I’ve always believed that music finds you at the right time. So I don’t believe it’s any coincidence that Seph Cove has just dropped his beautiful new EP Unsafe Passage just as I’m feeling anxious about easing COVID restrictions. Thankfully Seph’s music is like a big warm hug in these uncertain times.
After enjoying the singles “Sirens” and “Helen,” I knew this EP would be right up my alley. Those singles set Unsafe Passage up beautifully. Just like those singles, the remaining songs cast a spell, creating calm with the beautifully layered folk instrumentation, Seph’s poetic lyrics, and his rich voice. The songs gently melt into one another. They might not show a lot of diversity, but I think that’s OK. Seph knows his sound. There’s a gentle confidence about what he does, and he does it so well.
Unsafe Passage might not set the charts on fire, but I think that’s OK too. While it lacks catchy, radio-friendly numbers, it’s a beautiful collection of songs that listeners can take into their hearts. Arguably that’s more important.
Cairns indie-pop songstress Amber Farnan has won me over with her sweet new single “Muse.” It’s a dreamy romantic track, the sort of song Amber could never have imagined writing when she began creating music.
“Twelve-year-old Amber promised herself that she would never write a love song. Nineteen-year-old Amber finally caved,” she admitted.”’Muse’ was written around the notion of being inspired by someone, with them ultimately being your source of inspiration towards creativity as an artist. Whether its poetry, art, theatre or dance, both modern and historic art forms utilise muses as their inspiration.
“I would like for listeners to be able to relate to the song in some way, whether that be through shared experience or through hopes and dreams. I think that ‘Muse’ has a universal feeling of relatability and no matter who you are, I am damn sure you have dreamed about someone falling in love with you before.”
Amber will launch the single and its music video at The Tanks in Cairns on March 4. Click here for tickets.
Mid-NSW Coast outfit Galleri offers up some quiet reflection with their beautiful new single “I’m Good.” Its chilled acoustic vibes are perfect for a cruisy Friday, but it’s those introspective lyrics that really get me.
“I wrote this song as a reflection on trying to make sense of life and where our decisions take us,” explained frontman John Moore. “We all make a heap of mistakes through life, trying to make sense of it all and pushing to be a better person.”
John and the band booked out the Community Hall in Pacific Palms for the recording. The bass rig was isolated in the storeroom, the drums set up on stage, with baffles and guitar amps strung through the old hall. It’s an unconventional approach, but it works. The soon-to-be-released music video captures the unique recording session.
Galleri will drop their latest album, Easy, on February 25. They’re celebrating the single release with a show tonight at Kings Valley Egyptian Cuisine in Foster.
After playing in the shadows with “Soak,”Waxflower are starting the new year on a more optimistic note. Their latest “Ring” is pure pop-punk goodness that is sure to brighten your day.
Waxflower frontman Tristan Higginson calls the track “a self-affirmation. A reminder to myself that it’s worth fighting odds, industry and enemies to keep my creative passion alive.”
“I almost gave up on music before Waxflower,” he admitted. “Questioning my ability at the backend of a decade of failed projects and crumbling under the weight of panic disorder, I recorded a demo as a last ditch effort to get something started. A year and a half later I was playing with my heroes, beginning to do the things I’d always dreamed. It’s me trying to calm the insecurities that keep me from putting myself on the line creatively. Don’t let your insecurities get in the way of where you want to be.”
Preach! 2022 has delivered a lot of the same old shit for many of us, so it’s refreshing to hear something so light and optimistic. If you need a lift right now, turn the volume up loud!
Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Mitch Lowe
I try my best to avoid the potential Eurovision tracks before the Australia Decides show, but Paulini’s effort keeps creeping into my inbox. So in spite of myself, I listened. I don’t know what she’s up against yet, but her song “We Are One” is definitely a track we could be proud to send to Turin.
This song has everything you want in a Eurovision number. It’s incredibly danceable. Paulini gives a powerhouse vocal performance. And the lyrics from Rick Price and John Capek, which celebrate our similarities, are ideal for the world stage.
“The world is hurting so it’s time to bust out with a little hope, unity and joy. There’s no better way to do that than with big sounds, and some big notes,” Paulini confirmed.
