Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Columbus Releases Feelgood Pop-Punk Banger, “Temporary Summer”

Proving that long-distance relationships can really work in the music world, Columbus are rocking my world with their latest single “Temporary Summer.” These guys live in different East Coast cities and had just three days in person to rehearse and record the song. It brings a real spontaneous energy to this track which will make you want to listen again and again.

“I was listening to a lot of early The Killers when I wrote ‘Temporary Summer’, and I wanted to try and channel their uplifting indie-rock drive alongside Columbus’ heartfelt rock/punk style,” explained frontman Alex Moses. “It’s a song about escapism and being somewhere for a short while where everything feels good, and nothing can hurt you – a temporary summer.”

Expect to put “Temporary Summer” on high rotation as the weather warms up! Columbus will support Sly Withers at the Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong on March 31 next year. Keep an eye on their socials to see when they announce more gigs.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Afterthought Live Up to Early Promise With New EP and Single

Pop-punk seemed to fade away for a while, but it’s definitely back with a vengeance here in Australia. There are so many stellar pop-punk acts on the local scene, and Afterthought are up there with the best. Right now I’m really digging “Summerset Stunner,” the latest single from the band’s recently released self-titled sophomore EP. Everything on the EP is fantastic, so once you check this song out make sure you check out the rest.

Afterthought says “Summerset Stunner is about “wanting to tell someone that you love them but never finding the right time and fearing that you may never find that time.” And haven’t we all been there?

Expect to hear a lot more from these guys in the future. They’re generating a lot of buzz from tastemakers like triple j, 4ZZZ, HEAVYMag, and Milky, and their talent lives up to the hype.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DICE Spread Sunshine With “Stop Sign”

Maybe I’m looking for a sonic antidote to the lingering rain in my part of the world, but I am really gravitating towards summer anthems at the moment. The latest is “Stop Sign,” an absolute cracker of a tune from DICE. Just like recently featured artist outfit, DICE are a fantastic Western Australian band. What is in the water in that part of the country? I’m not quite sure, but I am living for it.

“‘Stop Sign’ is a self-reflection on personal values and self-will to achieve your dreams and desires,” the band explained. “Lyrically the song explores the battles between self-belief and shying away from what you truly want.”

DICE played their first gig in November 2020 and have proved to be an unstoppable force ever since. These guys sell out shows, so make sure you organise tickets now for one of the following gigs.

27 November 2021 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River (supporting Dear Sunday)
18 December 2021 – Tone City Christmas Party @ Mojos Bar, Fremantle
26 December 2021 – Out & About Festival @ Port Beach Brewery, Fremantle

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love with Brandon Duff’s “Crystal Eyes”

I’m feeling properly charmed by Brandon Duff’s new single “Crystal Eyes.” It beautifully captures the flush of new love with lyrics that really bring the object of his affection to life.

Brandon calls the track “an emotional coming-of-age song. It explores ideas of youth and young love, drawing from experiences of finding someone new in your life and sharing your past heartbreaks to grow closer.

“Being excited to have someone new in your life but with melancholy undertones knowing it may not last. There’s a beauty about finding someone new that makes you feel refreshed and loved, but it can also resurface past feelings of loss that have never really left. I drew on experiences of youth, drinking in parks and staying out in Newtown, trying to find where you fit in the world. I have fond memories of going out with friends in the city and feeling larger than life and wanted to capture that within the song as well.”

“Crystal Eyes” saw Brandon named as a finalist in the APRA Songwriters at the Rocks competition this year. That’s a testament to just how well this guy crafts a song. I can’t wait to hear more. If you’re around Newcastle, you can see Brandon doing his thing as part of Lizotte’s’ Live N’ Local night on February 9.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Outfit Brighten Up the Day With “Sunny”

It’s a little grey and gloomy around my part of the country, but outfit are bringing the sunshine with their soulful debut single “sunny.” This cool bop from the Perth trio is so catchy, don’t be surprised if you’re humming it for the rest of the day. Tim Tan wrote the track after struggling to fall asleep.

“The concept surrounded the sentiment of ‘I woke up, but in a way I guess I could have kept sleeping’ describing the cyclical nature of day to day life at the time,” he explained. “We were in between houses, work in the music industry took a dive due to the pandemic and really we just needed a light at the end of the tunnel to move closer to. From there the song grew into a full concept dealing with issues around mental health and finding comfort in what and who you have around you to collectively move towards the sunnier, sunnier, sunnier place.”

Outfit might be brand new, but these guys are no strangers to the music industry. Tim’s songwriting work for local acts Jaguar Jonze and Enschway and K-Pop acts aespa and ENHYPHEN has accumulated around 200 million streams and more than 3 million physical unit sales. No wonder this track is such an earworm!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Ciara Isabel Muscat

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Summit Drops Summery New Single “River Days”

If you weren’t already convinced summer is just around the corner, South Summit’s new single “River Days” might get you over the line. This is a cool indie surf-jam that gets me in the mood for coastal getaways and lazy evenings watching the sun set over the waves. This Perth band reminds me a little bit of hot Aussie acts like Ocean Alley and Lime Cordiale, and with songs like this in their catalogue they deserve to be every bit as big.

“When we first wrote it, we knew it had potential and did not want to rush the writing process,” explained the band’s frontman and songwriter Zaya. “We didn’t plan on recording ‘River Days’ this early as we didn’t think it was ready, but we took a leap of faith. We came out with a song that was completely different to what we came in with, which retained the elements of the original demo, but truly captured the meaning behind the words.

“‘River Days’ is a story about the abuse of alcohol and how it can change the people closest to you. It is drawn from many personal experiences and deep emotions. The song is an attempt to show the very personal journey I have taken. ‘Save me from the river’ is a cry for help. Help to be spared from seeing those closest to me change for the worse, help to save them from alcohol and help to stop me from treading the same path.”

If you’re around Perth, there are plenty of opportunities to catch South Summit in the flesh in the coming months. Check them out at the following shows:

19 November 2021 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (supporting LATE 90s)
2 December 2021 – Perth Music Night @ The Sewing Room, Perth
3 December 2021 – Jack Rabbit Slim’s, Perth (supporting Young Robin)
11 December 2021 – The YMCA HQ, Leederville (ALL AGES)
12 December 2021 – Sunday Music @ Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Velvet Bloom Casts a Spell With “Run”

Melbourne chanteuse Velvet Bloom effortlessly fuses jazz and soul influences in her stunning new single “Run.” It wraps you up like a big sonic hug, making you feel all warm and safe and comfortable. Her tone is just beautiful, effortless, easy. If you don’t have goosebumps after hearing this one, I suggest checking for a pulse.

“I remember writing this track during the second COVID lockdown in 2020,” Velvet Bloom recalls. “Restrictions were harsh and ‘Run’ was one of the first songs that I could fully resonate with after a creative lull. Sometimes, risks can be scary and the fear of sacrificing what you already have for something uncertain can cause inner turmoil. ‘Run’ is about overcoming those fears and leaning into the unknown with excitement.”

Despite this project’s relatively short time on the scene, Velvet Bloom has already supported Kim Churchill, Teenage Dads, The Grogans, The Mamas, and stacks more. She also recently played a sold-out show launching this single. Hopefully as the world gets back to normal we’ll have plenty of chances to see her live really soon.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Anthony Rennick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall For Deb Suckling’s Latest Single “Romeo and Juliet”

If you’ve ever been in love with the wrong person, Deb Suckling’s new single “Romeo and Juliet” is bound to resonate with you. I love the grunginess of this one. The kind of love she sings about is pretty messy, and the sound of this track reflects that beautifully.

“This song was inspired by the numerous young people I have in my life including my son,” Deb explained. “The fact that we all have experienced huge first love at this time in our lives – that it can be so complex and so difficult to navigate because peers and parents all seem to have an opinion on your first true love. It’s also inspired by the music I listened to during my forays into teenage love.”

Listen out for Deb Suckling’s long-awaited debut solo album Worthy when it drops on November 19. She’ll celebrate the release with a free show at Brisbane Powerhouse’s next Livespark event on November 28.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barefoot Spacemen’s Debut “Here I Go” is Out of This World

Melbourne band Barefoot Spacemen are bringing feel-good vibes to your Friday with their debut single “Here I Go.” This is such a cool track, with textured jazz and R’n’B influences ensuring you’re going to have a good time. By the time that sax solo dropped I was well and truly in.

While this funky single will get your toe-tapping, it’s also got a great message. Those lyrics should really get you thinking about how egoism can kick in when people start taking themselves too seriously.

I know you’ve been waiting a really long time for live gigs Melbourne, and Barefoot Spacemen are taking full advantage of their return. You can catch them launching “Here I Go” at Colour Club on November 25.

Image used with permission from Barefoot Spacemen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

San Joseph Releases Moving Pop Single, “Everything in the Room”

Melbourne artist San Joseph casts a spell with his new single “Everything in the Room.” It’s only his second release, but the songwriting and vocals are so confident and capable. The month between this release and his debut “Blink Twice” haven’t been ideal thanks to the COVID pandemic, but San Joseph is navigating the conditions in the only way he can.

“I’ve been in lockdown since ‘Blink Twice’ came out,” he admitted, “so music for me has meant spending every day trying to figure out how to master social media in a way that feels like me.”

This song is his way of bringing that experience to life, transforming the contents of his bedroom into his own conscience as he struggles to let someone go.

“It’s been such a volatile state for me, mentally,” he confirmed. “I had the sudden realisation that I’d been writing the same song a million different ways about the same person. It explores a paranoia that inanimate objects were judging me for not having moved on from my ex.”

With lockdowns really testing San Joseph’s ability to connect with fans over his new music, hopefully it’s not too long before we see him playing shows. Keep an eye on his Facebook page for news of that as soon as it comes.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia