Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paulina Drops Beautiful New Single, “Nobody”

At just 17 years of age, Brisbane singer-songwriter Paulina is releasing music so good that it’d make many artists more than twice her age jealous. Her latest single “Nobody” is an exercise in restraint, a gorgeous ballad that showcases Paulina’s gift for songwriting and her sultry voice. When so many young artists go overboard with runs, it’s so refreshing to hear a song like this, presented so simply and beautifully.

“’Nobody’ is an exploration of happiness which can be found within oneself. It also delves into the envy and frustration other people have of those individuals who find true happiness for themselves,” Paulina explained. “The lyrics centre around someone who has found that joy within their life but must continue to watch others suffer in their own anguish and fake their so-called ‘happiness’. As much as you can sometimes dislike a person, I personally find there’s always a part of me that still wants the best for them and doesn’t want them to fall deeper and deeper into their own self-inflicted misery.”

Paulina is currently a finalist in the 2022 Queensland Music Awards for her song “Parasite,” which I previously raved about. This release proves the talent she showed there was no fluke. We can expect big things from this Queensland artist.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bellwether Will Lift You Up With “Halfway Happy”

Sydney’s Bellwether prove they’re one of the most consistent up-and-comers around with another fantastic single, “Halfway Happy.” With big guitar chords, an anthemic chorus, and angsty lyrics, it’s everything you want in a pop-punk track.

“Halfway Happy comes from a place of being trapped in the company of someone that makes you feel like you’re always falling short,” the band explained. “The song focuses a lot on this pattern of constantly questioning every part of ourselves and feeling like we’re simply not good enough – for ourselves or those around us. When we’re with someone that is always making us doubt ourselves, it’s easy to fall into that mindset and second guess every aspect of ourselves. Reflecting on these kinds of experiences, we see our past mistakes and regrets take shape in the form of insecurities that impact us every day, even years on.”

It’s set to be a big couple of weeks for Bellwether. They will celebrate the release of “Halfway Happy” with a big show at Crowbar on March 25 supporting FANGZ. Then on April 8, they’ll release their debut EP Impermanence. If tracks like this are any indication, it’s going to be brilliant!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jem Cassar-Daley Releases New Single “Like It More”

There’s only one way for a musician to step out of the shadows of a famous parent: release your own fabulous tunes. That’s just what Jem Cassar-Daley, the daughter of country legend Troy Cassar-Daley, is doing. Her first two singles “Letting Go” and “Changes” got plenty of support from Triple J Unearthed and Spotify, and her third track “Like It More” is likely to be every bit as popular.

I love this song’s authenticity. It doesn’t try too hard to win us over. Jem’s vocals are understated but gorgeous. She simply tells the story of how to move on and find strength in yourself. That’s a message that so many of us need to hear now and again.

“Tia Gostelow and I started writing this track last year and had so much fun with it. ‘Like it More’ captures the moment of realisation after a breakup that you can be happy with your own company. I was going through a really tough time last year with my boyfriend at the time, and I was able to do a lot of writing and collaborations which was such a great outlet for me,” she said. “For anyone going through a breakup, this song is a how-to guide on how to back yourself and learn to be your own best friend.”

If you like what you hear, you’ll be thrilled to learn there’s more to come. Jem will release an EP in the not-too-distant future. Expect to hear more songs from the EP at the following shows:

22 April 2022 – Tamworth Town Hall, Tamworth (supporting Busby Marou)
1 May 2022 – Jungle Love Festival, Imbil
30 July 2022 – Live! At the Baptist @ Studio 188, Ipswich

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Abi Muir’s “Story of You”

After revealing her inner rock chick with “Stockholm,” Abi Muir embodies sweetness and light with her charming new single “Story of You.” This dreamy indie-pop number is perfect for slow dancing with someone special. Abi loves experimenting with her music, and this single is no exception.

“On my previous singles I worked with electronic beats but this single is one of five off my debut EP that is a collaboration with members of a progressive rock/post-hardcore band!” Abi admitted. “Quite a challenge to pop-ify them but we developed quite a creative instrument sound, highlighting drums, keys and strings.”

