It might be a second single, but “One Great Prize” is the strongest track I’ve heard from Texture Like Sun’s self-titled EP. While I enjoyed “Bottle,” there’s such a beautiful melancholy feel to this new cut.
I must admit, I might be feeling swayed by the film clip. This black and white video is so simple, but incredibly moving. I was mesmerised by it.
Texture Like Sun’s debut EP is out now.
After making a splash on The X Factor and Australian Idol, Jacob Butler has refused to fade into the background. Fresh from a recent promotional trip the Europe I caught up with Jacob to talk about his time abroad, his time on reality TV, and the hard road of an independent artist.
You recently spent time promoting your music in Europe. How did that go?
Really great thanks. It was great to speak to people about what I’m doing on the other side of the world, and it was also great to see some cities that I haven’t been to before like Berlin, Stockholm and Warsaw.
You’ve always had an affinity for British music. What was it like being over there amongst it?
Well I wasn’t in England for promotion this time, but yes it’s always great to be in Europe talking to people about music. It’s so funny to me how I’m much more interesting to people in Europe than I am here. It must be the accent or something!
How did the European audiences respond to your music?
People in Europe are pretty open to hearing new music, and the response was quite positive. This was very apparent after doing performances and interviews on TV and radio over there; the traffic on my Facebook page or on my Youtube channel would always see more activity straight away.
What did you miss most about home?
I was only away for a month so it wasn’t too bad, but I did miss my fiancée the most. I had friends all over the place to catch up with in many of the cities that I visited, but it can get lonely when you’re by yourself for days at a time. And I did miss Vegemite. I didn’t realize it at the time but I have been a total Vegemite junkie ever since I got back!
Like many Australians, I remember watching you on reality TV programs like Australian Idol and the original incarnation of The X Factor. What did being on those programs teach you?
Those shows certainly taught more me more about myself as a person than as a performer; it made me stronger and more resilient for sure. Reality TV shows are a rollercoaster and they can chew you up and spit you out pretty quickly! You really need to have a strong sense of who you are and what you want to achieve as an artist. You also need to be aware that you probably won’t win, and you’ll have to keep working if you want a career in music.
So many performers from those programs seem to just disappear, never to be heard from again. How did you make sure you weren’t one those people?
Through relentless hard work and tenacity. I backed myself financially to the point where the bank just wouldn’t give me any money anymore. I have maxed out multiple credit cards, sold almost all my guitars and musical equipment and borrowed money from my family to make all this happen. It’s bordering on insanity, I know, but what’s the other option? It’s slowly starting to pay off but I still have a significant amount of debt over my head. With saying that, everything can change with one hit song. Just ask Psy!
How do you think you’ve grown as an artist since you were on our television screens?
All I can say is that I am constantly working to evolve my skills when it comes to what I do as an artist, songwriter, singer and label owner. You try things, sometimes you make mistakes and sometimes you get things right. It’s a constant state of evolution and It’s something that I really enjoy even though it is at times very difficult.
Despite the exposure those shows gave you, the major record labels didn’t exactly come knocking. What’s it like for you working as an independent artist?
Major record labels just don’t sign garage bands for a million dollars anymore, so even with the exposure that I received from reality TV I wasn’t surprised when they didn’t come knocking. That’s why I paid for my own album and all that. That being said, I now have some major label support in some of the territories where my album is being released like Poland, Greece, Belgium and The Netherlands, so it’s at a point now where the artist has to spend the money developing themselves. The advantage of this, however, is that I have 100% creative control over my art, which is something that I have always been very passionate about. Can you imagine this being the case if I had won Idol? I think not!
Since we’re approaching Christmas I have to ask, what’s on your wish list this year?
Health and happiness for all my friends and family, and to continue to talk to good folks like yourself about my music!
Now that you’ve returned home, what’s next on the agenda?
Well I’m actually heading back to Europe in February for more promotion to the same countries and possibly Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. Then back to Australia for a bit and then back to Europe for the festival season. Looking forward to this!
Image source: Jacob Butler Facebook page
X Factor winner Samantha Jade has soared into the ARIA countdown to claim the top spot on the singles charts. Samantha Jade’s debut song “What You’ve Done to Me” achieved gold status in just two days, and wasn’t challenged for the number one.
She’s keeping company in the singles chart with her X Factor mentor Guy Sebastian. His latest release “Get Along” zoomed from number 34 all the way up to number five this week. Talk about a big mover!
Guy’s also the best performing Aussie on the albums charts. Armageddon’s jumped up one place this week to sit at number four.
Click below to read this week’s top tens.
Continue reading “Samantha Jade Tops ARIA Singles Charts”
Sydney solo act Christo Jones makes a big impression with his debut single “Anyway.”
This is such a rich, lush song created with Christo’s unique towering rig which features guitars, keyboards, samplers, and pedals. I love the way he literally builds his music, adding layer upon layer. His eclectic influences also make his music something really different. “Anyway” starts off with an African tribal chant and closes with a gentle Irish waltz. Who else is making music like this?
It’s so exciting to uncover an artist who’s truly shaking things up. Expect to hear big things from Christo Jones.
Image used with permission from Tiny Monster
Genre-bending New Orleans outfit Mutemath are returning to Australia to roadtest tunes from album number four next March.
Mutemath wowed crowds when they toured here earlier in the year, and it seems the admiration was mutual. The band’s wasting no time in making a return journey to our shores. While they’ve got a swag of new tunes to treat us to, we can expect to hear plenty of the tracks that gave Mutemath their reputation as one of the most exciting acts in modern music.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the following shows.
19 March 2013 – Astor Theatre, Perth
21 March 2013 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
22 March 2013 – Billboard, Melbourne
23 March 2013 – Hi-Fi, Brisbane
24 March 2013 – Hi-Fi, Sydney
Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity
Northmost are a band doing it their way. The housemates from the New South Wales North Coast recorded their debut single “One More” in their own home studio, and shot the video in their backyard.
Understandably without the backing of a big production house, things are a little rough around the edges. However Northmost show a real pop-rock sensibility that’s infectious. According to their YouTube page they “have a lot more music coming soon,” so watch this space!
The year might be winding down, but we’ve still got time for at least one unexpected tour announcement. Extreme are the latest retro act to surprise us with an Aussie visit.
Best known for their smash hit ballad “More Than Words,” Extreme sold more than 10 million albums in the 80s and 90s. Founding members Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt will be joined in Australia by Richie Kotzen, who spent time playing with Poison and Mr Big. Yes, we can expect a lot of hair on this tour!
Extreme promise to play all the hits from Pornograffitti and tracks from their most recent albums at the following shows.
11 April 2013 – Eaton Hills Hotel, Brisbane
12 April 2013 – Panthers, Newcastle
13 April 2013 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
16 April 2013 – Metro City, Perth
19 April 2013 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne
20 April 2013 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity
Esther Holt has stepped from the ashes of her former band Snowy Belfast to release her debut solo effort Countless Verse. This is the title track of that EP, a bittersweet folk ditty about dealing with the aftermath of a painful breakup.
I love the way the piano underpins this song and another of the EP’s tracks, “Testify.” She shows her lighter pop side with “Rock Me Through the Night” and “What You Know.” Esther’s angelic vocals and searing lyrics pack a real punch.
See Esther Holt when she launches her Countless Verse EP at Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge on December 15.
It might be grey and miserable in my part of Australia, but New Navy have reminded me that summer is on its way with their brand new single “Regular Town.”
This is the ideal warm weather soundtrack, with its African-inspired percussion and cheerful, upbeat melody. It also marks the first official performance from the band’s brand new frontman Luke O’Loughlin. His warm vocals show he’s a worthy replacement for Ben McInerny.
“Regular Town” is released digitally today.
Image used with permission from Remote Control Records
When he’s not singing with his mate Jeremy Marou in the acclaimed folk outfit Busby Marou, Tom Busby is playing music with his housemates in the brand new band Good Oak.
Good Oak began when Tom, Brett Gibson, and Stephen Ryan began jamming over a couple of beers. They soon realised they had something pretty special, so now they’re taking their music to the masses.
This is pure music, without the technology or modern frills. Their three-part harmonies are sublime.
In this electronic press kit you can hear a bit of Good Oak’s first single “Fill My Cup.” It gives us a taste of what’s in store when Good Oak release their debut EP early next year. If this EPK’s any indication, that recording’s going to be something special.