Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cheap Date Take a Sonic Departure With “Honest”

Cheap Date are best known for creating acoustic pop-rock, so their latest single “Honest” is a real departure. This is a straight-up electro-charged dance-pop banger. If it’s a sign of the kind of new music we might expect from the band, I’m here for it.

Cheap Date’s frontwoman Lara Dee penned the song about an emotionally one-sided encounter. It explores the idea of finding connections and giving yourself to someone else wholeheartedly in such an eloquent, interesting way. It’s also fantastic for dancing.

With dancing back on the agenda, you can expect plenty of it when Cheap Date play the following hometown shows:

26 March 2022 – Super Fun Day @ Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
23 April 2022 – The Brightside, Brisbane (supporting Concrete Surfers)
24 April 2022 – The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting The Courage Collective)

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Straight Girls is Your New Queer Pop Crush

Straight Girls reminds us just how good bedroom pop can sound with her new single “Best Friend.” The song beautifully captures the heady emotions of infatuation.

“’Best Friend’ is just about a crush I had on my friend’s best friend! It was never really a crush I shouldn’t have had or anything, it was just a funny situation to be in,” she recalled. “The song just kinda goes through how into this girl I was, and how long I was into her, and it’s also about it being reciprocated, and how we used to interact. It was just something that never fully happened, but it was known that I had a thing for her by basically everyone around either of us, never tried to hide it, even around her, and that’s what the song is about!”

With a new backing band set to help her bring her songs to life, Straight Girls is set for a big year in 2022. Definitely watch this space, because Straight Girls has the goods.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Driving in the Dark” – Columbus

On a gloomy day in a week that seems far too long, Driving in the Dark, the new EP from East Coast act Columbus is the perfect punky pick-me-up. This three-piece band has punk-pop down to a fine art. Combining a nostalgia for the genre’s glory days of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s with a fresh perspective, I can’t get enough.

The five-track EP starts with recent singles “Temporary Summer”, “Full Heart”, and “Pain is a Mirror” bringing new fans up to speed and reminding those of us who’ve been on the bandwagon for months just how good this music is. Things take a little left turn with “The Holiday,” with the band trading in the electric guitars for acoustic ones. It’s still got the band’s trademark energy, but it’s delivered with more sweetness. I love when the band is full throttle, but it’s exciting to hear them working with a different gear. Columbus cranks it up for the EP’s closer “Care About You”. It’s anthemic and glorious, the perfect final impression.

“I wrote the Driving in the Dark EP about learning how to love – my life, others, and myself,” frontman Alex Moses explained. “With each release we’re adding to the fire what Columbus means to us. This EP represents where we’re at right now. It’s been a wild time driving in the dark, but I think we’ve finally arrived.”

Driving in the Dark is out now. Columbus will play the following shows next month to support its release.

9 April 2022 – Crowbar, Sydney
14 April 2022 – The Brightside, Brisbane
17 April 2022 – North Gong, Wollongong
29 April 2022 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
30 April 2022 – Stay Gold, Melbourne

Images used with permission from Habit Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RAGEFLOWER Bursts Onto the Scene With “Still Calling”

Sydney singer-songwriter RAGEFLOWER is making a splash with her debut single “Still Calling.” RAGEFLOWER’s moniker is so appropriate because this track has just the right combination of aggression and beauty.

“Essentially, ‘Still Calling’ is about the journey back to self and healing the inner child. It’s also about the consequences of suppressing trauma with destructive coping mechanisms,” RAGEFLOWER explained. “When I wrote the song I was in a dark place, I really felt that I had let myself down and that I had wasted my potential on temporary highs. At the time I was listening to a lot of music from my emo high school years (Bright Eyes, Tonight Alive, Sum 41) and connecting with the person I used to be, which really inspired the sound. I wanted to write a hyper dualistic song with verses that felt confessional and vulnerable but choruses that felt destructive and nihilistic.”

“Still Calling” sets the bar so high, so I can’t wait to hear what comes next for RAGEFLOWER. She’s definitely someone to watch.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Nicodemo Scali

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Waxflower Continue Winning Streak With “The Drama Scene”

Waxflower’s ability to lift your mood in less than three minutes shouldn’t be underestimated. Just like previous singles “Soak” and “Ring,” their new track “The Drama Scene” clocks in at under that magic three-minute mark. And just like those other singles I adored, this one makes a massive impact in such a short space of time. Surely it’s a superpower.

“‘The Drama Scene’ is a reflection of my social life at the time,” explained frontman Tristan Higginson. “There was just so much negativity swirling around, and I was contributing to that. I was generally unhappy. The song is me airing out some of the agitation I had with where my own actions were placing me. The song is mostly the same as the demo, with exception of the second verse which ended up a more DnB style effort. Stevie [Knight] helped us add more programming to make that section of the song stand out from the rest.”

The release of “The Drama Scene” isn’t the only exciting thing happening for Waxflower today. They’re also kicking off their supporting duties for Trophy Eyes, starting with the first gig tonight on the Sunshine Coast. Arrive early to catch their set at one of the following shows:

24 March 2022 – Eleven Dive Bar, Sunshine Coast
25 March 2022 – The Northern, Byron Bay
26 March 2022 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
27 March 2022 – The Triffid, Brisbane
1 April 2022 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
2 April 2022 – Pier Bandroom, Frankston
7 April 2022 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
8 April 2022 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
20 April 2022 – UC Refectory, Canberra
21 April 2022 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
22 April 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
23 & 24 April 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DICE Goes From Strength to Strength With Latest Single, “Bad Tattoo”

DICE have only been together for 15 months, but they’ve made a big impression during that time. Aside from winning my heart, they’ve released six singles, clocked up 900,000 streams, and sold-out headline shows. They might just crack the magic million with their latest effort “Bad Tattoo.”

“’Bad Tattoo’ steers away from deeper meanings like our past tracks had (self belief, the mental and physical strain of gigging, how to cope with young relationships),” the band said. “We wanted to create a track which can embody our cheeky, light-hearted side of experiencing young adulthood. With reference to past experiences, we portray bad tattoos as a good thing, a representation of a memory rather than regret.”

DICE are also preparing to drop their first EP Adolescent Arcade. To celebrate its release, the Perth band will tour their home state next month.

“Our upcoming EP tour is a huge milestone for us and a major achievement after only 15 months as a band. We have been privileged to be able to support other bands tours such as Dear Sunday and Death by Denim but there is something extra exciting and special about doing it yourselves,” the band added. “This is definitely a big mark in our career and we are ecstatic to be able to perform our own shows at some of our favourite places such as Margaret River and also do our first all-ages show at YMCA HQ.”

Get those tickets while they’re hot!

1 April 2022 – Mandurah Top Floor, Mandurah (with Ra Ra Viper & Little Guilt MANDURAH, WA
8 April 2022 – YMCA HQ, Leederville (All Ages with Ra Ra Viper)
9 April 2022 – The River Margs, Margaret River (with Ra Ra Viper and King Blue)
30 April 2022 – DICE Fest @ Badlands, Perth

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Odin Fahey

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover the Charm of Angela Rose’s “Small Town”

Newcastle’s Angela Rose won me over last year with her track “Utopia.” Proving she’s no flash in the pan, her latest single “Small Town” is every bit as impressive. This is a sweet alt-country-folk number that simply makes your soul feel good. I love the little Jewel-esque yodel in Angela’s voice and those nostalgic lyrics that make you long for a simpler time.

“‘Small Town’ was the first song I’d written where I felt like it was worthy of being recorded and released,” Angela admitted. “It’s the song that made me realise I wanted to seriously pursue being a songwriter and gave me a huge confidence boost in my songwriting skills and storytelling. I have always really wanted to release a song inspired by my country music roots, but also combine that with the indie guitar sounds that are prominent in ‘Summer Love’ and ‘Utopia’. There are a few country elements throughout the track – the ones that really stick out are the acoustic strum, brush drum beat in the first verse and chorus, and the storytelling themes which are an ode to a classic country tune. But when the second verse comes in there is a real shift to a more modern indie feel.”

Aside from making music, Angela recently dropped her first merch collection. You can check it and more of her music out on her Bandcamp page.

Image used with permission from Peach & Sons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Captives Rock Out With “Miles Away” Ahead of Aussie Tour

I’m turning the volume right up this morning. It’s the best way to listen to “Miles Away,” the latest single from Melbourne punk-rock act Captives. The song features on their sophomore album Return to Mars, which drops on March 31. Captives wrote “Miles Away” during last year’s lockdowns, when they longed to be anywhere but Victoria’s capital.

“Miles Away has got all the feels about feeling trapped, stuck in a cycle, partying to excess and being so far away from everything and anyone you love. It sounds romantic in a sense,” explained vocalist Aaron Damon. “It also channels some inspiration from the Hoodoo Gurus, which was a band I grew up loving and still admire, so that’s OK with me.”

Or at least, turning up the volume is the best way to listen to the song at home. Something tells me the track gets some extra energy live. Thankfully Captives are just about to embark on a tour taking in major capitals and the Gold Coast. Get your tickets to these shows, because Captives are ready to raise the roof.

2 April 2022 – Halloween Hysteria, Brisbane
9 April 2022 – The Vanguard, Sydney
16 April 2022 – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
23 April 2022 – Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne
29 April 2022 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast
7 May 2022 – Wallapalooza Festival, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: @rcstills

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Charlie Collins Drops Another Gem Ahead of Album Release & Tour

I was already pretty hyped for the release of Charlie Collins’ sophomore album, but hearing the fourth single from that release has made me want to listen even more. “Backseat Valentine” is an absolute banger, the sort of track that makes you want to turn the music up, dance with abandon, and sing into a hairbrush. The song is a bit of a left-turn for Charlie, but I like it!

“I’ve never written a song like that ever,” she said. “It’s embracing, the real fucking wild side of me, I love to go crazy and do spontaneous things sometimes.”
Fresh from supporting Gang of Youths in the UK and Ireland, Charlie is ready to make music for fans here at home. Her album Undone drops on April 29, the day before Charlie’s East Coast album launch tour begins.

30 April 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
5 May 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
14 May 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

imbi Covers Muddy Waters for Chess Records Tribute

I’m a big believer that there’s no point covering a song unless you can bring something new to it. It might not always please the purists, but if you’re putting your own artistic stamp on a song and saying something new through it, you’ve done your job. imbi’s take on Muddy Waters’ classic “Mannish Boy” is a dramatic departure from the original, but it makes a heartfelt commentary on gender identity that is worth listening to. There’s also no denying their vocal chops.

“I really tried to keep it as raw as possible; taking that authenticity as the baseline foundation. After that we added the decorative moments, made it really build and swell … it was a really beautiful process … [it’s] how I bring my essence to all the music I make,” imbi explained. “In paying homage to ground-breaking African American artists, I wanted to maintain that spirit of breaking the rules and shifting the norms and speaking to your lived experience unapologetically.”

This cover comes from Everybody Knows I’m Here, a 10-track compilation celebrating Chess Records’ 70th anniversary produced by Canberra artist Kojo “Kay” Ansah (Citizen Kay). I’m really looking forward to hearing the rest of the tunes when it drops on May 6. Physical copies of the album, including 12-inch vinyl, will be released later this year.

Image used with permission from Chester Records; photo credit @42069mm