Is there anyone cooler in the Australian music industry than Tex Perkins? If there was any doubt, the release of his latest double A-side single with The Fat Rubber Band should put an end to the argument.
First up we’ve got a cover of Allen Toussaint’s “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)” which is every bit as funky as it sounds. The next track, a rendition of Bobby Charles’ “I Must Be In a Good Place Now” is a total 180, showing Tex and his band’s softer side.
The new music is a sign of things to come, with the band confirming these are two tracks that helped shape the direction of their forthcoming album. Hear a little more when Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Band launch the single at Hotel Westwood in Melbourne on May 23.
Miriam Lieberman has captivated me with her gorgeous new single “Infinite We Are.” There’s a delicate, ethereal beauty about this one. Miriam’s voice is hypnotic and otherworldly. The strings and lush background harmonies only add to the magic.
“This song is about the power of imagination,” Miriam said. “It’s about sharing our dreams, stories and imaginings as a way to go beyond our own limitations, and the benefit of dreaming.”
The track comes with a poignant animated music video featuring the work of artist Aidan Judd.
“I had an idea that I wanted the video to begin in black and white, with a feeling of separation and alienation that through the characters allowing themselves to dream would turn into a colourful, nature inclusive space where the characters reconnected with each other,” Miriam explained of the clip’s inspiration.
“Infinite We Are” comes from Miriam’s new album Transforming, which drops on May 28. She’s currently touring the single around the East Coast. Both remaining shows are all-ages gigs, so take the whole family along to experience this incredible artist.
30 May 2021 – Django @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
26 June 2021 – The Base, Newcastle
Potsville/Brisbane act Eliza & The Delusionals have just dropped their new indie pop-rock track “You,” and I can’t stop listening. It’s instantly accessible, with a radio-friendly familiarity that quickly forges a connection with listeners. But once you tap into the lyrics, you’ll start to appreciate just how special this song is.
“‘You’ was written as a point of view type situation of any type of relationship where you just can’t possibly do enough for a person, only to have them give nothing in return and pretty much throw it back in your face,” explained the band’s guitarist Kurt Skuse. “Essentially watching someone fall apart and knowing there’s nothing more you can do to help. That’s why it’s called ‘You’, it’s for you.”
For the music video, Eliza & The Delusionals worked with Nick Maguire, who’s also created clips for Cub Sport, Ball Park Music, and Last Dinosaurs.
“We were lucky enough to be able to film the video in a warehouse at Screen QLD, which was really handy as we had multiple large sets to build. It was great for that because we had more than enough space to work out of,” the band said. “We wanted it to be inspired by the 90’s/2000’s outfit and style-wise, and we wanted it to have something that was nostalgic but with a fresh feel to it.”
Eliza & The Delusionals are touring almost everywhere in June and July supporting The VANNS. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets already, make sure you arrive early to catch their set at the following shows. Some limited tickets are still available for selected shows.
10 June 2021 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
11 June 2021 – Felons Barrell Hall, Brisbane
12 June 2021 – Felons Barrell Hall, Brisbane
17 June 2021 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide (Early Show)
17 June 2021 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide (Late Show – SOLD OUT)
18 June 2021 – Indian Ocean Hotel, Perth
19 June 2021 – Indian Ocean Hotel, Perth (SOLD OUT)
25 June 2021 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
26 June 2021 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (Early Show – SOLD OUT)
26 June 2021 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (Late Show)
2 July 2021 – Uni Bar, Wollongong (SOLD OUT)
3 July 2021 – Altar, Hobart
4 July 2021 – Forth Pub, Forth
15 July 2021 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
16 July 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
24 July 2021 – Kambri @ ANU, Canberra
Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit Kurt Skuse
Port Macquarie country-pop artist Brock Colley is sure to get into the good graces of fans with his new single “No Mascara,” a track that celebrates the natural beauty of females everywhere.
“Ladies, this will let you know that no matter what the world says, you rock!” he said. “Fellas this will pump you up to let her know the truth!”
This is such a sweet song with an infectious melody that I can’t stop humming. It’s no wonder, as Brock is a prolific songwriter who enjoys working with a range of artists from around the globe.
“I love the fact that it opens a door to see other cultures and work in different genres that continually push me to evolve not only as an artist but as a person,” he said.
No doubt his own music will be the focus for a while though, as Brock can’t wait to play for audiences again after the pandemic shut down the live music scene. With a brand new show up his sleeve, we should see plenty of Brock in 2021. Give his Facebook page a follow to learn when he’s near you first.
Aussie singer-songwriter TRENTAN has got me grooving through Hump Day with his dreamy new indie-pop track “Good Things.” It’s a feel-good track that surprisingly came out of the upheaval of the COVID pandemic. Last year the pandemic forced TRENTAN to leave his adopted home of Nashville, where he’d worked as a touring and session guitarist for the last decade, and return to Australia.
“The final version of the song lyrically finished with a slightly lighter hue, dancing more with the idea of knowing a ‘good thing’ in terms of the initial spark of relationship with someone new, and the exciting moment of chasing that down,” TRENTAN explained. “But I think there’s still a lot of one-liner type lyrics scattered throughout the song that speak to any situation where chasing a good thing usually comes with the understanding that you’ll have to push through some resistance”.
This song feels so fresh, but it’s got some real experience behind it. While it’s TRENTAN’s first single, he’s worked in the business for more than a decade. George McArdle of Little River Band also lends his bass talents to the track. It was mixed in Los Angeles by Nicolas Essig, who’s worked with Post Malone, Lane Del Rey, and Calvin Harris, and co-mastered by Grammy-winning engineers Emily Lazar and Chris Allgood. No wonder it sounds so good!
Image used with permission from Trentan Kruger
The patience of the Sea Gypsies’ fans has been rewarded, with the Central Coast band releasing their first song after a two-year hiatus. It sounds like time away from the spotlight has done them good, because “Daydream” is definitely worth the wait.
“Daydream is a love song, without being an ‘in-your-face’ love song,” the band explained. “On the surface, the lyrics are indicative of our vocalist’s (Luke Marlin) relationship experiences, however, the music leaves the listener feeling as though this song is built upon layers of relational failures and triumphs.”
“We loved Daydream from the moment our vocalist (Luke Marlin) began penning the lyrics into his worn, black notebook,” they said. “The chorus is catchy and it’s not just the phrase: ‘Life is like a daydream. Honey, when you’re with me.’ Luke energised it with a singable melody that feels familiar, yet somehow, has a fresh, Sea Gypsies flavour to it.”
Honestly, it was those lyrics that suckered me in. They’re poetic without being sappy. Add in Luke’s emotive vocals and that laidback but funky AF groove and there’s a lot to like here. The song is complemented by a video featuring footage from one of the band’s hometown shows around The Entrance. It’s a timely reminder that before this pandemic hit, the Sea Gypsies were selling out shows along the East Coast. Hopefully it’s not too long before we see them doing that again!
With the release of their new single “Bless My Soul,” Perth act COTERIE have reminded me just how much I love them. This is such a stellar track, anchored by Tyler Fisher’s soulful vocals and that gorgeous piano melody. I’m not a religious person, but I imagine listening to this track delivers the same sort of catharsis people feel after a powerful sermon. In short, it’s really good.
“Obsessively questioning our decisions, and the constant second-guessing we put into becoming the “right” person, can sometimes hold us back from being that person in the first place,” Tyler explained of the song’s inspiration.
Crank this one up and I swear it’ll make your day better.
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
McDermott & North are making me swoon with their dreamy new single “Georgia.” Blending pop, indie, and roots influences, the track might just be the most romantic-sounding thing to come out of a Tinder match, even if the story that inspired it doesn’t have a happy ending!
“This song title actually came about because I had just broken up with my girlfriend and was on Tinder. When I matched with someone I’d write a song for them. I matched with a ‘Georgia’ who funnily enough went on to become a huge Instagram sensation. When I sent her the song she never responded. So if you’re out there, Georgia, I hope you enjoy it!” said one half of the duo, Paddy McDermott.
The Brisbane duo recently launched the single for hometown fans at The Brightside. Hopefully it’s not too long before we see them around the rest of the country.
Brisbane band Lost Goat Found have got me pretty excited with their latest single “Cold Feet.” These guys have been a fixture on the local music scene since late 2018, playing alongside the likes of Tia Gostelow and Art vs. Science, but this gorgeous slow-burner might just the song to give them some national attention.
“The song is about getting ‘cold feet’ and breaking up with someone because you’re a little immature or scared or not ready for this kind of relationship and then seeing the pain the other person is going through and how you can’t apologise enough,” the band explained. “After trying something a little different with ‘Hooped Earrings’, this is a return to usual anthemic pop rock sound.”
If you’re digging this song as much as I do and you happen to live in Brisbane, you won’t want to miss Lost Goat Found’s single launch. Catch them at Black Bear Lodge on May 15. Tickets are on sale now from Eventbrite.
Like so many of us, Adelaide singer-songwriter Tom West received a few curveballs in 2020. He was based in Brooklyn and ready to take the world by storm when the pandemic hit and encouraged Tom to rethink his plans. He returned home and decided to hire out an old farmhouse in Mount Crawford to work on the songs he began conceiving in late 2015 and early 2016.
“Some friends and I moved all the furniture out of the living room and set up a makeshift studio and spent a week recording the batch of songs with a band over a week,” he said.
That spontaneous, honest energy comes through in Tom’s latest single “Gimme What You Got,” which comes from his forthcoming album I’m Livin’. It’s been some time getting to us, but that’s because of another curveball. The day after packing up his temporary studio, Tom got word that his father had motor neurone disease and only a short time to live. The songs he’d been working on didn’t feel right at that moment, so he shelved them to work on his 2020 release, Antarctica.
“In some ways I’m Livin’ is a bit of a prequel to that album,” Tom explained.
2020 hit Tom West harder than most, but he’s determined that 2021 will be brighter. Look out for I’m Livin’ and a whole stack of shows from this talented singer-songwriter this year.
