Joe Mungovan has got me grooving with his latest single “Runaway.” This one effortlessly blends synthy pop hooks with rock attitude. It’s a little Franz Ferdinand, a little Bloc Party, and a whole lot of fantastic.
“I once met this girl who couldn’t seem to stand still. She was always reaching for the next thing, daydreaming about our escape from our everyday lives … But the fantasy we shared was as fleeting as the girl,” Joe admitted. “‘Runaway’ is for her.”
Joe will mark the release of “Runaway” with a few New South Wales shows in the coming weeks. Catch him at the following venues:
Press play and settle into the groove of “Bodies in Motion,” the latest soulful single from genre-bending storyteller Saint Ergo. Featuring guest vocals from Maddy Herbert, it’s a sensual number that fuses R&B, electro soul, and baroque pop.
“I had imagined this song as a duet from quite early on… but the song only felt like it came together when Maddy and I went into the studio and we recorded our vocals … Finally felt like the song was right,” Saint Ergo explained. “Some of the lyrical components only came along during this session and it made the story come alive for me.”
After a four-year hiatus from the live music scene, Boorloo/Perth band Nautical Mile are back and rocking as hard as ever with “Daydreamer.” This feelgood pop-punk track oozes nostalgia.
“During our time away, we all had a fair amount of life happening, so coming back to the band felt like us recapturing the spirit of those happier, lighter times,” Nautical Mile explained. “It’s a lot of fun to play, and we’re keen to get out and share it with the world.”
Nautical Mile will celebrate their return with a big hometown show at Amplifier Bar on March 28. If you’re on the East Coast, don’t stress. Nautical Mile aim to play shows on that side of the country later this year.
Bully Hay lays his heart bare with his sophomore album Anywhere But Here. At its core this is a break-up album, but describing it as such doesn’t quite convey all that makes this collection of songs one of the best you’ll hear this year.
After all, albums based around themes of love and loss are a dime a dozen. But few have the grittiness and soul of Bully Hay’s latest release. His voice soars on the opening rock anthems “Lovers Get High” and “If You Can’t Forgive Me, Forgive Yourself” before drawing you in with a heartbreaking acoustic rendition of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” This song has seeped into the public consciousness since its feature in Stranger Things, but I promise you’ve never heard it quite like this. While I’ve appreciated versions from Placebo and Meg Myers, this has become the definitive cover for me. It’s one of three “acoustic versions” on this album, but these aren’t the only songs stripped back. Songs like “Trinkets and Coal” and the haunting closer “Here it Comes Again” are also gentle folk numbers that showcase Bully Hay’s impressive vocals and unfiltered lyrics. These quieter moments provide the perfect counterpoints to cathartic rock songs like “Another Lost Soldier” and “Talk Me Off the Edge.”
Anywhere But Here goes beyond the standard break-up album because it doesn’t wallow in that post-relationship limbo. Its powerful songs instead deal with moving forward any way you can, the struggle that comes from putting one foot in front of the other when the ground has collapsed from underneath you. It’s about surviving the fallout, resilience, and the human spirit.
Anywhere But Here is out now. Bully Hay will mark the release with the following Tasmanian shows:
If you’re like me and introspective acoustic guitar-driven music makes you weak at the knees, I know you’ll fall head over heels for “Reflections,” the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter MUKI. This is indie folk-pop at its best, a chilled-out number that leads with vulnerability.
“This is a song I wrote soon after the lockdown, touching on identity issues,” MUKI recalled. “It takes us through a journey in which every single decision one makes defines the person they become. It’s the small decisions we make that shape who we become. When I look in the mirror, it’s hard not to wonder if I’d have been looking at the same person had I chosen a different life or path.”
One of Australia’s most prolific artists, Katie Noonan is preparing to release her 30th studio album, Alone but all one, later this year. Her latest single “This Isn’t What I Signed Up For” gives us an early taste of the new music. This is such a beautiful song. Katie always sounds incredible, but the subtle piano and string arrangement really showcase her sumptuous vocals and bittersweet lyrics.
“This album is for anyone who’s gone through a life shift – not just separation, but grief, uncertainty, or quiet reinvention,” Katie explained. “It’s music for sitting with things. For remembering we’re not alone, even in solitude. It’s personal, but I hope it will resonate in a way that becomes collective.”
Katie will release Alone but all one on June 26. She’ll give us a little time to sit with the songs before embarking on an album tour around some of the country’s best theatres. Mark Wilkinson will join her at all shows except for the Eora/Sydney and Wooditup/Margaret River dates. Tickets are on sale now.
