Sydney producers Ben Siva, Nico Scali, and Max Jacobs have been writing music together for nearly 10 years. They’re also talented producers and performers in their own right. Recording under the name jnr., they’ve just released their debut single “Remember” and it’s such a bop.
If you love upbeat modern pop, this track will be right up your alley. It sounds so fresh and fun, but there’s real weight to the lyrics.
“‘Remember’ deals with grief, nostalgia, and the moment you are forced to put yourself in your parent’s shoes. I think anyone can relate to wanting to remember someone or something from their childhood, but the song has a deeper meaning for me,” Ben admitted. “I’m always drawn to darker lyrical themes and uplifting instrumentals – that push and pull always attracted me to some of my favourite artists. The feeling of knowing oneself is essential to being human. So the writing process was really me thinking about who I would be without my memories.”
jnr. promises fans on their Facebook page that this song is just the beginning of what they have in store for us this year. I can’t wait to hear what comes next!
Image used with permission from Pollen Scout; credit: Megan Donnelly
You can always trust Matt Joe Gow for classic Americana tunes that just make you feel good. There’s a quiet confidence about what he does that puts you at ease. His latest track “Sweet Collapse” is no exception.
This track ticks all the boxes for me. I’m going nuts for the exquisite three-part harmonies and that piano solo. The track is a sequel to Matt’s song “Georgia Rose”, from his 2016 album Seven Years. How exciting to catch up with the story so many years later!
“Sweet Collapse” is the latest single lifted from Matt’s upcoming fourth album, Between Tonight & Tomorrow. Expect to hear a few more new tunes and all your old favourites at his upcoming New South Wales shows.
20 Apr 2022 – Peel Inn, Nundle
21 Apr 2022 – Outlaw Luncheon At The Dag, Nundle
23 Apr 2022 – MJG & TDL Showcase @ Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth
24 Apr 2022 – The Railway Hotel, Cowra
29 Apr 2022 – Occasional Wine Bar, Boorowa
30 Apr 2022 – Tomerong Hall, Tomerong
1 May 2022 – Golden Barley, Sydney
When you search for Karise Eden on Spotify, the top five most popular songs are covers from her time on The Voice. Perhaps that’s understandable as the reality show catapulted her to stardom. However, that was 10 years ago. She’s released so many great original songs since then. If you’re just replaying that (admittedly incredible) cover of “It’s a Man’s World”, you’re missing the opportunity to really get to know what she can do. Instead of going back to the familiar, I encourage you to listen to her latest song, “Gone.”
This track is so beautiful. It’s everything we loved about Karise all those years ago. Pure soul, pure heart, pure passion. Her voice has never sounded finer. She puts so much emotion into it that I was sure she must have written it herself. Instead, it was a chance meeting that brought this song her way.
“This song was gifted to me by one of the most inspirational women I’ve met in a while … Stef Duzel, Publican of the Macedon Railway Hotel in Victoria. One in a million. A true songstress and songwriter,” Karise recalled. “I’m playing a gig at the pub. She takes me to a room at the back with this bed, guitar, and amps. We’re talking, laughing our heads off – music, life, kids, exes, her pub, you name it!
“She tuned her instruments up, while telling me her story, telling me about how she’d written this song, that she envisioned someone like me singing. Then she starts playing her guitar and out bellowed this voice like no other. The kind of voice you only hear from a life that’s been lived, a life that’s loved, been loved and a life that’s been broken more times before. When she began singing, the walls I have to hold everything inside, broke.
“She apologised for making me so emotional. I told her to keep singing. Every lyric that poured out of her spoke so deeply to me. I said I would absolutely love to sing this song and we worked at it, in a heartbeat. And so ‘Gone’ came to be.”
You can just tell this song will be even more powerful on stage. You can see Karise do her thing at one of the following shows:
19-22 May 2022 – Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival @ Kurrawa Pratten Park, Gold Coast
25 June 2022 – River Heads Rocks 2022 @ Hervey Bay
16 February – 2 March 2023 – The Gathering of the Goddesses, Riddells Creek
3 March 2023 – The Gathering of the Goddesses @ Fulton Park Campsite, Forth
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
A friend introduced me to Perry Keyes’ “The Day John Sattler Broke His Jaw” a few years back. My friends introduce me to a lot of songs, and most of them I probably forget before too long. But this song was different. It was so good that I wondered why we don’t all know it, the way we know “Khe Sanh” and “The Horses”. It’s so good that when you hear it, you wonder why it’s not more well-known. It feels familiar from the first play. Once you do hear it, it’s not easily forgotten. I’m hopeful that a few more people will fall in love with it now that The Whitlams have put their stamp on it.
It’s no accident that this cover has more of a country sound than we’re used to from The Whitlams. It came from an idea hatched by frontman Tim Freedman as he drove between regional stops on his 2021 solo tour. While travelling from Gunnedah to Mudgee, via Black Stump Way, he discovered country radio playing his band’s latest single, “Man About a Dog.”
“I must admit it was a surprise to be played on Kix Country and Triple A Murri Country, but it was very cool,” he said. And it got him thinking. In Mudgee, he called Matt Fell, who produced his solo effort Australian Idle, and said “Put together your dream band. I think I want to make a country album.”
And so, The Whitlams got together with the new Black Stump Band, featuring Rod McCormack (on banjo, papoose, and acoustic guitar), Ollie Thorpe (pedal steel and electric guitar), and Matt Fell on bass. And they made that country album, The Black Stump Sessions, featuring this song.
Sydney photojournalist and director Johnny Barker made the gorgeous black and white video. It features archival footage of Tim’s father, Barrie Freedman, tipping Souths to win that historic rugby league grand final, with captain John Sattler finishing the game despite breaking his jaw. Talk about grit and determination!
The Whitlams, Black Stump Band will play shows all around the eastern states to launch the single later this year.
22 April 2022 – Longyard Hotel, Tamworth
24 April 2022 – Victoria Hotel, Bathurst
28 July 2022 – The Metropolitan Hotel, Mackay
29 Jul 2022 – Mansfield Hotel, Townsville
30 Jul 2022 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
3 August 2022 – Gunnedah Town Hall, Gunnedah
4 August 2022 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
5 August 2022 – Royal Hotel, Queanbeyan
6 August 2022 – Bowral Bowling Club, Bowral
7 August 2022 – Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo
12 August 2022 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
13 August 2022 – Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff
14 August 2022 – Burrinja Theatre, Upwey
Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity
Hurricane Fall are back with “This Night Forever”, their first single for 2022. It’s an epic slice of country-rock that should have you singing along by the chorus and feeling nostalgic about the best nights of your life.
Hurricane Fall want to share some memorable nights with their fans, so they’re heading on the road later this month. These guys have earned a reputation for their live shows. If you caught them supporting Billy Ray Cyrus or The Wolfe Brothers, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Find out for yourself when they stop at one of the following spots near you:
22 April 2022 – Blazes Showroom @ Wests, Tamworth
23 April 2022 – Stroud Rodeo @ Stroud Showground, Stroud
7 May 2022 – Scone Rodeo @ Scone Showground, Scone
13 May 2022 – Brookfield Show, Brookfield
14 May 2022 – Hard Rock Café, Brisbane
27 August 2022 – Gympie Music Muster, Gympie
24 September 2022 – CMC Rocks, Ipswich
1 October 2022 – Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin
Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity
With a national election locked in for May 21, it’s more important than ever to think about the direction of the country. After recent floods, one issue that deserves headlines is climate change. If you’re not already thinking about it, “Written in the Sea” by Gold Coast singer-songwriter Hannah May should start the wheels turning. It’s a bit of a departure for Hannah who typically releases songs with a country flavour, but I’m really digging its acoustic folk sound.
“We seem to forget how much we rely on the environment for our wellbeing, while it continues to deteriorate in front of our eyes, we live our lives as if all is OK,” said Hannah. “We have to change our ways. This song is a reminder of that and I hope this inspires people to make a change however small it may be.”
Make sure you really tap into the lyrics when you’re listening to “Written in the Sea” as they’re so important, especially as we prepare to head to the polls. Making changes around the home matters, but it’s going to take changes on a federal level to really improve our environment.
Image used with permission from Hannah May
Lyn Bowtell made a splash on The Voice in 2017, but she’s been far from idle since that show propelled her into the spotlight. While she plays to smaller crowds now, she’s been releasing some incredible music. Her latest single “Woman to Woman” is the perfect reintroduction to her talent.
When so many young starlets dominate the charts, it’s so exciting to hear music from a mature woman sharing her experiences. Diverse voices are so important. It’s a timely song which speaks of the importance of real human connection in the digital age.
“I hope listeners to ‘Woman To Woman’ might be a little less influenced by social media in their everyday life and consider going to the source of information before they cast judgment on people,” Lyn said. “It’s great to be able to reach out across boundaries and borders to talk to people, but social media does come with negative effects as well and we are understanding that more and more now. I’ve never had anything particularly damaging said to me on social media, although there were a few moments after The Voice, but I’m lucky in that respect. Country music people are usually friendly, supportive and good-natured. Words can be so hurtful, faceless lies are painful. Don’t fool yourself into think that it’s nothing when it might mean something to someone else.”
