics and chunky guitar chords, it’s a nice change of pace.

“I wrote this song thinking back to my first relationships,” Anna recalled. “I grew up in a small town but I had all these big dreams. I didn’t want to get tied down to any one person or place. So I always kept a wall up, I didn’t want to accidentally find myself in too deep to get out.”

She had a whole lot of fun recording the track in Nashville with producers Jake Finch and Collin Pastore (Lucy Dacus).

“There’s a part in this song where me and the producers are all just shouting ‘NO!” at the top of our lungs, like a bunch of cranky toddlers. It was probably my favourite studio moment, even though I kind of lost my voice after that.”

Anna has some big shows appearances coming up, including Newstead Live which kicks off today.

20-23 January 2023 – Newstead Live, Jaara Jaara Country/Newstead
19 February 2023 – Brunswick Artists Bar, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE 4 pm show)
25 February 2023 – Tanswells Hotel, Baarmutha/Beechworth
10-13 March 2023 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Dhauwurd Wurrung Country/Port Fairy

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Jeff Anderson Jnr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Songs from Swan Street Vol. I” – Rhys Duursma

After the festive season slowdown, I’ve been itching to find some new music that really resonates with me. And then Rhys Duursma sent me a copy of his gorgeous debut solo EP, Songs from Swan Street Vol. I. I just know you’re going to get excited about it too.

Rhys’ press release describes this EP as a “three-year labour of love.” I can hear that dedication through this recording. While the sound is primarily stripped back, the lyrics are meticulously crafted, rich in details that encourage repeated listens. If you do the maths, the acoustic-driven sound makes sense. Rhys created these songs in his Swan Street home during the early stages of the pandemic, when he was unable to create music with his band Lowline or duo Mayfair Lane. During this period of social isolation, Rhys took a deep dive into the back catalogues of songwriting greats. Listening to these songs, he might just have learned a thing or two from them. Lyrically, this is one of the strongest EPs I’ve heard in some time.

The opening track “Same Old” sets the tone. We only hear Rhys’ voice and his acoustic guitar for most of the tune. It’s so stunning in its simplicity, a stark contrast to the full-band follow-up “Days Like This.” It’s more rock than folk, the kind of track I can imagine blasting on a road trip. The poignant “Didn’t He” takes us another left turn, revealing the deep bond between a brother and his sister navigating the ups and downs of relationships. We don’t sit in this quiet space for too long before Rhys amps up the energy again with the rollicking “Hey Ma,” an optimistic, upbeat song about big dreams left unfulfilled. “Charlie” is another gentle, finger-picking folk song that paints a rich picture of the eponymous character. The beautiful “Glenrowan” closes out this magical EP.

Apparently Rhys had already released a couple of singles from Songs from Swan Street Vol. I, but I went into this recording with fresh ears. I’m glad for that, because I got to experience these songs in their proper context, all at once. Individually they tell beautiful stories, but altogether they create a richer tapestry. I’m not sure whether Rhys will continue with the stripped-back sound that dominates this EP now that we’ve moved into a new phase of the pandemic, but I’m hoping to hear volume two.

Images used with permission from Rhys Duursma

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Good Lekker Drop New Bop, “Show I Care”

Good Lekker are bringing the summer vibes with their dancetastic new single “Show I Care.” It’s an absolute charmer which is sure to get your toes tapping, at the very least!

“I tried to keep the lyrics as simple as possible in ‘Show I Care’,” vocalist Joshua Fahy explained. “To an extent, I want listeners to be able to imbed their own meaning into the song, however they relate to it. Context is impossible to escape when writing, however. This song reflects me, in my mid-20s, unsure of what comes next in life. It’s about dragging others along for the ride while goals dissipate and past dreams begin to look foreign to yourself. It’s about the transience of friendship as everyone moves on to different stages of life and the difficulties of keeping in touch. It’s about trying to glue all these parts into a half-decent collage and loving what you make. Take your pick for what appeals to you.”

The Eora/Sydney band will hit the road this May with shows in all the East Coast capitals. May might seem like a long way off, but it’ll be here before you know it. Put these dates in your calendar so you don’t miss out!

20 May 2023 – Lady Hampshire, Eora/Sydney
26 May 2023 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
27 May 2023 – O’Skulligans, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

YNG Martyr and Logan M Collaborate on “WAIT!”

Ngambri/Canberra rapper YNG Martyr is one of those young acts that has kind of passed me by. I know he’s played hot festivals like Falls, Spilt Milk, and Lost Paradise, and gone viral with his meme-powered single “Nike Ticks”. But he hasn’t really been on my radar, until now. Hearing his latest single “WAIT!” featuring Naarm/Melbourne artist Logan M, I can definitely hear what the fuss is all about.

“’WAIT!’ is about acknowledging the pain of an impending break up and wishing for things to go back to the way they were,” YNG Martyr explained.

This track effortlessly blends hip-hop and indie-pop influences to create a sound that’s fresh and instantly accessible. I can imagine this one blowing up, and with YNG Martyr’s massive online following it just might.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia; credit: She is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thundamentals, Horrorshow, and Thom Crawford Bring the Head With “100 Degrees”

Thundamentals are bringing the summer vibes on their latest single “100 Degrees.” This absolute banger features the band’s long-time collaborator Thom Crawford and their touring pals Horrorshow. Just try to resist grooving along to this one.

The single’s release is a great reminder that Thundamentals are touring all around the country right now. Limited tickets are still available, so get onto it.

20 January 2023 – Fat Controller, Tandanya/Adelaide
21 January 2023 – Freo Social, Waylyup/Fremantle
27 January 2023 – Uni Bar, Woolyungah/Wollongong
28 January 2023 – UC Hub, Ngunnawal/Canberra
10 February 2023 – 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne
11 February 2023 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung/Torquay
17 February 2023 – The Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
18 February 2023 – The Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute