Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

2019 Australian Women in Music Awards Just Weeks Away

Women are really kicking goals in the local music scene, so it’s fantastic to see their diverse and exciting contributions acknowledged with the 2019 Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA). Taking place in Brisbane on October 9, the awards celebrate all the incredible things women are doing in the industry. Looking through the list of contenders, it’s thrilling to see such diversity represented with women of all ages, races, and sexual identities in the mix.

“As well as the opportunity to celebrate tremendous talent, AWMA provides a platform for artists and music practitioners including those in regional and remote areas, to come together, to learn and empower one another. We received almost double the nominations this year, from every state and across all areas of diversity, reflecting the urgent need for change in the Australian music industry,” said AWMA Founding Director and Executive Producer, Vicki Gordon.

Only a select few will come away with awards on the night, so I want to publish the names of all the finalists here now. If you’re not across their work, take the opportunity to see what they’re all about.

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
Christine Anu
Nai Palm
NGAIIRE

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Claire Edwardes
Elaine Chia
Katie Noonan

DIVERSITY IN MUSIC AWARD
Christine Anu
Lisa Cheney & Peggy Polias (Making Waves)
NGAIIRE

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
Alice Skye
Ella Fence
Lisa Caruso

EXCELLENCE IN CLASSICAL MUSIC AWARD
Caroline Almonte
Claire Edwardes
Sarah-Grace Williams

EXCELLENCE IN IMAGE MAKING AWARD
Chloe Jean
Melaine Knight
Ntombi Moyo

FILMMAKER AWARD
Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien Curran
Tashi Hall

HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Alison Hams
Dami Im
Lindy Morrison, OAM

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Joy McKean, OAM
Marcia Hines, AM
Vika and Linda Bull

LIVE PRODUCTION AWARD
Jenny Moon
Kait Hall
Laurie May

MUSIC JOURNALIST AWARD
Ange McCormack
Jane Gazzo
Jules LeFevre

MUSIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
Elise Reitze-Swensen
Lynette Irwin
Sue Telfer

MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD
Jessica Vaini
Kerrie Geier
Tashi Hall

SONGWRITER AWARD
Mojo Juju
NGAIIRE
Thelma Plum

STUDIO PRODUCTION AWARD
Elise Reitze-Swensen (Feels)
Kathy Naunton
Virginia Read

In addition to the awards night, the AWMAs will host a thought-provoking program at Brisbane Powerhouse on October 8 and 9 with forums exploring women’s visibility in hip hop, the intersection of music and politics, and more. If you’re local or travelling to Brissie for the awards, make sure you get amongst it.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Win a Recording Session at Sing Sing East Studio

Every musician knows recording time is expensive. So what if you didn’t have to pay to lay your latest tunes down? Box Hill Institute and Sing Sing East Studio are giving you the opportunity to enjoy free studio time with their latest competition.

Sing Sing East is a world-class studio which has hosted musical royalty. Just imagine recording in the same space as Paul Kelly, Nick Cave and the Badseeds, INXS, Missy Higgins, Temper Trap, Crowded House, Powderfinger, Lady Gaga, and Kiss, to name but a few! If you’re one of the lucky winners, you’ll get a two-day recording package in the studio, including the use of an engineer to make your tunes sound their best. The package is worth $2,400, so it’s nothing to sneeze at!

Visit the Box Hill Institute’s website or Facebook page to submit your entry by 11:59 pm on September 19 and you could be a winner. There’ll then be a People’s Vote, based on the highest number of YouTube views, and a Judges’ Award, selected by a panel of industry experts. Winners will be announced on Monday October 21.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliott Full Of Hope With “Find a Way”

Sydney based singer-songwriter Eliott is in fine form with “Find a Way,” the follow-up to her single “Shaking My Hips.” Just like her last release, this song has a beautiful vulnerability and heart to it. But while “Shaking My Hips” saw Eliott’s confidence rocked, “Find a Way” is about picking up the pieces and moving forward. I know there’s someone who needs to hear it today!

“Find a Way” is Eliot’s first track released through Downtown Music Publishing.
“So excited to be teaming up with Downtown music alongside so many talented artists and such a passionate team,” she said of recently being signed to the label. “I write music because it’s what I love to do, so thank you so much for helping my voice be heard on a larger scale.”

Eliot is currently working on the songs that will form her debut album, which will be released all around the world through Island Records.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

What’s Golden Opening in Brisbane’s Tivoli

The historic Tivoli is set to become a whole lot cooler with the opening of a new intimate performance space, What’s Golden. The 200-capacity space will sit in the Tivoli’s central foyer, allowing easy access to a new renovated box office area and bar serving craft beers and new cocktails.