“Story of You” is the first track on Abi’s debut EP, To You, which drops on March 25. She’ll launch it tomorrow night at BAR36 in Cairns.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ella & Sienna Impress With “Next to Mine”

Ella & Sienna are teen sisters from the Adelaide Hills destined for big things. Their beautiful harmonies and songwriting skills are on show with the release of their new single “Next to Mine.” If you love the blend of country-pop music and heartfelt lyrics that typified Taylor Swift’s early music, this will be right up your alley.

“’Next To Mine’ was written during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020. I wanted to create an energetic, up-tempo reflection of our love and care for family and friends,” Sienna explained.

“We were inspired by the shared feeling of heartache and longing to be close to loved ones through the uncertain and devastating times,” added Ella.

Underestimate this talented twosome at your peril. They write their own music, sing like angels, and play their own instruments (Ella’s on guitar while Sienna takes bass). See for yourself what they can do at one of the following shows:

26-27 March 2022 – 2022 Country by the River @ Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge
3-4 December 2022 – 2022 Mornington Country Music Festival @ The Briars, Mount Martha

Image used with permission from Checked Label Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

NECTAR Drops Cool New Single, “Waiting on the World (Won’t Work)”

Get your groove on with NECTAR’s tasty new slow jam, “Waiting on the World (Won’t Work).” It’s got a cool laidback vibe, but this track has a serious message about the importance of taking action to inspire change. Ella Pilcher lends her stunning vocals to the recording.

“‘Waiting on the World (Won’t Work)” is a statement towards the manifestation of excuses by placing blame on the world around you,” Nectar explained. “If you want things to happen in your life you have to work for it and make the change, which we have been noticing a lot amongst our day-to-day lives especially as we are emerging as young artists. The song is particularly relevant at the moment as it is easy to find yourself in a stagnant state of life. It also reiterates that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that it’s okay to be at that stagnant point.”

NECTAR will launch “Waiting on the World (Won’t Work)” at Mojo’s Bar in Fremantle on April 2.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spici Water Reminisce With “GOOD NIGHT”

I regularly look back at Facebook memories and marvel at the world of a few years ago. I see myself with my friends or in packed stadiums and can’t believe how carefree it all was. While some people are back into socialising, some of us still find ourselves holding back due to those high case numbers. And others find that their friends have moved on in the last two years and things aren’t quite the same. Spici Water capture the nostalgia of days gone by with their rocking new single “Good Night.”

“’Good Night’ is a “Yeah the girls” anthem about missing going out and hitting the town with your friends,” Spici Water said. “Due to covid, nightlife came to a halt for many months since the nation was in lockdown. Singer AJ loved going out with her friends but by the time lockdown ended they all got full time jobs, one of them becoming a registered nurse and so they didn’t get to go out as much anymore. AJ reminisced on all the good times they had together and wanted to find a way to immortalize their friendship and memories and so ’Good Night’ came to exist.”

There are plenty of good nights ahead for Spici Water and their fans. Western Australians can catch them at the following events:

26 March 2022 – Hyperfest, Midland (supporting Spacey Jane)
2 April 2022 – World’s Greatest Shave Fundraiser @ YMCA HQ, Perth
30 April 2022 – Badlands Bar, Perth (supporting DICE)
20 May 2022 – Freo Social, Fremantle (supporting Ra Ra Viper)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit Mitch Love

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hit the Bussell Hwy with Ghost Care

With the Western Australian borders now open to triple-vaxxed travellers, many of us are thinking of a getaway to the Wildflower State. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, or a killer song for your playlist, check out “Bussell Hwy,” the latest track from Perth indie-rock trio Ghost Care.

“Bussell Hwy is all about the classic road trip! It’s where you’d rather be, and where you need to be and sometimes don’t realise,” the band said. “This song is about convincing your friends, and yourself, to get away from it all and just take a breather. This song is the nostalgia that we need, and the motivation to get back out there. We hope it can be everyone’s new road trip anthem for the future!”

Those open borders should help Ghost Care have a big 2022. They’ve just inked a deal with Tiny Triumphs management, and it shouldn’t be too long before we see them touring all over. Until then, local crowds can catch them launching “Bussell Hwy” at Scarborough’s Indian Ocean Hotel on April 8.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Howie Ng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“ThornBird” – “ThornBird”

It’s a big day for new music releases. While everyone is buzzing about the new Wiggles album, there’s a chance ThornBird’s self-titled debut may fly under the radar. That would be a great shame because it’s a really special collection of songs.

