Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

British India’s New Single and Website

British India may be swanning about the UK, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten their local fans. They’ve just released a brand new single, which ups Paul Simon’s efforts and offers “90 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and launched a brand new website to boot.

In conjunction with the website launch you can receive a free demo of a new song “It Happens All The Time” when you sign up to the new British India mailing list. The tune gives us a sneak peek at the band’s forthcoming album, which will hit stores in 2011.

Head to www.britishindia.com.au to check out everything else that’s brand spanking new, including the upcoming United Kingdom and New Zealand tour dates!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Luke and Joel Booted from The X Factor

I said that after a fairly uneven night of X Factor, I wasn’t really sure where the axe was going to fall. But I didn’t expect to see Luke and Joel and Mahogany in the firing line.

It must have been a hard night for Guy Sebastian, who forced the judging to a public vote rather than eliminate one of his own. As it turns out it wouldn’t have mattered; Luke and Joel were gone whichever way we cut it.

I’m sorry to see these two go. I was incredibly skeptical when they made it to the finals, but they’ve won me over with their sunny personalities, exceptional ability to interpret a song, and real musical flair. I hope we see a lot more of these boys on the outside.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: (L-R) The cast of 'The X Factor' Natalie Imbruglia, Ronan Keating, Kyle Sandilands and Guy Sebastian pose during a media call on July 30, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mike Flokis/Getty Images)
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Great ARIA Awards, Shame About the Ceremony

The ARIA Awards are intended to celebrate the year that was, and on paper they did just that. Angus and Julia Stone deservingly took home the lion’s share of the pointy statues. Their sophomore effort Down The Way was named album of the year, best adult alternative album, and best cover art, its second single “Big Jet Plane” single of the year, and the duo was named producers of the year.

I was also thrilled to see Washington bag a double for female artist of the year and breakthrough artist, and outgoing act Powderfinger recognized by the new popular awards for album and artist.

What a shame that the ceremony itself wasn’t fitting of the artists it recognised. I use the word ceremony loosely, because really there wasn’t anything ceremonial about it. I’m not suggesting the ARIAs need a great deal of pomp, but this thing was so relaxed that it got messy.

I cringed watching presenters wading through crowds to hand out the gongs, and seeing speeches given amongst the throng. The concept of making the awards accessible to the public looks good on paper; this music is for the people after all. But the execution was lacking last night. I’m not sure whether it made any more sense at the event, but at home watching on the TV it appeared shambolic.

The performances helped to save it, of course. We can always rely on our musicians to turn out quality acts, and they did. I loved Washington’s saucy delivery of “Sunday Best,” and Dan Sultan stepping in for INXS. If they’re looking for a replacement for JD Fortune any time soon, he’d do a great job.

While those musical numbers helped make the event watchable, they couldn’t save it completely. I only hope that next year our musicians get the ceremony they deserve.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Celebrates Oz

With ARIAs fever in the air, our X Factor finalists took on Aussie hits.

Luke and Joel kicked things off with The Living End’s “White Noise.” It was a smart choice as The Living End have always been more about the energy than the technical skills. This is where these boys excel. They didn’t blow me away as they did last week, but that landed them in the bottom two; maybe it’s better to be solid at this point.

When I heard Sally Chatfield was taking on The Veronicas, I’d hoped she’d do “Everything I’m Not.” But I don’t know; there were some really nice moments but it just didn’t quite jump off the page for me. I loved the way she asserted herself, and that lovely spontaneous moment with the guitarist, but I’m just not sure she gave us all of herself. They seemed to lap it up in the studio, but I just wasn’t feeling it at home.

Andrew Lawson dished up a bit of Sam Sparro’s “Black and Gold.” This was so theatrical and over the top. The song choice was lovely and his vocals were brilliant, but for me it was just too glossy to take seriously. I think if it was stripped back this would have been much more convincing. I’ve often felt that The X Factor goes overboard on the production, and this is a prime example.

I never would have thought of picking a bit of Daryl Braithwaite for Mahogany, but I thought their version of “The Horses” was brilliant. Well done to Guy for remembering that Australian music didn’t start with the naughties. This was the most believable performance of the night. I can’t imagine Mahogany being in the bottom two after this.

Altiyan Childs closed the night with a really lovely version of “Never Tear Us Apart.” It was all those things I’ve been banging on about, being believable and authentic and stripping it all back to the root of the song. He’s definitely coming into his own, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.

After a fairly uneven night it’s hard to say who will go. I know who my favourites were, but we’ve all got to factor in that sympathy element. We’ll find out tomorrow night where the axe will fall.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Have the ARIA Awards Sold Out? You Bet Barnesy

Jimmy Barnes made some telling comments in the media today, slamming the ARIAs and the way they’ve become more about television ratings than the music. I’ve got to admit, I tend to agree.

Years ago I remember attending several ARIA Awards. I cheered on the world music artists I’d chatted to earlier in the night as well as bands who were already my favourites, and celebrated the beautiful landscape of Australian music.