What’s Golden opens on August 27 with an exclusive invitation-only concert featuring local A-listers and international special guests. It will then host a diverse selection of artists including CLEA, Sahara Beck, Good Boy, HONCHO DISKO, and Betty Grumble in the coming months. Get onto it Queenslanders!

Image used with permission from Aruga

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eilish GIlligan Wins Josh Pyke Partnership

Melbourne singer, songwriter, and producer Eilish Gilligan has taken out this year’s Josh Pyke Partnership. A collaboration between Josh Pyke and APRA AMCOS, the partnership provides funding and mentorship for one unsigned musical act each year.

I must admit, Eilish wasn’t on my radar until this morning. The first thing I did after hearing the news was check her out on Spotify. Take a listen to her latest single “Someone Else” and you’ll soon understand why she took out the top prize. Her voice is absolutely stunning and she has such a great artistic sensibility. This track is an absolute banger, and there’s plenty more where it came from.

“I am so, so humbled, grateful and excited to be the winner of the 2019 JP Partnership,” Eilish said. “This vote of confidence from Josh Pyke, APRA AMCOS, Wonderlick and Select means a lot to me as an artist, and it also means that I will be able to continue to work towards my musical, artistic and professional goals for 2019, now with the extra guidance of these industry veterans.”

“Eilish Gilligan is an artist that has achieved a hell of a lot under her own steam, but it’s the potential in Eilish that’s truly exciting,” added Josh. “I’m a huge fan of multi-faceted artists, and in 2019, having more than one string to your bow is paramount to having longevity in the creative arts. Eilish is a songwriter but also a gifted technical producer, collaborative songwriter, as well as being the star of her own show. This is what makes for a long and fruitful career. Being not just a “musician,” but a “creative”.

Eilish has plenty of shows coming up. Discover her music for yourself at the following gigs.

24 August 2019 – UC Refectory, Bruce
29 August 2019 – HQ Complex, Adelaide
30 August 2019 – Metropolis, Fremantle
6 September 2019 – The Goods Shed, Hobart
7 September 2019 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
13 September 2019 – UOW UniBar, Wollongong
14 September 2019 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 September 2019 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
21 September 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Wonderlick Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jairay Releases “Not Shit” Single, “Crash Land” With Kitchen Show

I could try to tell you what Jairay’s new single “Crash Land” is all about, but I don’t think I could do better than the random pubgoer quoted in the press release. He was overhead at a Jairay gig commenting his music is “like that folk-punk stuff, but not shit.”

No good sir, it’s not. He follows in the footsteps of guys like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer, with the stripped-back feel of folk music giving a raw realness to his message.

“Death’s a fucking weird thing to witness and it made me feel really small when faced directly with it,” he said of the song’s inspiration. “I decided to just let go of the life I was living, grow my hair, quit my job and just drive away and be someone new and someone I liked more ”

In suitably low-key fashion, Jairay will launch the single with a show in his Brisbane kitchen tomorrow night. Click attending on the Facebook event for the address!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Women in Music Awards Returns to Brisbane

Australian women are kicking some serious arse in the music industry right now. Amy Shark, Courtney Barnett, and Eurovision queen Kate Miller-Heidke are all making their mark on the international scene, and we’re got a host of fresh new talent coming up the ranks. So it’s only fitting that the Australian Women in Music Awards are returning for a second year in October.

Last year’s event saw performances from the likes of Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Adalita, Do Re Mi, and Emily Wurramara, and you can bet organisers will have more special acts in store this year. There’ll also be brand new forums including Visibility in Hip Hop – Women on the Front Line, The Art of Rebellion – The Intersection of Music and Politics, and Image Making – The Changing Face of Music, which will help ignite the conversation about women and their place in the local music industry. There are new award categories too recognising Excellence in Classical Music, Music Journalist Award, and Excellence in Image Making.

“We have so many wonderful people committed to the work we are doing,” explained the awards’ founder and executive director, Vicki Gordon. “The AWMAs will keep getting bigger and more powerful; we are providing recognition for many women in the industry that have been ignored for far too long.”

