Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lance Ferguson Drops “Back to You” Single From Wild Remixed Solo Album

Melbourne soul pioneer and Bamboos founder Lance Ferguson has offered us a taste of his first solo album Raw Material with the release of the single “Back to You.”

The funky, feel good track is really the perfect showcase of what this album is all about. It samples “2+1,” which Lance recorded with his Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist. Lance loves working with samples, taking the original song and recutting it and recreating it until it’s something fresh. “Back to You” also sees Lance working with One Above, EMRSN, and Melbourne MC Mosé. This album might be technically a solo endeavour, but Lance does his best work when he’s bouncing off the creative energy of others.

The album is one of the more unique on the musical landscape. The creative process say Lance writing and recording twelve new songs. He pressed each one onto individual vinyl singles. He kept the first and sent the second to his favourite producers, encouraging them to sample the song they received and use it to start a new track. The first disc gives us the reworked versions, including six songs remastered by Lance. The second shows us the original recordings.

Raw Material drops on August 4.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Churchill Releases New Single “Second Hand Car” Ahead of Anticipated New Album

Kim Churchill is preparing to release his long-awaited new album Weight Falls, but there’s a good reason fans have been left waiting.

Kim spent 18 months working on the album, his follow-up to Silence/Win. While the end result was polished and accessible, for Kim it just didn’t feel quite right. So he scrapped it and started anew.

“I worked really hard on the follow-up record for a long time,” he explained, “and it sounded good. But some very subtle layer of my consciousness was saying to me, ‘It’s not all that inspiring.’”
He picked up his guitar and created a new batch of songs in just one week. It took another two months piecing the new songs together with his producer Ian Pritchett in a Western Sydney garage. I’m a big believer that the best things happen when you’re not overthinking them, so I’m really excited by this album.

Kim’s new single “Second Hand Car” is one of the new songs that’s passed muster. It’s got a great easy vibe that feels perfect for long road trips.

Weight Falls is finally released on August 25. If you preorder it, you’ll get an instantly download of “Second Hand Car.” Once the album drops, you’ve got a few weeks to learn the lyrics before Kim sets off on a massive tour around the country. Tickets are on sale now through his website.

14 September 2017 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
15 September 2017 – Unibar, Wollongong
16 September 2017 – Street Theatre, Canberra
21 September 2017 – The Jack, Cairns
22 September 2017 – The Office, Townsville
23 September 2017 – Timberfest, Mackay
29 September 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 September 2017 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
1 October 2017 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
5 October 2017 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
6 October 2017 – Waratah Hotel, Hobart
7 October 2017 – Royal Oak, Launceston
13 October 2017 – Fremantle Arts Centre Front Lawn, Fremantle
14 October 2017 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
15 October 2017 – Red Room @ Clancys Fish Pub, Dunsborough
20 October 2017 – The Factory, Sydney
26 October 2017 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
27 October 2017 – Soundlounge, Gold Coast
28 October 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Soldier’s Wife Revisits Stories of Love and War

You might remember The Soldier’s Wife, a special show developed by singer-songwriters who spent time with the wives and widows of Australian servicemen, and the full-length album that accompanied it back in 2015.

Now two years later, there are still many more stories to tell so it’s time for volume number two. The latest release features many of the artists that contributed to the original including Jackie Marshall, Roz Pappalardo, Emma Bosworth, Kristy Apps, and original musical director Deb Suckling. Their double-album of folk songs features tracks like “Appreciate Your Love,” about the last 18 months Suzi Vincent shared with her husband, Vietnam veteran Tony. During his time in Vietnam Tony contracted melanoma skin cancer, which did not surface until 2009. In their final months together, the couple learned to “stop sweating the small stuff.”

“Appreciate Your Love” is one of 19 songs featured on the new The Soldier’s Wife album. There’s also a companion book which gives greater detail on the stories of these brave men and the women who love them.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dear Seattle Announces Aussie Tour Ahead of EP Release

The band’s moniker might make you think of the United States, but Dear Seattle are proud to be part of Sydney’s music scene. The band creates punk rock that sounds as defiant as the genre should. The new single “Afterthought,” which comes from the band’s new EP, due out on July 14, is a glorious case in point.

Listen to this one and see if you’re not fired up as lead vocalist and guitarist Brae Fisher sings “Hope tells me that I’m getting somewhere soon.”

Dear Seattle has spent the last three years touring up and down the East Coast, so expect a tight live set at the following shows.

6 July 2017 – Hotel Tasmania, Launceston (with Kingswood)
7 July 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart (with Kingswood)
28 July 2017 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga (with Kingswood)
29 July 2017 – SS&A, Albury (with Kingswood)
4 August 2017 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
5 August 2017 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne
17 August 2017 – Moonshine Bar, Manly
18 August 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
19 August 2017 – Shaka Fest, Gold Coast
20 August 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from Title Track

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lyrical Touring New EP

I reviewed it last month, but The Lyrical drops his fantastic new EP King of Me tomorrow. The EP features incredible songs brimming with wisdom, including the awesome new single “Teach Me.”