But that sense of community seems to have been taken away this year as awards were presented at ARIA Genre Awards concerts rather than the main event. These genre awards saw gongs go to some big names: jazz man James Morrison, children’s entertainers The Wiggles, country sister act The McClymonts, and the soulful Dan Sultan amongst them.

These artists might not be flogged to death on commercial radio as the acts that will take home Sunday night’s awards are, but isn’t that kind of the point? Why do international guests with no connection to music like Carmen Electra and Eric Stonestreet find a place at Sunday’s awards when the performers that make the Australian music landscape so rich don’t? I love Modern Family as much as the next person, but it makes no sense to me. I’d much rather celebrate the melting pot that is the Aussie music industry than only the performers that already bask in the limelight.

I was happy to see the ARIAs move back to Ten after the awkwardness of last year’s ceremony, but now I’m just not sure.

Image used with permission from Javelin Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. James Freud

Like so many of you out there, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of The Models front man James Freud.

It appears that he committed suicide after a long battle with alcohol. His struggles were well documented in his memoirs, but it’s still shocking to hear that he’s gone.

“It is with much sorrow that we share the news of the passing of James Freud,” a statement from Mushroom Music read. “James Freud passed away this morning. James’ battle with alcoholism has been well chronicled. His two books on his recovery and five years sobriety were bestsellers and gave a lot of people who were suffering the same affliction comfort and hope. Unfortunately, James has succumbed to his disease and taken his own life this morning.”

I remember feeling his absence while watching The Models being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last weekend. What a shame he wasn’t there to take that final bow.

The Models back catalogue was exhaustive, but “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” was always my favourite track. It’s a predictable choice I suppose, but there’s a reason why radio flogs these songs. Sometimes they’re just that good.

So I wanted to post it and remember James in better times. If you’ve got any fond memories of The Models or James, please share them.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hayley Teal Gets X Factor Boot

I was shocked to see tonight’s X Factor elimination show come down to Hayley Teal and Luke and Joel. Hayley wasn’t a great surprise after turning in a lacklustre performance of a middle-of-the-road song, but I thought Luke and Joel were last night’s stand out.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 22: Sally Ann Chatfield,India Rose Madderson and Hayley Teal from the X factor arrive at the 'Snaparazzi Soiree' at Riva St Kilda on October 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)


I really didn’t want to see either of them go; Luke and Joel have been growing on me, and Hayley has always been one of my favourites. But ultimately someone had to leave us, and that someone was Hayley.

I truly feel Hayley was a victim of Natalie’s mentorship, which is sad. Her most disappointing performances came when she was forced into unnatural choreography with mainstream pop songs containing artificial lyrics. When she had something great, she shone. I hope we see her finding some of those great songs now that she’s out of the reality TV show machine.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Gets Set for Summer

This week The X Factor finalists gave us a bit of summer loving with feel-good summer hits.

Altiyan Childs kicked things off with a little Bryan Adams and “Summer of ’69.” What a way to start a show. He is a real rock star, and he’s just looking better and better each week. This was a bit more restrained than we’ve seen him, and it only showed that he doesn’t need the gimmicks to impress.

From the high of Altiyan to the low of Hayley Teal’s take on “California Gurls.” I feel like Natalie keeps pushing her into this generic pop mode, with choreography and middle of the road songs that just doesn’t work for her. She seemed so much more comfortable when she was taking on Led Zeppelin a couple of weeks back. There was no connection at all, which really isn’t her fault. I really hope that Natalie starts to give her some meatier material to sink her chops into; this just isn’t the Hayley I fell in love with.

Andrew Lawson gave us a cruisy take on Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning.” I really liked the arrangement, and couldn’t fault the vocals. However I still feel there’s a veneer about him. It’s all a bit saccharine, as if he’s delivering what he thinks us girls want rather than what he actually is. It just doesn’t quite ring true for me.

Continue reading “The X Factor Gets Set for Summer” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tune in to Glenn Richards Radio

How are we all surviving hump day? I don’t know about you, but as the afternoon winds down I start looking for things to distract me. That’s where Glenn Richards Radio comes in, a new web page which gives us a sneak peek at the Augie March frontman’s new album Glimjack.

BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: Glenn Richards of Augie March performs on stage during the Splendour in the Grass festival at Belongil Fields on July 25, 2009 in Byron Bay, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)


Just hover around the webpage and you’ll hear snippets of each album track and read the lyrics. The music’s great – that goes without saying – but the format is strangely addictive. As I say, maybe I’m just looking for distraction but I’ve wasted a bit of time playing with this today!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

India-Rose Cut From “The X Factor”

After the excitement of last night’s movie theme, The X Factor contestants were promptly brought back to reality with the cold hard knowledge that someone had to go.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 08: X Factor host Natalie Imbruglia (C) and contestants Hayley Teal, India-Rose Madderom and Sally Chatfield arrive for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2010 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 8, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)


India-Rose Madderom and Mahogany found themselves in the firing line this time around. I couldn’t imagine India-Rose being forgiven after two weeks in the bottom two. While she always gives a good vocal, clearly there’s something about her that’s not resonating with the public.

The judges agreed, and after three weeks in the bottom two the axe finally fell on India-Rose. Did the judges get it right?