The second annual Australian Women in Music Awards returns to the Brisbane Powerhouse on October 8. Without any television coverage, buying some tickets is the only way to see what goes down. They’re on sale now from Ticketek.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; photo credit: Cheryl Gray (Mulberry Seed)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Guitar Show Announces Top Acts for 2019

You can always count on the Melbourne Guitar Show to deliver a stellar line-up of talent, and this year’s event is no different. We’ve got local legends Ash Grunwald, Sarah McLeod, Stars (featuring Mal Eastick, Nick Charles, and Roger McLachlan, Dave Leslie, and Lloyd Spiegel along with American guns Keith Merrow and Dennis Jones, plus stacks more. And that’s all just in the first announcement!

In addition to performances from all these acts, attendees can browse the massive guitar gear expo, attend information seminars and demonstrations, and so much more. There are always some surprises too. Last year Harts, Darren Middleton, Bec Sandridge, and Dan Sultan made unannounced appearances. Getting some tickets is the only way to see what happens this year!

“It’s exciting to see the show develop each year and add value to the live music industry,” confirmed one of the show’s organiser, Rob Walker. “We are proud to present such a broad range and quality of guitars, amps and gear from the big brands to local artisans. And each year we get to put together a program of live music featuring the considerable talents of our guitar community. It’s a great weekend for anyone into music, particularly guitars.”

The Melbourne Guitar Show will rock Caulfield Racecourse on August 3 and 4. Tickets are on sale now via the show’s website. As it’s run by the not-for-profit Australian Music Association, any proceeds will help provide services to the Australian music industry.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes Makes Aussie Chart History With “My Criminal Record”

Jimmy Barnes has smashed records this week, becoming the artist with the most number one albums on the ARIA charts in history. His latest album My Criminal Record debuted at number one, becoming his 12th chart-topper. The feat sees him pass Madonna and U2, who both have 11 number ones to their name.

“The songs on this album are really personal because they were inspired by the experiences I had writing and touring my memoirs,” shared Jimmy. “Having this music strike a chord with people therefore feels particularly good. I’m grateful to everyone who’s continued to support me over the years and I’m looking forward to screaming my thanks in person when I get back out on the road shortly.”

He’s coming company with fellow countryman Conrad Sewell’s, whose beautiful debut album Life sits at number eight this week.

Unfortunately there are no Aussies in the top ten singles. In fact, we don’t see an Aussie appearance until Hilltop Hoods, who sit at number 23 with “Exit Sign.” There is so much great Aussie music around at the moment. Start downloading and streaming it people!

Top 10 Albums
1. My Criminal Record – Jimmy Barnes
2. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
3. Diamonds – Elton John
4. Hurts 2B Human – P!nk
5. Ten – Susan Boyle
6. Rocketman – Cast Recording
7. Aladdin – Soundtrack
8. Life – Conrad Sewell
9. Free Spirit – Khalid
10. She is Coming – Miley Cyrus

Top 10 Singles
1. “Old Town Road” – Little Nas x
2. “I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
3. “Bad Guy” – Billie Eilish
4. “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi
5. “Cross Me” – Ed Sheeran feat. Chance the Rapper & PnB Rock
6. “If I Can’t Have You” – Shawn Mendes
7. “Never Really Over” – Katy Perry
8. “3 Nights” – Dominic Fike
9. “SOS” – Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc
10. “Sunflower” – Post Malone & Swae Lee

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Conrad Sewell Tops Albums Charts

Conrad Sewell has become the latest Aussie to top the album charts. His long-awaited debut Life, which features the number one singles “Start Again” and “Healing Hands,” stormed straight to number one in its first week of release this week.

“This is a dream come true, it’s taken me such a long time to get this album out and it means so much to know that people are enjoying it,” he said. “It’s not easy for an Australian artist to get a number one album on debut, I’m completely humbled and I’m really going to soak up this moment, it’s taken me a long time to get here.”

Conrad’s keeping company with Dean Lewis, whose album A Place We Knew is still in the top 10 nine weeks after its release. It falls a few positions to sit at number nine this week.

Check out all this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Life – Conrad Sewell
2. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
3. Igor – Tyler, The Creator
4. Hurts 2B Human – P!nk
5. Rammstein – Rammstein
6. I Am Easy to Find – The National
7. Father of Asahd – DJ Khaled
8. Free Spirit – Khalid
9. A Place We Knew – Dean Lewis
10. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent – Lewis Capaldi

Top 10 Singles
1. “Old Town Road” – Little Nas x
2. “I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
3. “Bad Guy” – Billie Eilish
4. “If I Can’t Have You” – Shawn Mendes
5. “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi
6. “3 Nights” – Dominic Fike
7. “SOS” – Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc
8. “Sucker” – Jonas Brothers
9. “Sunflower” – Post Malone & Swae Lee
10. “Talk” – Khalid

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia