Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Archie Roach Celebrates Emerging Indigenous Talent With New Online Series

Living treasure Archie Roach is opening his heart and home for a brand new webseries, Kitchen Table Yarns. The series sees Archie chatting with up-and-coming First Nations artists about their songs, communities, and language.

“When I started off in music nobody had much of a clue about who I was and what I was writing about,” Archie explained. ”I was considered a curiosity. Yarning at my kitchen table with these young artists will help people understand who they are and give them another platform to promote their music. The kitchen table has always been a place of inspiration for me. It’s a place where I’ve written most of my songs, drank many cups of tea, ate meals, played music whilst my children ran around making plenty of noise. It represents family, community and love. We thought it would be a great idea to have a YouTube series and conversation at the kitchen table. It’s important their voices are heard so they don’t have to go through what I went through. They are our future and when the time comes for us older singer-songwriters to finish up we know it’s in good hands.”

Unlike so many people his age, Archie is an old hand at producing online content. When 2020 wiped out what was meant to be his final national tour, he launched a YouTube series celebrating the songs from Charcoal Lane to connect with his audience.

The first two episodes of his new 12-part series, featuring Allara Briggs Patterson and Marlon X Rulla, drop on Archie’s YouTube channel on August 4 and 18. We’ll get a new episode on the first Wednesday of every month after that.

Archie also plans to get out on the road again next week. Tickets are on sale now for his Tell Me Why tour.

16 July 2021 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
6 August 2021 – Archie Roach in Conversation at Byron Writers Festival, Byron Bay
7 August 2021 – Norpa, Lismore
8 August 2021 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton
11 August 2021 – Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour
12 August 2021 – Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie
13 August 2021 – City Hall, Newcastle
14 August 2021 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
17 August 2021 – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Bathurst
18 August 2021 – Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre, Dubbo
12 December 2021 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Your Groove On With Emma Donovan & The Putbacks’ New Single, “Out The Door”

Emma Donovan & The Putbacks have just dropped their funky new single “Out The Door,” giving us an exciting taste of things to come.

“Out The Door reflects our return to the studio and realigning as a band coming out of some very dark and tormenting times. We literally ran out the door from lockdown and jumped deep into the studio,” Emma explained. “When The Putbacks and I are in the studio, we jam, we write and there’s a lot of trust for me to play with lyrics and melody. This single shows our strength as a musical unit, our relationship and trust with one another, and marks my return to the Melbourne community”.

“Out The Door” is the first track lifted from the outfit’s new album Under These Streets, which drops on September 17 as part of the City of Melbourne’s Flash Forward program. The album was written and recorded on Wurundjeri Country, home of the Kulin Nation. It features eight tracks lifted from The Putbacks’ vault and given Emma Donavan’s unmistakeably soulful treatment. And if this first track is any indication, it’s going to be sensational.

Image used with permission from Brain Drain PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Blake O’Connor Goes Retro With “Soul Feeling”

Soul and country don’t seem like a natural music marriage, but Blake O’Connor has brought these genres together for his latest single “Soul Feeling.” I didn’t expect it to work as well as it does, but this is actually brilliant. Just see if you’re not tapping your toes along by the end of it.

“I wrote ‘Soul Feeling’ right around the time when I was heavily listening to a lot of soul-inspired music, and watching a bunch of old videos of the Muscle Shoal Swampers, who were the original rhythm section for Sound Studios,” Blake explained. “That whole era of music is very inspiring to me, from the musical approach to the way they got their sounds in the studio! And when I sat down to write this song, all I could think about was how the upbeat soul songs of that era made you feel.”

Blake gave his hometown of Port Macquarie a retro makeover for the fun video. Set in the local laundromat, it’s such a fabulous throwback.

Blake had to cut his tour with Diesel short due to the unfolding COVID situation, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him back on the road.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Don’t Bring Stacey Drop Brilliant New Single, “Bandaid”

Adelaide indie pop-rock act Don’t Bring Stacey are here to shake up your working week with their high-energy new single “Bandaid.” Crank this one up and I swear you’ll feel better. Lead singer Angus Purvis wrote the track on the 2018 Groovin’ the Moo tour while still smarting from a failed relationship.

“Freshly dumped I realised I was actively stopping myself from moving on from the relationship in fear of hurting my now ex-girlfriend. I was still too hopelessly in love with her to put myself first,” he admitted. “The song explores the entirety of this relationship from that seemingly hopeless moment at Groovin’ the Moo to getting back together and breaking up again and finally reflecting three years on. Desperately wanting that feeling to disappear, but also wondering what could be/ could have been. The name band-aid comes from an old chorus for the song but still felt in line with the ideas of the song, knowing you’re not good for each other but being together because it’s easier than being heartbroken. A Band-Aid fix.”

Don’t Bring Stacey will launch “Bandaid” for hometown fans at the Crown and Anchor Hotel on July 14. And they’re pretty psyched about it!

“With a fair few songs under our belt now, playing our first single launch feels well overdue,” the band said. “We’ve got some of our favourite local acts on the bill with us and with some new songs to debut we couldn’t be more excited!”

Sounds like it’ll be a great night out, so don’t miss it Adelaide music lovers!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Jack Fenby

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sophisticated Dingo Releases Anthem for the Working Week, “Day in the Life”

Getting over the hurdle of Hump Day is hard, but Sophisticated Dingo are here to wake you up with their latest single “Day in the Life.” These guys have always been bold, but their latest track is a real shock to the system. It’s surf-punk turned up to 11 with relatable lyrics about surviving the daily grind.

