Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paulini and Bradley McCaw Team Up For “Someone Like You”

I am a sucker for a great country duet. I don’t consider myself much of a country music fan, but put on a little Kenny and Dolly or Johnny and June and I’m all about it. The cheesier the better. So I’m totally smitten with “Someone Like You,” the brand new single from Bradley McCaw and Paulini. Sure it’s a little formulaic, but there’s no point reinventing the wheel. With stellar vocals and romantic sentiments, there’s a lot to like here.

“Paulini’s vocal is effortless. There’s a power and a playfulness that takes the song to a new place. It’s a positive love song, with is kind of rare for modern radio,” Bradley said. “Inspired by all the old school duets I have sung along to in my car!”

He originally wrote the song for one male singer but left the song unfinished for nearly a year until he realised what was missing. This needed to be a duet.
“We recorded the vocals in one session using two microphones, side by side in the one studio. It was very old school and because of this, we captured an innocence and joy in the performances,” he added. “Duets just have a different energy, combining two artists from different genres at the top of their game, and that sends the song into unexpected places.”

This is a total throwback, but I’m just optimistic enough to think it might inspire a revival. We can only hope!

Image used with permission from Bradley McCaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Storm & Stone Break the Mould With “Run”

Blue Mountains sibling band Storm & Stone have released their fabulous new single “Run.” This track defies genre. I thought I had it pegged as a sassy, Destiny’s Child-inspired soul track, but once that chorus kicks in it takes a dark country left turn. It’s unexpected, but a real delight. And can we just take a moment to appreciate those incredible harmonies? The way sisters August and Auriel and their brother Hallelujah come together is just so special.

“Auriel had started showing me murder ballads, and some of Dolly Parton’s darker stories,” August explained of the song’s inspiration. “When we were writing and working on it, I really wanted us to have the energy of a train leaving a station. A build-up of excitement and movement forward as the song came to its climax to bring the story even more to life.”

“Run” is also the first song that Auriel and August penned together.

“I think for me, when we were writing this song with August, I really wanted to express how it felt to be on the other side of a love song, in the desperate dark place the song talks to,” Auriel said. “I also wanted something with a beat that had a lot of movement, to sort of follow the emotional movement the song talks about.”

The song’s dark feel is perfectly matched by the video set in Heartly Vale Cemetery in the Blue Mountains.

“The story is one of a woman experiencing her partner being drawn to another woman, but what ensues after that is left somewhat up in the air. What happened? What is going to happen? That ambiguity was enthralling,” said Thomas Crnkovic of Cranky Dog Production, who directed and produced the clip. “Are we listening to someone’s internal torment from trying to keep a grip on a relationship that’s slipping away? Are we witnesses to the aftermath of a crime of passion? Both? I wanted to make a video that honours those stakes and that ambiguity. Maybe spirits can hear our darkest thoughts, maybe nothing can. Either way: Run.”

These guys are the real deal. I’m really looking forward to hearing more of what they can do.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

VOH Releases Feel-Good Follow-up, “Amnesia”

VOH is back to brighten your day. Her new single “Amnesia” is pure shimmery sunshine, the kind of pop track that makes you want to dance the moment you hear it. The follow-up to “Away,” it cements her reputation as a pop act to watch.

“Amnesia” is the second track lifted from VOH’s EP, V Pop, scheduled for release later this year.

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alt Fiction on Comeback Trail With “Yesterday”

Gold Coast Alt Fiction has just dropped their new single “Yesterday,” their first release since 2020. This is a cracking track that effortlessly melds indie-pop influences with coastal rock. What a way to come back.

“It’s about understanding what goes up in a relationship must come down,” explained Alt Fiction’s singer and guitarist Will Tyler. “About remembering the best times to help you through the worst, and coming to grips with the fact that no relationship can stay perfect.”

The song’s coastal vibes are reflected in the lyric video for “Yesterday.” If you want to sing along, this one’s for you.

Alt Fiction say they’re ready to pick up where they left off before the pandemic. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to find out what comes next.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cheap Date Take a Sonic Departure With “Honest”

Cheap Date are best known for creating acoustic pop-rock, so their latest single “Honest” is a real departure. This is a straight-up electro-charged dance-pop banger. If it’s a sign of the kind of new music we might expect from the band, I’m here for it.

Cheap Date’s frontwoman Lara Dee penned the song about an emotionally one-sided encounter. It explores the idea of finding connections and giving yourself to someone else wholeheartedly in such an eloquent, interesting way. It’s also fantastic for dancing.

With dancing back on the agenda, you can expect plenty of it when Cheap Date play the following hometown shows:

26 March 2022 – Super Fun Day @ Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
23 April 2022 – The Brightside, Brisbane (supporting Concrete Surfers)
24 April 2022 – The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting The Courage Collective)

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Straight Girls is Your New Queer Pop Crush

Straight Girls reminds us just how good bedroom pop can sound with her new single “Best Friend.” The song beautifully captures the heady emotions of infatuation.

“’Best Friend’ is just about a crush I had on my friend’s best friend! It was never really a crush I shouldn’t have had or anything, it was just a funny situation to be in,” she recalled. “The song just kinda goes through how into this girl I was, and how long I was into her, and it’s also about it being reciprocated, and how we used to interact. It was just something that never fully happened, but it was known that I had a thing for her by basically everyone around either of us, never tried to hide it, even around her, and that’s what the song is about!”

With a new backing band set to help her bring her songs to life, Straight Girls is set for a big year in 2022. Definitely watch this space, because Straight Girls has the goods.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RAGEFLOWER Bursts Onto the Scene With “Still Calling”

Sydney singer-songwriter RAGEFLOWER is making a splash with her debut single “Still Calling.” RAGEFLOWER’s moniker is so appropriate because this track has just the right combination of aggression and beauty.

“Essentially, ‘Still Calling’ is about the journey back to self and healing the inner child. It’s also about the consequences of suppressing trauma with destructive coping mechanisms,” RAGEFLOWER explained. “When I wrote the song I was in a dark place, I really felt that I had let myself down and that I had wasted my potential on temporary highs. At the time I was listening to a lot of music from my emo high school years (Bright Eyes, Tonight Alive, Sum 41) and connecting with the person I used to be, which really inspired the sound. I wanted to write a hyper dualistic song with verses that felt confessional and vulnerable but choruses that felt destructive and nihilistic.”

“Still Calling” sets the bar so high, so I can’t wait to hear what comes next for RAGEFLOWER. She’s definitely someone to watch.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Nicodemo Scali

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Waxflower Continue Winning Streak With “The Drama Scene”

Waxflower’s ability to lift your mood in less than three minutes shouldn’t be underestimated. Just like previous singles “Soak” and “Ring,” their new track “The Drama Scene” clocks in at under that magic three-minute mark. And just like those other singles I adored, this one makes a massive impact in such a short space of time. Surely it’s a superpower.

“‘The Drama Scene’ is a reflection of my social life at the time,” explained frontman Tristan Higginson. “There was just so much negativity swirling around, and I was contributing to that. I was generally unhappy. The song is me airing out some of the agitation I had with where my own actions were placing me. The song is mostly the same as the demo, with exception of the second verse which ended up a more DnB style effort. Stevie [Knight] helped us add more programming to make that section of the song stand out from the rest.”

The release of “The Drama Scene” isn’t the only exciting thing happening for Waxflower today. They’re also kicking off their supporting duties for Trophy Eyes, starting with the first gig tonight on the Sunshine Coast. Arrive early to catch their set at one of the following shows:

24 March 2022 – Eleven Dive Bar, Sunshine Coast
25 March 2022 – The Northern, Byron Bay
26 March 2022 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
27 March 2022 – The Triffid, Brisbane
1 April 2022 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
2 April 2022 – Pier Bandroom, Frankston
7 April 2022 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
8 April 2022 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
20 April 2022 – UC Refectory, Canberra
21 April 2022 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
22 April 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
23 & 24 April 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DICE Goes From Strength to Strength With Latest Single, “Bad Tattoo”

DICE have only been together for 15 months, but they’ve made a big impression during that time. Aside from winning my heart, they’ve released six singles, clocked up 900,000 streams, and sold-out headline shows. They might just crack the magic million with their latest effort “Bad Tattoo.”

“’Bad Tattoo’ steers away from deeper meanings like our past tracks had (self belief, the mental and physical strain of gigging, how to cope with young relationships),” the band said. “We wanted to create a track which can embody our cheeky, light-hearted side of experiencing young adulthood. With reference to past experiences, we portray bad tattoos as a good thing, a representation of a memory rather than regret.”

DICE are also preparing to drop their first EP Adolescent Arcade. To celebrate its release, the Perth band will tour their home state next month.

“Our upcoming EP tour is a huge milestone for us and a major achievement after only 15 months as a band. We have been privileged to be able to support other bands tours such as Dear Sunday and Death by Denim but there is something extra exciting and special about doing it yourselves,” the band added. “This is definitely a big mark in our career and we are ecstatic to be able to perform our own shows at some of our favourite places such as Margaret River and also do our first all-ages show at YMCA HQ.”

Get those tickets while they’re hot!

1 April 2022 – Mandurah Top Floor, Mandurah (with Ra Ra Viper & Little Guilt MANDURAH, WA
8 April 2022 – YMCA HQ, Leederville (All Ages with Ra Ra Viper)
9 April 2022 – The River Margs, Margaret River (with Ra Ra Viper and King Blue)
30 April 2022 – DICE Fest @ Badlands, Perth

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Odin Fahey

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover the Charm of Angela Rose’s “Small Town”

Newcastle’s Angela Rose won me over last year with her track “Utopia.” Proving she’s no flash in the pan, her latest single “Small Town” is every bit as impressive. This is a sweet alt-country-folk number that simply makes your soul feel good. I love the little Jewel-esque yodel in Angela’s voice and those nostalgic lyrics that make you long for a simpler time.

“‘Small Town’ was the first song I’d written where I felt like it was worthy of being recorded and released,” Angela admitted. “It’s the song that made me realise I wanted to seriously pursue being a songwriter and gave me a huge confidence boost in my songwriting skills and storytelling. I have always really wanted to release a song inspired by my country music roots, but also combine that with the indie guitar sounds that are prominent in ‘Summer Love’ and ‘Utopia’. There are a few country elements throughout the track – the ones that really stick out are the acoustic strum, brush drum beat in the first verse and chorus, and the storytelling themes which are an ode to a classic country tune. But when the second verse comes in there is a real shift to a more modern indie feel.”

Aside from making music, Angela recently dropped her first merch collection. You can check it and more of her music out on her Bandcamp page.

Image used with permission from Peach & Sons