Melbourne singer-songwriter Jamie Payet usually releases original material, but with his latest release he shows the magic he can bring to a classic. His take on “All You Need Is Love” is pretty brilliant. I wasn’t sure about the up-tempo treatment at first, but I was on board as soon as I heard that horn section kick in.
Crank it up and I swear you’ll feel better. It might be a throwback, but it captures the message we all need to hear right now.
Weekends are all about freedom, especially now those lockdowns have lifted, so what better time to introduce you to ILUKA’s banging new single “Get Free.” This synthy poppy masterpiece is the perfect track to get you grooving on this Saturday morning.
“I think it was a confession of the journey I’ve been on over the years. A celebration of the messy and long-winded route I’ve always taken – always a little left of centre and always in reach of something but never quite getting there, wherever ‘there’ even is,” ILUKA said of the song’s inspiration. “I think it was a way for me to find joy in that path rather than frustration and loneliness and in turn, to hopefully bring some kind of joy to the listeners.”
The song comes with a beautiful video filmed on Gundungurra and Darug land in the Blue Mountains, choreographed by Matthew Gode, and directed by Sophia de Vries. She explained, “We wanted to create a visual journey that embodied the idea of feeling free. Expansive natural environments, vibrant colours, and expressive movement. I was particularly inspired by the French filmmaker Eric Rohmer and the feeling of long summer days with no place to be.”
Expect to hear a lot more from ILUKA really soon, as she’s currently putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited debut album.
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Vasili Papathanasopoulos
Mornington Peninsula singer-songwriter Suzi wears her heart on her sleeve with “Amelia,” a relatable slice of Aussie folk-rock. This song has been going gangbusters on TikTok where more than 500,000 people have viewed the song and left hundreds of comments. Now it’s time for those of us who aren’t on the platform to discover it.
On first listen, this song sounds like it might come from a place of anger, but instead it reflects on the way that someone’s insults are an indication of their own insecurities and shortcomings. We’ve all met an Amelia, and this song perfectly encapsulates the frustration that comes with that experience. Crank this one up and sing it at the top of your lungs.
Image used with permission from Soda Music Group
When you listen to as much music as I do, it’s rare to hear releases that are truly original. Queer/nonbinary artist Heirloome is one special soul who isn’t afraid to go their own way though. Their latest single “Flesh To Flower” is a hauntingly beautiful track that pays tribute to their late brother.
“Losing my little brother was the deepest grief of my life – it completely broke me,” Heirloome explained. “He was 23. I had to create this magical world to protect myself, and to grieve, or I just couldn’t cope. I saw a shaman ten days after he passed, and she said that his spirit was still in shock – so we sang to him, to help him understand and move on. That’s how this song happened. The shaman called in the spirit of a hummingbird to guide me, and the next day three birds appeared at my window and told me to write three songs for my brother. It’s really me singing to him – asking his spirit questions about life, about what it all means … and what it is to die.
“I didn’t want the song to be dark – I wanted it to be filled with the mysticism of this human experience we are having, to transform the pain into beauty somehow. I wanted to create a magical soundscape where it was safe enough to feel the loss, and begin to heal.”
This track is so special. Heirloome describes it as chamber pop/indietronica which gets close, but I’m not sure words quite capture the magic of it. And then you add in the gorgeous music video which adds a new cinematic dimension to the song.
It sounds like we’re in for more unique art when Heirloome releases their debut EP Cycles on November 19. Click here to sign up for the free interactive online experience.
Image used with permission from Heirloome
Melbourne-born, Byron-based singer-songwriter Seph Cove has a new single “Sirens,” and it’s just what you need to ease into your workday. It’s a chilled-out piece of acoustic folk which wraps you up like a big, warm hug. The song’s lyrics, which explore the common trap of looking on to the next thing without appreciating the present, really resonate.
“When I finally thought about my life in the present, what was good was now gone,” he explained.
“Sirens” is the first track lifted from Seph’s forthcoming sophomore EP.
Image used with permission from GYROstream
Grace Cummings has got one of those voices that stops you in your tracks. It’s like she’s smoked a thousand cigarettes and lived a life well beyond her tender years. She already sounds like one of the greats, but her new single “Heaven” comes from only her second album, Storm Queen.
“I wrote ‘Heaven’ in just about the same time it takes to sing,” she admitted. “I heard that you’d always know who the hero was in an old cowboy movie because they’d be wearing a ten-gallon Stetson. Heaven might be a person… or a place… or my father or a tiny little caterpillar or the sound of a kookaburra laughing. The kookaburra is a hero. I am not.”
Storm Queen drops on January 14. If this track is any indication, you’re going to want to hear it.
Image used with permission from Brain Drain PR
Sydney band Thunder Fox turns up the charm with their latest single, “Love You 2.” This is an old-school R’n’B ballad that takes me right back to the ‘90s. If you were cranking Boyz II Men, Jodeci, and All-4-One back in the day, you’re going to love this.
“Drawing from the same existential angst of the previous tracks, there came a time in the months following the writing of Sanctuary that I noticed I’d let my material pursuits get in the way of the most important thing imaginable: delicious, unadulterated, full throttle, hyper-vulnerable romance, baby,” admitted Sam Dawes. ‘Love You 2’ is an apology, in a way. Apologising for allowing myself to become so distracted by desire, work and anxiety that I almost forgot to tell someone how much I fucking love their sweet ass. Heed my advice, friends, tell whoever it is you love them. Every. Chance. You. Get.”
Amen!
If you love Thunder Fox, there’s more to come. Listen out for a new single later this week and the album Sanctuary on November 18.
Image used with permission from Beehiive PR
If you love accessible folky pop bops from acts like Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes, I think “3rd Grade Art” by Melbourne’s Angus Legg will be right up your alley. It’s incredibly sweet with nostalgic lyrics that take listeners back to the simple days of childhood.
“The metaphorical undertone felt playful, light and energetic, however, I was having a tough time with my partner at the time and decided I would use this idea to frame our difficulties in a new, positive light,” Angus explained.
If you weren’t already in love with Angus, the music video might just push you over the edge. It’s cheeky, goofy, and impossibly endearing.
Remember the name, because I predict we’re going to hear a lot more about Angus Legg in the years to come.
Image used with permission from GYROstream
Central Coast punk act Deadshowws are back with a rocking new track “Baltimore.” With crunchy guitar chords and a chorus that’ll encourage you to sing along, it’s the perfect shot-in-the-arm for a lazy weekend.
Explaining the story behind the song, Deadshowws remembers that “There was a group of people at a show of ours and they were acting heaps cool and loud and better than everyone and they just pissed us off. And then we started playing the show and they were front row dancing like they were our best mates, which ties in with the lyrics in the chorus, ‘Slowish Soho dancing, everyone just seems so fucking fake’. And the rest of the song is about the ever-changing world we live in, and the constant technology that surrounds us.”
Deadshowws were carving out a reputation as one of the East Coast’s most exciting live acts after sharing stages with These New South Whales, Totally Unicorn, Pandamic and Bootleg Rascal. Now that New South Wales is out of lockdown, hopefully it’s not too long before we see them gigging again.
Image used with permission from Good Intent
If there was any doubt that summer is on its way, Bootleg Rascal have just dropped their ultra-cool new album, Sloppy Seconds. If you’ve followed this blog for any period of time, you’re already familiar with their good vibes. The many recent singles always left me wanting a bit more, so this album is a real treat.
I must admit, I was taken aback when I spied the tracklist and saw the opening track was called “Albo.” Was this an ode to the opposition leader in the vein of The Whitlams’ Gough? Not quite. Instead “Albo” is an opening message recorded by Anthony Albanese himself, reminding us to support Aussie music. Brilliant!
As the album’s title suggests, the tracks here aren’t exactly new. The tagline calls it a “reimagined album.” I think of it as more like a greatest hits on steroids. The best songs from Bootleg Rascal’s earlier releases Asleep in the Machine, Psychotica, and Collaborations of Very Isolated Delinquents “19 receive new makeovers. I’ve enjoyed listening to these new recordings, then going back to the original source material and marvelling at the way they’ve improved the songs. Spoiler alert, they have every single time. These old favourites join recent singles including “Therapy” and “All About You.”
Despite drawing tracks from so many different sources, Sloppy Seconds is a really cohesive album because Bootleg Rascal have such a clear and distinct sound. The preview stream I received labelled it as reggaeton, but I’m not sure you can sum these guys up so neatly with a genre label. It’s music that transports me to summer days, sitting around the pool with a drink in hand and my mates by my side. It’s super catchy, the kind of music that you just want to keep listening to. If you’re not already familiar with Bootleg Rascal, Sloppy Seconds is the perfect introduction. If you already know what’s up, you already know you’re in for a good time.
Sloppy Seconds drops today. To celebrate its release, Bootleg Rascal are hitting the road for a massive tour all around the mainland. Frankly, this is the most ambitious tour schedule I’ve seen in more than a year! If you want to be a part of it, get your tickets now because they probably won’t last long:
19 November 2021 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
26 November 2021 – Indi Bar, Perth
27 November 2021 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
28 November 2021 – The Aardvark, Fremantle
4 December 2021 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
10 December 2021 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
11 & 12 December 2021 – Kill the Dinosaurs, Port Elliot
15 January 2022 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
22 January 2022 – Howler, Melbourne
23 January 2022 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
28 January 2022 – Old Bundy Tavern, Bundaberg
29 January 2022 – The Leichhardt Hotel, Rockhampton
5 February 2022 – Solbar, Maroochydore
17 February 2022 La La La’s, Wollongong
18 February 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
19 February 2022 – UC Hub, Canberra
Images used with permission from Good Intent