Kaiyah Mercedes recalls a whirlwind relationship in all its angsty glory with their latest track “3 Month Blackout.” It’s raw and unfiltered, the kind of indie pop-rock single that encourages you to grab your hairbrush and let loose. I love the way its structure mimics the aftermath of a relationship, with moments of quiet reflection juxtaposed with unbridled emotional outpourings.
The music video for “3 Month Blackout” sees Kaiyah and her band crash-landing on a desert island. While surviving outside civilisation isn’t easy, at least it’s far removed from messy emotional entanglements! Kaiyah created the clip in collaboration with Francis from District Down Under.
I still rate a 2009 Whitlams concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, so when the band announced a run of dates with local orchestras I snapped up a couple of tickets, hoping to recapture the experience. Of course, concerts are like snowflakes, and one can never replicate another, but Saturday’s show with the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra certainly had a magic that scratched the itch.
The Whitlams’ rich back catalogue keeps me coming back. It also ensures a symphony show makes so much sense. The set list leaned more towards their introspective numbers which might get lost at a rowdy pub gig. How incredible to hear all Charlie songs in order. How special to hear an extended version of “Out the Back,” complete with a five-minute orchestral interlude arranged by the late, great Peter Sculthorpe. How brilliant to hear the way strings elevated lesser-known tracks like “Fondness Makes the Heart Grow Absent” and “The Ease of the Midnight Visit.”
Not that this show totally sidestepped the hits. I’m sure Tim and his mates know they have an obligation to play “No Aphrodisiac” and “Blow Up the Pokies” at every show until the end of time. They always hit, but I took greater joy in the singles that I didn’t expect. “Thank You,” “Gough,” and “Sounds Like Louis Burdett” turned the Civic Theatre into party central. Just when we thought we couldn’t smile any wider, Tim said he’d try to play one that he hadn’t played this tour. It took a few notes to settle into the groove, but once he was there, “I Make Hamburgers” was just a joy.
I’ve seen Tim Freedman play countless times over the years, with The Whitlams, The Black Stump Band, solo, and the very best shows are always those where he can vibe with exceptionally talented musicians and an attentive audience. His joy jamming with other talents is palpable, and it takes familiar songs to another gear. His appreciation for fans who love what they do is evident, and he gives to them so selflessly. If you get a chance to see The Whitlams on their symphony run, do not hesitate. Tickets are on sale now via the links for the remaining shows.
I’ll admit, I’m still struggling to get back to earth after my amazing holiday. What’s really helped is footy season. It doesn’t hurt that my Eels smashed it this week! While settling in for the game, my ears pricked up hearing Casey Barnes’ new track, “Made For This.” What a belter of a song, perfect for the hard-hitting game I love!
“This song is about backing yourself when everything’s on the line,” Casey said. “It’s about coming back from adversity, not being afraid of the challenge, and using it as fuel.”
If you’re not already across it, there are plenty of opportunities to hear this song as Nine will use it on all their Thursday, Friday, and Sunday matches across the entire 30-week NRL season. You’ll also hear plenty more from Casey this year, as he’s got a new album scheduled for the middle of the year and some big festival appearances in the coming months. Catch him anywhere you can!
Sometimes you just need a little reminder of how good an album is. When sorting through my emails, my first thought when I saw news of Jet Age’s 25th anniversary was “Fuck off.” Twenty-five years; are you kidding me? My next thought was, “Let’s give it a listen.” Age hasn’t wearied this Superjesus album friends. There are the hits like “Over You” and “Gravity” of course, but really every track is a gem.
“We felt so much pressure going in to make Jet Age because of the success of Sumo and the departure of our founding member, guitarist Chris Tennent,” frontwoman Sarah McLeod recalled. “We needed to prove to ourselves that we could stand on our own two feet without him. As he was my writing partner I was terrified the magic pathway to creativity would be broken, but it was not broken at all, it was actually strengthened by fresh collaborations with new guitarist Tim Henwood.”
Trust me, fire up your favourite streaming platform and revisit this one to pump yourself up for Superjesus’ anniversary tour happening in the middle of the year.
“Playing for this tour feels like plugging straight into history,” said Superjesus drummer Ben Todd. “These songs still hit hard, and bringing Jet Age back to life night after night is going to be an absolute blast. We have the chance to honour a record that shaped so much of what the band is, while feeling how alive these songs still are after 25 years. See you on the road!”
The Art and The After will join the Superjesus for these special Jet Age anniversary gigs. Tickets are on sale now for all shows.