“I’m tired of being the person of colour, Australian’s are tired of lockdowns due to the pandemic, and the world is tired of being divided by religion and fear. It’s time to remind everyone that we are all humans standing on the same Earth, breathing the same air. Now is the time to come together, because we are one. I’m calling for unity from the top of my vocal range to remind the world, we are more than black or white, we are more than gay or straight, we are more than Muslim or Christian — we are people first.”
Amen! I’m ready to send Paulini to Italy now, but she’ll have to face off against the rest of the Aussie talent on the Gold Coast on February 26. Make sure to watch live on SBS to have your say!
Image used with permission from Ambition Entertainment
Melanie Dyer’s new country-pop single “Cheap Moscato” may be her most relatable yet. I mean, who hasn’t had a crazy, romantic night fuelled by cheap booze?
“The concept for Cheap Moscato came to me about five years ago and I still have a voice memo of the original recording on my phone,” she recalled. “It’s a song that I tested a few times at gigs over the years and felt always connected really well with the crowd – especially women. I revisited the song recently with Rory Grounds in Sydney and I then co-produced the song alongside Pat Byrne and Peter Holz (who also produced “Run Out Of Road”).
“The song was as fun to record as it was to write. Having a big part in the production was important to me and gave the song that female touch that it called for. Stacking the vocal harmonies and building the track layer by layer lead us to a song that’s playful, fun and a little flirty, like the way Moscato tastes. “Cheap Moscato” is for rounding up your girlfriends and letting your hair down over a few wines.”
Melanie has a stack of regional gigs coming up in the coming months. Enjoy some cheap Moscato with your gal pals at the following shows:
22 April 2022 – Diggers Grand Ballroom, Tamworth (7pm)
21 June 2022 – 500 Miles of Music @ Leigh Creek Oval, Leigh Creek (12pm)
24 June 2022 – 500 Miles of Music @ Coober Pedy (venue TBA) (12pm)
25 June 2022 – 500 Miles of Music @ The Outdoor Cinema, Oodnadatta (12pm)
26 June 2022 – 500 Miles of Music @ William Creek Hotel, William Creek (12pm)
5 July 2022 – Big Red Bash 2022 @ Birdsville (7pm)
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
It’s only early, but 2022 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year for Western Australian trio Dulcie. They’ve just released a boppy new single “tell ur friends” and they’re currently touring the country with Ocean Alley. Life’s good for this talented trio!
The track is a collaboration between Dulcie and Polarheart’s Chris Chidiac. It celebrates self-worth, something we should all nurture whether we’re in a relationship or enjoying the single life.
“This song came about a bit like Frankenstein – with various bits and bobs picked from previous half-written songs and merged together with a song co-written with Chris Chidiac,” Dulcie explained. “It’s about that awkward ‘what are we’ phase in a relationship and the inner knowing of your own self-worth.”
Those Ocean Alley dates aren’t the only opportunities fans have to see Dulcie in the flesh. The trio can’t wait to get back in front of audiences.
“We’re so excited to be able to FINALLY hit the road and share our new music this February supporting Ocean Alley. It’s been 2 VERY LONG YEARS waiting for this tour to happen. Then we head out on our own headline tour in April! Feels like we’ve re-invented ourselves to a whole new level and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on and get back to playing across the country!”
Catch Dulcie at the following venues:
18 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
19 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
20 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
23 February 2022 – John Cain Arena, Melbourne (supporting Ocean Alley)
25 February 2022 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (supporting Ocean Alley)
26 February 2022 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (supporting Ocean Alley)
8 April 2022 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle (supporting Lime Cordiale)
22 April 2022 – The Rosemount, Perth
Valentine’s Day might be a Hallmark holiday, but I can’t help but love it. Mine won’t be flashy, but I’m looking forward to a night on the couch with my husband, wine, Japanese takeaway, and streaming the ice dancing final. We’re well past the heady days of crushes, but Hayley Jensen’s new single “Flirtin’” takes me right back.
The Australian Idol alum teams up with Canadian country trio Petric for this fun and flirty track. Its playful cheesiness is perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Hayley is currently touring her Breakin’ Hearts album around the country. Catch her at the following shows in the coming months:
18 February 2022 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
19 February 2022 – Commercial Club, Albury
23 February 2022 – Lizotte’s, Lambton
24 February 2022 – Django @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
25 February 2022 – Laurieton United Services Club, Laurieton
26 February 2022 – Halekulani Bowling Club, Budgewoi
11 March 2022 – The Met Hotel, Toowoomba
13 March 2022 – Johnny Ringo’s, Brisbane
21 April 2022 – Wests Diggers Club, Tamworth
Sydney indie-rock act Le Shiv have released a triumphant follow-up to last year’s singles “When The Kids Grow Up” and “I’m Fine, I’ve Said Too Much, But How Are You.” The latter was Lime Cordiale’s favourite track of 2021, but I think the newie, “The Wait is Over” might be even better. It’s everything I want a rock song to be, with big bold instruments and an anthemic chorus that encourages you to sing along. Is it a little grandiose? Sure. Is that a bad thing? Not even a little bit.
“The title says it all for us. This was one of those nightmare songs you get every now and then as a musician. A song you can’t finish,” the band admitted. “When I came up with the first idea for the song, I knew it was going to be something good and that feeling was almost a hindrance in finishing it. There was this weird unspoken pressure to make sure the song was something special. So it took over two years to finally finish writing and recording it. When we finally got the master back it was so satisfying to hear the hard work. The wait was finally over. It’s just on to learning how to play it live now, which will probably take another couple years!”
“The Wait is Over” is the perfect way to start what’s shaping up to be a pretty big year for Le Shiv. After writing a whole lot of new songs in lockdown, they’re ready to record. They’re also itching to play live as much as COVID allows. Aussie dates are locked in and they hope some US ones will follow. Here are all the places locals can catch them in the coming months.
5 March 2022 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
12 March 2022 – La La La’s, Wollongong
20 March 2022 – Narrabeen RSL, Narrabeen (supporting Skeggs)
9 April 2022 – The Northern, Byron Bay
10 April 2022 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads
21 April 2022 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
14 May 2022 – Waywards, Sydney
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
The Black Sorrows are often referred to as a nostalgia band. The classics still hit the spot all these years later, but the title suggests their best work is long behind them. After hearing their latest single “Saint Georges Road”, the title track from their 2021 album.
This is the song that you need to write after you’ve lived a life. It represents where the Black Sorrows are now, ruminating on mortality and dealing with grief. It’s heavy stuff, but listening to it is uplifting and beautiful.
After a tough year of lockdowns, Joe Camilleri and the band are back on the road doing what they do best.
“I’m just one excitable boy,” he admitted at the prospect of getting back in front of crowds of music lovers. “It’s as joyous as sunset over the Nile or dawn at Uluru … it just feels great to get back to doing what I love”.
No doubt they’ll play all the hits at these upcoming shows, but I hope there’s room in the set for “Saint Georges Road.” It’s a gorgeous song that might just remind everyone that the Black Sorrows are so much more than a nostalgia band.
12 February 2022 – Twilight Sounds, Bundoora
17 February 2022 – The Lounge Royal Hotel, Nundah
18 February 2022 – Beenleigh Tavern, Beenleigh
19 February 2022 – Great Keppel Island, Hideaway
20 February 2022 – Sunshine Beach Surf Club, Sunshine Beach
25 February 2022 – Dashville Skyline, Belford
26 February 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Yarra Valley (afternoon)
26 February 2022 – Lizottes, Newcastle (evening)
27 February 2022 – Lizottes, Newcastle (afternoon)
5 March 2022 – Ghost Rock Wines, Northdown
6 March 2022 – Ghost Rock Wines, Northdown
12 March 2022 – Lucky 13 Garage, Moorabbin
18 March 2022 – Under the Southern Stars, Adelaide
19 March 2022 – The Point, Portsea (afternoon)
19 March 2022 – Bridgeway Hotel, Pooraka (evening)
26 March 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Mudgee
27 March 2022 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
31 March 2022 – Princess Theatre, Launceston
1 April 2022 – Rocky Cape Tavern, Rocky Cape
2 April 2022 – Homehill Winery, Huon Valley
3 April 2022 – Scamander Beach Resort, Scamander Beach
9 April 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Gosford
10 April 2022 – Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo
14-16 April 2022 – BluesFest, Tyagarah
16 October 2022 – Kickstart Summer Concert Series @ Ascot Racecourse, Ascot
I’ve always believed that music finds you at the right time. So I don’t believe it’s any coincidence that Seph Cove has just dropped his beautiful new EP Unsafe Passage just as I’m feeling anxious about easing COVID restrictions. Thankfully Seph’s music is like a big warm hug in these uncertain times.