In case you didn’t know, ThornBird is Vikki Thorn, one-third of The Waifs. This album is no Waifs album. That might be jarring for some fans, but I encourage you to leave your expectations behind and embrace what this album is. The bluesy opening track “That Kinda Man” sets the scene. It’s stripped back and raw, ensuring ThornBird’s voice spends time in the spotlight. That’s only fitting because this is an album that puts her voice front and centre. In The Waifs, she was one of three. Blending in was important. Through this album, I feel like I’ve gotten to know Vikki, her strength, her vulnerability, her playfulness, her power.

The songs are Vikki’s stories from her time living in Utah, but it might be unfair to call ThornBird a solo album though. Because if not for Vikki’s backing band this album may not have happened. She stumbled across them one night playing “dirty folk blues” in the corner of a bar. They looked like they’d had a few too many, but their natural chemistry and the way they played so raw and edgy blew Vikki away. She was determined to make a record with them, and so this album was born. While Vikki’s voice is strong, they bring these songs together. I can’t imagine these songs without the epic guitar solo of “Big Girl Pants” or the beautiful harmonica and slide guitar in “Hells Backbone.”

I can imagine what it might feel to hear these songs in a honky-tonk bar as I listen to this album. You can hear the electricity between Vikki and her band as their voices harmonise on “All the Things” and the heartbreaking closer “Rough Patch.” “All I Want” is a fantastic country-rock duet. You know the love’s not perfect, but it’s palpable. Even when their voices don’t combine, Vikki and her bandmates are communicating as the instruments interplay with her vocals.

ThornBird is out today. Vikki will bring these songs to the people at the following theatre, festival, and bar gigs.

11 March 2022 – Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff
12 March 2022 – Wildflower Festival @ Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley
18 March 2022 – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi
19 March 2022 – Wildflower Festival @ RiverStage, Brisbane
20 March 2022 – Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
2 April 2022 – Wildflower Festival @ Roche Estate, Hunter Valley
3 April 2022 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
6 April 2022 – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
7 April 2022 – Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan
8 April 2022 – The Gov, Adelaide
9 April 2022 – Kings Park, Perth

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; feature photo credit: Toni Wilkinson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“ReWiggled” – The Wiggles

If you’d have asked me in 2020 what 2021 would bring, I wouldn’t have predicted more lockdowns and pandemic struggles. And I definitely wouldn’t predict The Wiggles topping the Hottest 100. I’m a firm believer that the darkness of the former made the latter happen. Triple J’s main demographic is the generation that grew up on the Wiggles, and they wanted a little bit of the joy they experienced as kids. And that’s exactly why the release of ReWiggled today is not just genius, but essential listening.

The first disc, A Tribute to the Wiggles, is crammed with Wiggles favourites reimagined by some of the country’s hottest acts. I didn’t know I needed to hear Polish Club rocking out on “Apples and Bananas” or The Chats going hard on “Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist)?” but they’re real highlights. Emma Donovan and The Putbacks put the soul in “Say The Dance, Do The Dance.” There’s such a gentle charm about Stella Donnelly’s take on “Ba Ba Da Bicycle Ride” and Emily Wurramara’s “Dressing Up.” Every song is performed with such loving reverence. The acts are clearly having fun, but they’re not taking the piss. The Wiggles’ material is hallowed ground after all.

The surprises continue with the second disc, Wiggly Covers. Here the Wiggles take on more cool covers in the way only the Wiggles can. Their banging version of “Elephant” comes first, followed by such an exciting mixed bag of modern and classic material. If you thought taking on Tame Impala came from left field, just wait until you hear them belting out hits from The Chats, Fatboy Slim, and Rihanna. They bring an innocence to Melanie Safka’s “Brand New Key.” And while I wasn’t sure how the Wiggles would sound on the Dropkick Murphys’, “Shipping Up to Boston” is a perfect fit for Captain Feathersword.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many moments when I thought to myself “This is absolutely bonkers.” And it really is. But it also makes perfect sense. ReWiggled is just the kind of beautiful bonkers we need in our lives right now. I can imagine plenty of young families having this album on regular rotation but just as many kid-free folks like me cranking out too. Why should parents have all the fun? Could the Wiggles have another number one on their hands? I don’t doubt it.

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute