Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Voltaire Twins’ Controversial New Clip

Local indie pop act Voltaire Twins are known for pushing the envelope with their music videos. Their clip for “Anamalia” well and truly freaked me out last August, and now around a year later they’re making waves again with the video for their new single “Solaris.”

This isn’t the clip to go playing at work, or around your uptight parents. It’s full of artsy nudity, and that saw it yanked from YouTube after just six hours. Thankfully Vimeo’s down with exposing pink bits for the sake of your craft.

No doubt all the buzz around the clip will attract more people to Voltaire Twins third EP Apollo, and the national tour they’ve announced to celebrate its release. You can see the Voltaire Twins, who will likely be fully clothed, at the following shows.

8 September 2012 – Plus One @ Ed Castle, Adelaide
13 September 2012 – Big Sound @ Bakery Lane, Brisbane
14 September 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne
15 September 2012 – Kittens @ Spectrum, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dan Sultan Rocks for Recognition & Constitutional Change

Dan Sultan will headline a series of shows in November to highlight the need for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Australian Constitution.

Rock for Recognition will touch down in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Fremantle. At each show he’ll be joined by other indigenous acts. Yabu Band, Leah Flanagan, and Ken Eavel have been announced so far, but more artists are expected to join the events as the concert gains momentum.

As a proud Gurindji man, Dan Sultan promises to raise the roof at these shows. Changing the constitution is likely to prove much harder, as any amendments require a successful referendum, but these awareness raising concerts are a step in the right direction.

Learn more about constitutional change and see Dan Sultan Rock for Recognition at the following shows. Pre-booked tickets cost $30, or you can pay $35 at the door.

8 November 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (Dan Sultan, Leah Flanagan, and DJ Ken Eavel)
9 November 2012 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (Dan Sultan and Leah Flanagan)
10 November 2012 – Bakery Artrage, Perth (Dan Sultan, Leah Flanagan and Yabu Band)
11 November 2012 – Fly By Night, Fremantle (Dan Sultan and Leah Flanagan)

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sand Art Wizardry in The Oyster Murders’ Video

With The Oyster Murders’ debut album Winter of the Electric Sun hitting record stores tomorrow, it feels like the right time to bring you the beautiful clip from the current single “It Might Be Real.”

British filmmaker Anna Humphries has created a whimsical stop motion sand animation to accompany the dreamy single. The fairytale like imagery is perfect for a band inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

This is one of the most gorgeous music videos I’ve seen in some time. What do you think of it?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Evermore Releasing Album Number Four

Evermore have been out of the spotlight for the last three years, but they’re promising to remind us why we loved them so much with the release of their fourth studio album Follow The Sun on October 12.

It’s not like the band has been sitting idly during that break. They toured the world with Pink, and circled it again to collect inspiration for this recording. Then then built a full-service studio on their farm on the outskirts of Melbourne, and set about writing, recording, and producing an array of musical projects. Follow The Sun was amongst them.

The album’s already been heralded as the band’s best, and while those comments might be a bit premature the title track does sound promising.  You can make up your own mind when Evermore give fans a sneak peek of the album at some intimate shows next month. If you miss out on those tickets, you can grab Follow the Sun when it hits stores on October 12.

13 September 2012 – Amplifier, Perth
14 September 2012 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
19 September 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
20 September 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
27 September 2012 – The Toff, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ray Beadle & Jill Barber Come Out Swinging with Jazz Tour

They come from different sides of the planet, but a shared love of jazz will see Aussie blues guitarist Ray Beadle and Canadian chanteuse Jill Barber staring a stage this October and November. The artists will showcase their jazz chops and some of the genre’s most beloved classics on their Come Out Swinging tour.

Ray Beadle and his band The Hightones will pay tribute to the bluesy jazz stylings of America’s west coast. Think Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson, Kim Ramos, and Lynwood Slim. Jill Barber’s long been inspired by artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf, so don’t be surprised to hear songs from these great dames, as well as tunes from her own recent release Mischievous Moon.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

18 October 2012 – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane
19 October 2012 – Woombye Pub, Sunshine Coast
20 October 2012 – Burleigh Underground Drummers, Gold Coast
24 October 2012 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
25 October 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
26 October 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
27 & 28 October 2012 – Sydney Blues & Roots Festival
31 October 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
1 November 2012 – The Abbey, Canberra
2 November 2012 – Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

At Sunset Poised to Take Australia By Storm

Adelaide pop trio At Sunset hope to steal a few fans away from One Direction with their debut single “This is Who I Am.”

Even if you find all their positivity and perfect pop chords a bit cloying, it’s hard to be unimpressed by their marketing skills. Brothers Harrison and Andrew and their best mate Jae have amassed an army of fans, known as the Sunsetters, without the backing of a major record label or any television appearances. They’ve got more than 11, 000 subscribers to their YouTube channel and thousands of Facebook and Twitter friends.

“This Is Who I Am” has just hit radio and iTunes in the last week. Expect this one to be big, whether you want it to or not. Resistance is futile!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Invicible Summer Turn Up the Heat with “Runaway”

Any band that takes inspiration from the works of existential author Albert Camus has enough to get me interested. The Invincible Summer takes its name from Camus’ quote “in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me … an Invincible Summer.”

The Sydney band seems to have taken the philosophy to heart, as their debut single “Runaway” delivers a healthy dose of optimism and warm weather vibes. The track comes from The Invincible Summer’s self-titled debut album, a real labour of love recorded in Sydney’s iconic Studios 301 over eighteen months.

“Runaway” is available on iTunes now. If you love it make sure you look out for The Invincible Summer’s debut album in stores in the first half of 2013.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens Woo With Sweet Folk Music

Canberra songstress Julia Johnson and her outfit the Deep Sea Sirens have been quietly plugging away in the music business since 2005. After honing their craft, the band’s decided to time is right to release their debut album Family Pets.

The album has equal parts sadness and joy, all anchored together by Julia’s sweet vocals and her ever faithful instruments, the 36-string autoharp and banjo. It showcases tracks you might have heard when the band recently supported Tim Rogers, Lanie Lane, and Kate Miller-Heidke, including the current single “Little Surprises.” These songs were all recorded using vintage recording technology to ensure they have that authentic, analogue vibe.

If you like what you hear make sure you see Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens at their upcoming shows.

30 August 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
10 September 2012 – The Phoenix, Canberra (FREE)
12 October 2012 – The Empress, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Lark Bounces Back After Christchurch Quake with Aussie Tour

His practice space and studio might have been flattened in the Christchurch earthquake, but you can’t keep a musician like Tom Lark down.

He could have packed it in then and there but instead the Kiwi singer-songwriter went back to basics and sequestered himself in his bedroom. Rather than feeling hemmed in by the space’s restrictions, he became inspired by his new limitations. The not so originally titled Tom Lark EP is the result of this flurry of creativity. The disc features the new single “Give You All My Lovin’” and other songs which marry Tom’s innate sense of storytelling and folky guitar sounds.

Tom and his band will touch down in Australia for the first time next month to bring the EP to the masses. Catch them at the following venues, including dates supporting Sydney muso Feelings.

12 September 2012 – Bakery Lane, Brisbane
12 September 2012 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
19 September 2012 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (with Feelings)
20 September 2012 – Trinity Bar, Canberra (with Feelings)
21 September 2012 – Goodgod, Sydney (with Feelings)
22 September 2012 – Workers Club, Melbourne (with Feelings)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian & The Sapphires Number Ones for Second Week

Aussie artists Guy Sebastian and the team from The Sapphires have maintained their dominance of the ARIA Charts this week. For the second week we see Guy’s “Battle Scars” at the top of the singles charts, and The Sapphires soundtrack at number one on the albums charts.

Justice Crew have also maintained the pressure on the singles charts. Their monster hit “Boom Boom” holds steady at number two.

Ricki-Lee’s new album Fear & Freedom has made a big impact in its first week with a number seven debut. Meanwhile Missy Higgins and Karise Eden are hanging onto the top ten by their fingernails. The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle is at number 9, and My Journey’s at number 10.

Click below for all this week’s top 10s.

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