“Woman to Woman” comes from Lyn’s forthcoming album, appropriately titled Wiser. She’s touring all over the country at the moment to support its release. See her at one of the following gigs:
24 April 2022 – The Longyard, Tamworth
12 May 2022 – Lizotte’s, Lambton
14 May 2022 – Halekulani Bowling Club, Budgewoi
15 May 2022 –Leichhardt Bowling Club, Lilyfield
26 May 2022 –The Front Gallery & Café, Lyneham
27 May 2022 – Tumut River Brewing Co, Tumut
28 May 2022 –Bowral Bowling Club, Bowral
29 May 2022 – Joyce Wheatley Community Centre, Kiama
17 June 2022 – The Beer Shed Brewing Co, Leumeah
18 June 2022 – Muswellbrook RSL Club, Muswellbrook
19 June 2022 – Armidale City Bowling Club, Armidale
22 July 2022 – The Press, Tamworth
23 July 2022 – Glen Aplin Hall, Glen Aplin
24 July 2022 – Dalby Events Centre, Dalby
27 & 28 July 2022 – Oodies Café, Bundaberg North
29 July 2022 – Maleny Community Hall, Maleny
30 July 2022 – GTM Music Studios, Beaudesert
31 July 2022 – Cabarlah Hall, Cabarlah
4 September 2022 – Mantra, Yarraville
9 September 2022 – The Wesley Anne, Northcote
10 September 2022 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
11 September 2022 – The Old Church On The Hill, Quarry Hill
15 September 2022 – Murray Delta Juke Joint, Goolwa
16 September 2022 – The Wheatsheaf, Thebarton
17 September 2022 – The Barn, Wombat Flat
14 October 2022 – Nethercote Hall, Nethercote
15 October 2022 – Murrah Hall, Murrah
Image used with permission from The Country Journo
As you cruise towards the weekend, take a listen to Dani Teveluwe’s laidback new single “Waiting Wasting Time”. It’s a cool pop number with a jazz influence that reminds me a little of Norah Jones or Corinne Bailey-Rae. While the track has a relaxed feel, the lyrics encourage listeners to quit procrastinating and go out and get whatever it is they’ve been wanting.
“’Waiting Wasting Time’ first came to me when I was walking my gorgeous Golden Huey around Miami. The chorus melody soothed my soul and I loved it from the get-go”, Dani explained. “It’s funny because building the courage to make a change can sometimes take years, but in reality, the moment we decide to change is quite fleeting. Around that time, I had been thinking a lot about the motivation behind change. That moment when change is no longer a choice and when it becomes a necessity. What is that thing that gets us to finally book that overseas trip we’ve always wanted to go on? What makes us overcome the fear of rejection to ask someone out, or perhaps ending a relationship that isn’t right? How do you describe the desire to leave a perfectly stable job to pursue your passion? The more I dwelled on it, the more I realised that I had created my own discontentment in the past by not going for it. By taking the safe option instead of the scarier path, living in my head not my heart. I decided I was done with waiting and wasting time.”
Dani also isn’t wasting any time taking this song to the people. You can catch her playing free at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay tonight or tomorrow night at Solbar on the Sunshine Coast.
Adelaide singer-songwriter Zac Eichner has floored me with his latest single, “Not a Break-Up Song.” It’s a bit of a slow burner, but its gentle start drew me in. By the time the horns kicked in, I was firmly on board.
“’Not A Break-Up Song’ is the final song in the series of ‘Naked’, ‘Autumn’ & ‘Fool’,” Zac explained. “It follows where I left off and where I’ve landed recently. I’ve battled with depression, anxiety and self-destructive behaviour. I’ve worked hard, to pull away from that person I once was which has led to meeting my partner. It’s a song of hope, determination and reflection. Ironically named ‘Not A Break-Up Song’, I’m only breaking up with a previous version of myself.”
I’m always a sucker for a lyrical dance routine so the video is right up my alley. I was doubly impressed when I read that performer Rob McLean improvised the whole routine which was shot in a single take.
“This movement piece captures the internal battle and eventual release that the lyrics represent,” Zac added. “I think Rob and I have both been going through our own battles and watching him move to this, solidified my intentions with this song. A sense of self-reflection and intensity in the beginning and complete escape, hope and release toward the end.”
South Australian fans are in luck, with Zac playing a string of local shows in April and May.
17 April 2022 – Space Jams Festival, Robe
7 May 2022 – Big Easy Radio, Aldinga
8 May 2022 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
As the working week winds down, Cairns-based Jelly Oshen is bringing the chill vibes you need. His new single “Bordalonely” is a cool mix of R&B and indie-pop in the vein of Frank Ocean and Rex Orange County. He describes it as “island flava”, and who am I to argue? It sounds so smooth, but that’s more a testament to the quality of Jelly’s voice than technical wizardry.
“Most of my music is recorded at home with my stepdad,” he admitted. “My writing process is just making a poem and then creating a good music genre melody to fit, or vice versa. I was bored in lockdown and kinda lonely. My mum was imposing her own self-isolation on us, above and beyond any government rules, and this track sprung from that.”
Jelly Oshen has already supported some of the country’s hottest talents including Tones & I, Dami Im, and Ben Lee. Next up he’ll play a couple of cool festivals. Make sure you catch his set at the following events.
21 May 2022 – Festival of the Sun, Port Macquarie
19 November 2022 – Rolling Hills Festival, Brisbane
Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Bridie J Egan @bridies.journal