“Some of us, as artists and musicians, don’t have all the answers or knowledge about things happening around us, but we need to be open to learn,” he explained of the song’s message. “There is a world full of important issues, and powerful stories to tell. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the entertainment side of things, that we forget about the message … Which, in my humble opinion, is just as important.”

The Lyrical will bring music from his EP to the masses later this month with shows on the East Coast and South Australia.

22 June 2017 – The Jack, Cairns
23 & 24 June 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
30 June 2017 – Alex SLSC, Alex Head
1 July 2017 – Mt Gravatt Marketta, Brisbane
2 July 2017 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads
8 July 2017 – The Penny Black, Melbourne
12 July 2017 – The Bridge Hotel, Langhorne Creek
13 July 2017 – Beach Hotel, Seaford
14 July 2017 – The Elephant British Pub, Adelaide
15 July 2017 – Slug n’ Lettuce, Parafield Gardens
21 July 2017 – Moonshine Bar, Manly Sydney
22 July 2017 – Tapp Bar Panthers, Port Macquarie
28 July 2017 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Slow Dancer Releases Moody New Album

In a Mood, the new album from Melbourne troubadour Slow Dancer, is in stores today! To celebrate, I thought it was about time I showed you his latest single “I Would.” This is such a dreamy alt-folk ballad that reminds me a little of something Tim Buckley might have come up with. Make sure to tap in to those poetic lyrics when you listen. They’re absolutely beautiful.

After wowing crowds at South by South West and across the United Kingdom, Slow Dancer is in fine musical form and ready to play some local shows. Catch him at on the following East Coast dates.

6 July 2017 – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne
7 July 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
14 July 2017 – Oxford Arts Gallery Bar, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shorelines Hit “New Heights”

I’m running on empty this morning. Working until 2:30 am will do that to you I suppose. I needed something to wake me up for another day, and caffeine just wasn’t cutting it. Thankfully I found Brisbane pop-punk act Shorelines and their brand new single “New Heights.”

The band hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, but if you loved bands like Blink-182 and Good Charlotte back in the day you’re going to eat this up. The song also articulates beautifully what it’s like to look forward to a new chapter while you close the door on the past.

“I wrote this song about my old band breaking up and having to start again with Shorelines,” explained lead singer and bass guitarist Harry White. “New Heights definitely shows off our positivity towards the new band, but also displays some anger towards people that brought us down in the past.”

“New Heights” isn’t just the name of Shorelines’ new single. It’s also the title track from their brand new EP which drops tomorrow. You’ll find it on all your favourite digital services.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

O’Shea Releases “Start Over” Ahead of Aussie Homecoming Tour

I am such a sucker for a big emotive ballad. So “Start Over,” the lead single from Aussie expats O’Shea’s new album 61-615 hits just the right note for me.

O’Shae’s Mark and Jay penned the song with Alex Lloyd, who they have known since their early days in Balmain. “When we got together in Nashville to write, we just started talking about relationships and the ebbs and flows that any married couple goes through,” said Mark. It’s something Mark has first-hand experience with, as his O=Shea bandmate Jay is also his wife!

“’Start Over’ is about feeling off track with the communication in a relationship and wanting to get back to the connection that pulled you together in the first place,” Jay added.

O’Shea will leave Nashville behind for a while to return home to celebrate 61-615’s release on July 28. The band’s Aussie tour kicks off the same day in Sydney.

28 July 2017 – Leadbelly, Sydney
29 July 2017 – Centro CBD, Wollongong
30 July 2017 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
3 August 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
4-11 August 2017 – Tunes in the Tropics, Fiji
12 August 2017 – Mt Isa Rodeo, Mt Isa

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet The Dollar Bill Murrays

If there was a contest for the best band name, I think The Dollar Bill Murrays would win hands down. But this Brisbane rock act has more than a catchy moniker on its side. The quartet shows it knows how to craft some real earworms with the release of its second EP, Always On.

The guys from The Dollar Bill Murrays embrace old and new music technology, releasing the EP as a digital download and on cassette. It features the infectious track “The More You Know” and the lead single “I Want Everything,” which has clocked up more than 3,000 streams.

What do you think of The Dollar Bill Murrays?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Basics Drop “With This Ship” Ahead of Live Album Release

Anyone who sees them knows that the best way to experience The Basics is to see them live. So it’s pretty exciting news that the Melbourne trio will release a brand new live album, In The Rude, on May 27.

Recorded at Melbourne’s legendary Howler, In The Rude is the band’s first release since Age of Entitlement in 2015. It features a bunch of killer tunes including the lead single “With This Ship.”

There’s no word about shows yet, but surely we deserve a run of dates to coincide with the release of this live treat!