Buchanan Release Final EP, The Crayon Collective

After 10 years in the business, Melbourne band Buchanan has gone their separate ways. But not leaving fans with a parting gift, their final EP, The Crayon Collective. It’s a fitting celebration of their career, a mixtape if you will featuring songs recorded in collaboration with every producer they’ve worked with over their 10-year run.

The lead single “An Uncommon Experience” feels like the perfect good bye. The accompanying video, a retrospective of Buchanan’s 10-year career, hits just the right note.

Buchanan were a welcome addition to the Aussie music scene. I wish all the guys in the band the best of luck for the future!

Something Good Comes Out of Preston; Introducing Short Shadows

Andy Coates wowed crowds around Melbourne with his party-swing band Frankie Wants Out, but it seems he’s the one ready for something new. Now performing under the moniker Short Shadows, he’s blending genres and providing some witty commentary on suburban life. His lead single “Nothing Good Comes Out of Preston” is the perfect introduction to his music.

If you love Ben Folds and The Whitlams, you’re going to adore this song. The lyrics are on point and the sound so intriguing, with soulful horns, some jazzy keys, and a punk ethos. The song celebrates Short Shadows’ love of Melbourne’s north with its references to Preston Market, the 86 tram, and Cramers.

“Nothing Good Comes Out of Preston” is the lead single from Short Shadows’ EP War Anecdotes From the Northern Suburbs, out February 15. Short Shadows will celebrate its release with a launch show at the Northcote Social Club on February 17.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Evol Walks Back and Rocking Harder Than Ever With “Our Time Is Now”

I wrote about Evol Walks way back in 2016, excited about their classic rock sound. But then the Gold Coast band kind of fell off my radar. They’re well and truly back on it with the release of their new EP Our Time is Now.

The EP showcases a much harder rock sound than their earlier material, one that’s much fresher. While I loved an early single “Without Me,” it was a bit of a throwback to the power ballad era. The band, now based in Los Angeles, has found their own sound here, and it rocks.

Evol Walks have surrounded themselves with the right people. There are tracks here co-written with Jack Pitts from Black Veil Brides, Travis Miguel and Dan Jacobs from Atreyu, and Tim Henwood from the Superjesus and Palace of the King. But Evol Walks do most of the heavy lifting. Lead singer Leah Martin-Brown is a true rock dynamite and she’s ably supported by her tight band. Take a listen to the title track “Our Time is Now” and just try to resist seeking out the rest.

Our Time is Now is out now on all your favourite digital platforms.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Karise Eden on the Comeback Trail With “Born to Fight”

Karise Eden hasn’t released an album in four years. It’s been more than six years since she won The Voice. Taking time to create, avoiding becoming one of those reality stars that pumped up album after album, has been a good thing for Karise. She’s had time to reflect, grow, and release a stellar new album Born to Fight.

This is an album of warrior songs. Tracks like “Stop Fucking With My Head” and the title track are bold and defiant. More vulnerable numbers like “Hopeless” and “Ted” show there are chinks in the armour, but refuse to lie down. This is a special collection of songs that showcases one of the best soul and blues voices in the country.

Karise is celebrating the recent release of Born to Fight with shows all around the country. Catch her at one of the following venues in the coming months.

22 February 2019 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
23 February 2019 – Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane
27 February 2019 – Burrinja Place Theatre, Upwey
28 February 2019 – The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
1 March 2019 – Palms at Crown, Melbourne
2 March 2019 – SS&A Club, Albury
6 March 2019 – West Leagues, Newcastle
7 March 2019 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
8 March 2019 – Bowral Bowling Club, Bowral
23 March 2019 – York Theatre (Seymour Centre), Sydney
24 March 2019 – Canberra Theatre Playhouse, Canberra
31 March 2019 – The Gov, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

The Skelton Collective Inspires With “She”

Perth-based family band The Skelton Collective are spreading good vibes with their inspirational new single “She.” The track champions self-discovery, confidence, and the quiet power of choosing a path of happiness.

“When you listen to it, you simultaneously want to be She and feel like She already,” explained the group’s lead singer and saxophonist Jess Skelton.

The Skelton Collective will play a few shows in their home state and Victoria next year to celebrate the recent releases of “She” and the EP it comes from, Choosing Happy. Catch them at the following venues.

24 January 2019 – Moldy Fig, Brunswick East
25 January 2019 – Relux, Reservoir
26 January 2019 – Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbotsford
23 March 2019 – Toodyay Music Festival, Toodyay

Image used with permission from the A&R Collective

Listen to Dami Im Live With New EP & Tour

Dami Im is one of this country’s most talented vocalists, a singer who doesn’t need studio wizardry to sound sublime. She’ll prove just how good she is without the heavy production with the release of her new Live Sessions EP next year. Her new single “Dreamer” offers a taste of that six-track recording. You’ll get your own copy now if you preorder the EP.

“Dreamer is a really personal song for me,” Dami explained. “At the time I felt like there were so many opinions and voices around me and slowly I was getting lost. I wrote the first verse and chorus in fifteen minutes and it felt great to get it off my chest. It’s was the most empowering feeling.”

The EP celebrates Dami’s extraordinary gift for covering songs and her original material. Highlights include her take on “Amazing Grace” and her big Eurovision hit, “Sound of Silence.”

Dami Im’s Live Sessions EP will drop on January 11. She’ll get back on the road for her Dreamer tour next August. She’ll warm up those vocal chords supporting Human Nature on their A Little More Love: a 30-Year Celebration tour in April.

26 April 2019 – Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast (with Human Nature)
27 April 2019 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane (with Human Nature)
29 April 2019 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (with Human Nature)
1 & 2 May 2019 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (with Human Nature)
4 May 2019 – Perth Area, Perth (with Human Nature)
6 May 2019 – AIS Arena, Canberra (with Human Nature)
7 May 2019 – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong (with Human Nature)
9 May 2019 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle (with Human Nature)
10 & 11 May 2019 – ICC Sydney Convention Centre, Sydney (with Human Nature)
2 August 2019 – Ballina RSL, Ballina
3 August 2019 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton
9 August 2019 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
10 August 2019 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
16 August 2019 – Armidale RSL, Armidale
17 August 2019 – Club Forster, Forster
23 August 2019 – Wagga Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga
24 August 2019 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
30 August 2019 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
31 August 2019 – Canberra Southern Cross Club, Canberra
6 September 2019 – The Art House, Wyong
7 September 2019 – Port Macquarie Panthers, Port Macquarie
27 September 2019 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
28 September 2019 – Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Wendouree
4 October 2019 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
5 October 2019 – Horsham Town Hall, Horsham
6 October 2019 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
19 October 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
24 October 2019 – The Metro, Sydney
25 October 2019 – Nelson Bay Diggers, Nelson Bay
26 October 2019 – Belmont 16s, Belmont
14 November 2019 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
15 November 2019 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah
16 November 2019 – Astor Theatre, Mount Lawley

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Timi Temple Releases Thought-Provoking New Single “Pretty Boy”

2018 may be remembered most for the visibility women gave to their issues and their strides towards equality. With so much media buzz about the plight of women and the way they’re seen, we often forget that it can run both ways. Sydney artist Timi Temple tells the other side with his single “Pretty Boy,” lifted from his recently released EP Phuzz Boy.

Timi says the track was “inspired by the dichotomy between gender representation in the music industry. The impetus to this song was a male musician friend of mine, complaining that everyone ignores his music because he’s arguably very attractive. This struck me as horribly ironic, because it’s an exact reflection of the day-to-day struggle women in the music industry are exposed to.”

You’ll find “Pretty Boy” and the rest of the songs from Phuzz Boy on your favourite digital music outlets now.

Zoot Release Best Of Album With Brand New Song

Zoot might have been one of Australia’s greatest reverse supergroups. Beeb Birtles became a founding member of Little River Band, Rick Brewer joined The Ferrets, Darryl Cotton had a smash hit “Same Old Girl” and an illustrious stage and TV career, and Rick Springfield was responsible for a little ditty called “Jessie’s Girl.” But before all that, they were a force in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Fifty years after releasing their debut single, the remaining members of Zoot have signed a brand new deal with EMI and released a career defining best-of album, Zoot Archaeology. It includes all the hits you love and a brand new cover of The Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town.”

The album is dedicated to Darryl Cotton, who succumbed to liver cancer in 2012, just one year after rejoining his bandmates on the Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise in the Caribbean. After he passed away, Rick discovered both he and Darryl had recorded versions of “Life in a Northern Town.”

“Sitting in the studio listening to Darryl’s solo vocal gave us all goosebumps,” Rick recalled. Producers combined the two versions and Beeb added a third verse. “Fifty-four years after I met Darryl, we have a new Zoot song,” Beeb said. “Thanks to Rick, I got to sing one more time with my best friend.”

Zoot Archaeology is out now.

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

The Hots Do It Old School With “Before You”

Sydney band The Hots are giving me retro vibes with their scorching new single “Before You,” lifted from their recently released self-titled EP.

This is the kind of straight-up rock you don’t hear anymore, delivered with power and a lack of pretension. Frontwoman Foxie Kelly is a real force, a singer in the tradition of Chrissy Amphlett or Ann Wilson. She’s aided beautifully by Ronnie Simmons on guitar, a demon with an axe who’s playing with Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, and Richie Ramone of The Ramones.

If you love you rock old school, you’ll love The Hots.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Dan Cribb Recruits Famous Friends For Pop-Punk Simpsons Tribute

The Worst Tribute Ever is the tribute album I didn’t know I needed: a pop-punk tribute to the music of The Simpsons. Conceived by Dan Cribb, the star-studded album sees WA’s punk prince working with a who’s who of Aussie artists including Guy Sebastian, Montaigne, Kram, and countless others.

“This project has evolved into more than I could have imagined,” Dan said. “Not only have I had the opportunity to work alongside some of my musical heroes, I’ve also made a stack of new friends and learnt a lot about songwriting, performance and collaboration. I can’t thank everyone involved enough, especially Troy Nababan, who played about half the record’s instrumentation and mixed and mastered each song to perfection.”

Honestly, The Worst Tribute Ever just needs to be heard to be believed. You can stream it here. It’s far from the worst tribute. In fact, the world is probably a better place simply because this exists.

Image used with permission from Write Timing