“I was not enjoying my job, and with time this fed into my wider life that I found myself not enjoying as a whole,” explained frontman Lewis Matte of the song’s inspiration. “At first, I didn’t accept that work was causing me grief, and I’d block out the idea that I was unhappy at all. After a lot of self-reflection and some time in therapy, I came to realise that my job was making me unhappy and this was affecting my overall enjoyment of life. Making the choice to start looking for a new job, and then eventually landing a new role was a really empowering moment.”

“If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to take the time to think about what you want to do, research how to get the opportunity to do it, and try it out before committing your life to it. This is more important than doing what anyone else thinks you ‘should’ do.”

Despite the threat of COVID still looming large, Sophisticated Dingo have been kicking goals in 2021, playing six sold-out shows in their hometown of Melbourne. The rest of East Coast will get to see why they’re so beloved when they go on the road in a couple of months’ time. Catch them at the following shows:

4 September 2021 – O’Skulligans, Brisbane
16 September 2021 – Sideways, Canberra (FREE)
17 September 2021 – The Chippendale Hotel, Sydney
18 September 2021 – Dicey Rileys, Wollongong (FREE)
1 October 2021 – The Tote Hotel, Melbourne
8 October 2021 – Amplifier Bar, Perth

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

iyah may Impresses With New Acoustic Version of “XO Girl”

I love the way an acoustic rendition can make me appreciate a song that initially passed me by. iyah may’s “XO Girl” didn’t grab me when it was originally released, but I’ve fallen in love with her new acoustic take.

This version sees iyah strip away the swagger. With only a gentle keyboard accompaniment, I can appreciate her vocals, lyrics, and the song’s pretty melody. It brings a real gravity to this song that I missed before.

iyah will debut her live show this October at The Grass is Greener Festival at Cairns Showground.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Elaskia Drops Beautiful New Single “Can’t Help Loving You”

You might not know her name, yet, but the music of Central Coast singer-songwriter Elaskia has been featured in major TV shows like “Dynasty,” “Marvel’s Runaways,” and “Home and Away.” With that kind of exposure, it’s only a matter of time before she gains mainstream awareness. I wonder whether her latest track, “Can’t Help Loving You,” might be the one that makes people sit up and take notice.

It’s certainly got my attention. Its vulnerable lyrics, which so eloquently explore the struggles of leaving a toxic relationship, are so relatable. I also love the way the simple production supports Elaskia’s rich voice, rather than overshadowing it.

If you love what you hear, catch Elaskia at Norah Head’s Lighthouse Festival on November 13.

Image used with permission from Play MPE

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sunset Sounds Announce Amazing Bill for Hunter Valley and Mornington Shows

With all of New South Wales either under stay-at-home orders or facing other restrictions and Victoria still smarting from countless lockdowns, I think we could all do with something to look forward to. Thank god for the team, from Sunset Sounds who promise to bring great music to outdoor venues in both states this summer.

The line-up is stacked with Kasey Chambers, Pete Murray, Xavier Rudd, Ben Lee, and Josh Pyke all on the bill. Expect laidback vibes and a whole lot of fun, with music scheduled from the afternoon through the evening.

“I’m stoked to join the lineup for Sunset Sounds festival on Wonnarua Country (Hunter Valley) and to share some new music on stage. It’s an exciting time for people, a time to reset, a time for gratitude, a time to remember how lucky we are that we can celebrate life, love, music etc so freely in this magical country that we get to call home. And it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to the Mornington Peninsula and I’m stoked to be traveling there for Sunset Sounds festival. This is gonna be special day on magical Bunurong country, let’s light it up!! Can’t wait!” said Xavier Rudd.

Sunset Sounds hits Roche Estate in the Hunter Valley on November 20 before travelling to Hastings Foreshore Reserve in the Mornington Peninsula on November 28. Tickets for both shows are available now through Ticketek. These will be COVID-safe, over 18s shows. If organisers need to postpone, all ticket holders can transfer their tickets to the new date or claim a full refund.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grand Pine Announce Long-Awaited Album

It’s been a long time coming, but after teasing us with single releases for the last three years, Grand Pine’s debut album is almost here. Hold Me Down drops on September 24. If you aren’t across Grand Pine’s music yet, this video shows you why you should get excited about more music from this Melbourne band.

This video captures Grand Pine performing one of their previous singles, “Back in Town” at Bighouse Arts. It showcases their talent for creating beautiful music that seamlessly blends pop, folk, and rock influences in the vein of Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. Expect more of this magic on the forthcoming album.

Click through to pre-order a digital download, CD, or vinyl copy of Grand Pine’s Hold Me Down now.

Image used with permission from Brain Drain PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Kevin Riady’s New Track, “Marco”

Jakarta-born, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Kevin Riady wears his heart on his sleeve with his new single, “Marco.” It’s a tender folk-pop song about self-discovery and unrequited love.

Kevin was inspired to write the song after falling in love with a friend, a fellow foreign exchange student he met in Lyon, France. While the song was inspired by a specific relationship, the experience it explores is one Kevin has experienced many times as he struggled with his sexuality.

“I think this song is important to me because these experiences of having straight/curious/closeted friends always put a toll on me and (‘Marco’) is just my way of externalising both conscious and unconsciously,” he explained.

The music video moves the romance from the streets of France to Kevin’s adopted hometown of Melbourne. The self-directed and produced clip beautifully captures the agony and ecstasy of a relationship that almost was. It drops this time next week, so make sure you give his Facebook page a follow to see it. I’ve had a sneak peek, and I know you’re going to love it.

Listen out for more from Kevin Riady. He plans to release his debut EP and play his first full band show later this year.

Image used with permission from Kevin Riady