Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Pressure” Makes a Pop Gem For Georgia June

Sydney five-piece Georgia June is back with their new single “Pressure,” an irresistible slice of pop that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt pressured to choose a life path that wasn’t right for them.

“None of us ever want to be stuck in an office, yet I think when you’re young and trying to do music, everyone around you expects you to just be ‘realistic’ and have a backup plan of some sort,” explained the band’s eponymous frontwoman, Georgia June. “Which is why the video is set in a setting which we all are so scared of ending up in, just caving into what we should do and what’s expected. James Adams shot and edited the video, he created exactly what we had in our head and is always so on board with our ideas.”

This is such a fun track. It’s got a great retro sensibility that makes you want to reach for your hairbrush-microphone and take time for a dance break, no matter what you’re doing.

“Pressure” is set to appear on George June’s first full-length album later this year. They’ll play the Red Earth First Birthday Party at The Lady Hampshire in Camperdown on May 19.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fool Child Bring Back Summer Vibes With “Dance On Your Own”

British expats Scott Harrison and Matthew Green have clearly embraced Australian vibes since arriving on our shores and joining forces with our own Hannah Jackson and Callum Fitzpatrick.

While the Brits’ band Fool Child was originally a two-piece, their new single “Dance On Your Own” shows working as a quartet works well for them. The song has a cool beachy feel that has me feeling nostalgic for summer.

Fool Child will launch “Dance On Your Own” with a show at Collingwood’s Gasometer Hotel on May 16.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kiwi Expats Glencoe and Rory McKenna Join Forces for “Is This Home”

He might have been born in Christchurch, but now that Glencoe has made Melbourne home we’re happy to claim him, especially if the producer keeps making music as special as his latest single “Is This Home.”

The track features the talent of another Kiwi-born Melbourne-based artist Rory McKenna. It came together easily and was recorded in the spare room of Rory’s house, where Glencoe stayed when he moved to our shores.

“The song basically wrote itself,” Glencoe confirmed. “That day, Rory and I were having a conversation about how, where we come from, there is a very small minded mentality. When we attended high school together in 2010, the main message was that we could be anything we wanted to be, to reach for the stars and not let anything get in the way of our dreams. Yet when it came to the question of; what do you see yourself doing as a career? When given the reply, “a full time musician” we were laughed at, told that was a fantasy, that we need to get our heads out of the clouds and find a real, secure job. But here we are, living the dream together eight years later.”

“Is This Home” is available from your favourite digital stores now.

Image used with permission from The A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Kat O Army’s New Single Rocks

I have such a soft spot for angry female-fronted acts. Get fired up sisters and I’m there. So “I Don’t Wanna Fight” from Melbourne’s The Kat O Army has ticked all the boxes for me at the end of a very long week.

Frontwoman Kat O penned the track in just 10 minutes, purging all the emotions she felt after a trying 2017. It’s so raw, honest, and catchy as all get out. And isn’t it refreshing to hear music in our accent Aussies?

“I Don’t Wanna Fight” is available now from all your favourite digital outlets.

Image used with permission from A&R Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Fishy About Neon Tetra’s New Single

Funky Adelaide outfit Neon Tetra are spreading good vibes with the release of their single “The End Begins Again.”

Taken from their forthcoming EP Pollen, “The End Begins Again” showcases the band’s commitment to feel-good music with infectious grooves. Josh Allen’s vocals seem to be able to go anywhere and that sax line is irresistible.

The music video sees Neon Tetra joining forces with Mickey Mason of Corduroy Productions.

“As soon as the music is ready, Mickey gets a first listen. Coming up with some wonderfully bizarre concepts that make the process a lot of fun. We’re big fans of his fresh produce,” the band said in the presser. “The music video is an expression of what the record is all about. Dancing, love and expressing yourself. Not taking life too seriously. The entire clip was shot on Super 8 film, creating a warming tone that ties in with the late ‘70s, early ‘80s pop feel of the release.”

Neon Tetra will celebrate the single’s release with the following shows, kicking off in their hometown this week.

5 May 2018 – Chateau Apollo, Adelaide
25 May 2018 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast
26 May 2018 – Netherworld, Brisbane
27 May 2018 – The Evelyn, Melbourne (MATINEE)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

CLIPPED Music Video Festival Heads to Redfern for Vivid

Vivid is always such an exciting time in Sydney, but with the arts festival celebrating its 10th year you can bet this one will be big. One of the highlights of the 2018 celebrations for music lovers is the CLIPPED Music Video Festival.

This unique event celebrates the past, present, and future of music videos through interactive exhibitions, competitions, live performances, VR explorations, and heaps more. Acclaimed music video director Jesse Kanda, known for his work with Björk, FKA Twigs, and Arca, will appear alongside out own Sarah Blasko, McLean Stephenson, and ABC Rage curator Tyson Koh.

“I’m so proud that CLIPPED is heading into our third year as part of Vivid Sydney. It’s a beautiful city and an amazing time to hold such a unique event, now well known for putting a spotlight on the best music videos from Australian & New Zealand.’ says CLIPPED Festival Director Sam Bright.

The CLIPPED Music Video Festival hits Carriageworks in Redfern on June 2. Tickets are availabl now from the CLIPPED Music Video Festival website.

Image used with permission from Inmocean; Photo credit: Kylie Coutts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Compares 2 Prince @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney – 27 April 2018

We’ve just passed the two-year anniversary of Prince’s passing. It doesn’t quite feel like that long, perhaps because his music hasn’t left me. While the CDs keep me company, it’s concerts like last week’s Nothing Compares 2 Prince show that really sustain me. Nights where I can spend time with the talented artists who loved Prince, who miss him as the fans I’m dancing with do.

After seeing New Power Generation last month, I was primed for this gig. Those guys were so good, surely adding members of The Time and The Family to the mix and staging it at the beautiful Sydney Opera House would only enhance the experience. I may also have benefitted from having tickets a bit closer to the stage. While we were dancing at the back of the Enmore Theatre last month, there’s nothing like being just a few rows back from the musicians, basking in their aura. And what musicians they were.

St Paul Peterson, who met Prince at 17 and fronted The Family, served as musical director and an anchor for the show. He was complemented so beautifully by Shelby J, a member of New Power Generation whose stunning voice and stage presence had us all in the palm of her hand. Andy Allo, who also spent time with NPG, was a revelation. I’d assumed we’d see the same NPG members as we did last month, but watching other members of this supergroup, being exposed to their talents, made this show special. And I must take a moment to mention those horns. While I enjoyed last month’s NPG show, having brass piped through the speakers was a letdown. With a three-piece brass section delivering that rich sound live, this show truly had the Minneapolis sound I craved.

I didn’t take a lot of photos because I spent the bulk of the show on my feet. There was no holding back, with big guns like “1999” and “I Want to Be Your Lover” coming out early. The set was full of so many hits, and those lesser known tracks that the true fans love. I was thrilled to hear many of the songs Prince penned for other artists too. Covers of “Manic Monday” and “Stand Back” reminded us of his immense body of work.

While most of the numbers had us dancing, there were also sombre moments for us to reflect on the impact Prince had made on all our lives. Fittingly many came from Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister. She was visibly choked up as she told us how much our love meant to Prince and as she sang his words. Her version of “The Ladder” took me to church and it was only right that she came back for the closer, “Purple Rain.” Shelby J’s performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” with St Paul Peterson, who sang lead on The Family’s original, was spine-tingling. The song that took me down was “Sometimes It Snows in April” though, performed so beautifully by NPG’s Cassandra O’Neal. I had only been talking in the intermission about how that song is the one that still makes me cry, and again I found myself wiping tears away as she delivered this beautiful ballad. The wonderful thing about Prince’s back catalogue though is that you’re never left crying for too long. He might be gone, but he’s left us with so many reasons to dance.

Nothing Compares 2 Prince was a fantastic tribute to one of the music world’s brightest stars. The advertisements told us the event wasn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Prince’s estate, but if he could communicate with us I have a feeling he’d give this show his tick of approval.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Nobody” – The Ruiins

I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, because it’s much more fun to listen to The Ruiins’ new EP Nobody than write about it. I’d have the best of intentions of putting my ideas down, but before long I was singing along to a chorus or grooving my body to the beat. When you’re lost in the music like that, you don’t want to analyse it. You just want to be.

Starting an EP with an instrumental intro is a bold choice, but it gives a great taste of what’s to come. Big driving drum beats, a tune that’s catchy as all get out. It tantalises us like a good entrée, making us salivate in anticipation for the main course.

The next song “Drowning” feels like a single already. It has such strong vocals delivering lyrics with heart, those big drums moving everything forward and encouraging us to tap our feet in time.

“Love Can Start a War” isn’t such a heavy hitter on the surface, with a gentler feel than the tracks that came before, but it packs a real emotional punch with powerful, gritty vocals. These vocals ensure tracks like this and “The Season,” the songs where the band eases their foot from the pedal just a little, never become background music.

It’s so hard to pick a favourite on such a quality collection of songs, but “Water & Waves” might just have the edge here. It’s got such a great summery feel with a hard-hitting sucker-punch of a chorus. It puts a big smile on my face every time.

Bands rarely save their lead singles to the end of an EP, but The Ruiins’ unconventional approach pays off here. I’ve already waxed lyrical about the quality of this song. The title track makes sure “Nobody” ends on a high, ensuring as a listener you feel so good about the EP that you want to press play again. And again. And again. Just six tracks has got me well and truly hooked on The Ruiins.

Nobody is available from all your favourite digital music providers now. The Ruiins will play some local shows to celebrate its release in June.

8 June 2018 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
9 June 2018 – The Union Hotel, Sydney
15 June 2018 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
16 June 2018 – The Pink Motel, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Who Collective

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Hard Expectations” – Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates

Hard Expectations is the third album from Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates. It’s been three years in the making, so the title track may be a commentary on how this tight soul outfit feel releasing some new music into the world. If there were nerves though, they don’t show. This is one of the best soul albums I’ve ever heard.

Soul music, real soul music, seems to be a dying art these days. Today what passes as soul seems to have vocal acrobatics and rap breaks. While musical evolution can be important and exciting, it’s refreshing to hear an album like this that takes a genre back to its roots. Listening to Hard Expectations, it’s easy to mistake it for a collection of covers. Its songs are the kind of songs I thought people don’t write anymore. However, in truth just two tracks aren’t original. Curtis Mayfield’s “Hard Times” and The Pointer Sisters “You Gotta Believe” sit comfortably along numbers penned by The Soul Mates and Mahalia’s longtime family friend Don Walker.

Opening track “Love is Fleeting” starts the album with a bang. There’s such a strength in this song. Love might be fleeting, but she’s going to get her man. There’s more strength in the Don Walker-penned “Hard Expectations,” a track which reminds a man that he needs to measure up and meet the standard.
After a few hard-hitting numbers, Mahalia and her band slow things down with “My Love.” There’s a gorgeous tenderness in this song. Her voice is complemented beautiful by the warm brass section and her superb backing vocalists.

“Shake Things Up” might be my favourite track on the album. It’s got such a great groove and a fantastic message about going your own way. “Three Times + I’m Gone” has such an infectious honky-tonk feel. I can imagine being in a smoky bar somewhere, seeing Mahalia and her band play this, and it sounding just like it does on the record. There’s such a spontaneous energy about what they’ve laid down here.

In truth I could tell you how good every single song is though. There are no filler tracks here. That’s unsurprising considering the level of talent in this band. Think Joe Bonamassa, Kirk Fletcher, Prinnie Stevens, and Jade McRae, to name but a few. And of course, the incomparable Mahalia Barnes. Its no coincidence her name is out front and centre. If there was any doubt about it, this album establishes Mahalia Barnes as one of the greatest soul voices in this country.

Hard Expectations is in stores now.

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RIP Paul Gray

I was saddened to wake up this morning to the news of Paul Gray’s passing. The Wa Wa Nee frontman lost his battle with myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

With his band Wa Wa Nee, Paul tore up the charts with tracks like “Stimulation” and “I Could Make You Love Me.” I wasn’t so familiar with his music at the time; my dad was more likely to blast Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil than ’80s pop. But I’ve seen him and his band countless times at various ’80s music celebrations. He was such a champion for the music of that era. He’d play a Wa Wa Nee set, but then settle in as part of the house band, a big smile on his face leaving no doubt about his excitement at playing cheesy 80s music with some of the biggest names in the business. Sometimes Wa Wa Nee didn’t even get a slot on the bill, but there he was. He didn’t need the spotlight; he just loved the music.

My husband snapped this photo at the Absolutely ’80s gig at the Enmore a few years back. That’s how I’m going to remember him: keytar strapped on, relishing the chance to play for fans who connected with this music as much as he did. Thanks for the memories Paul Gray.

Image source: own photo