Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Rya Park slays with her latest single “Bitch.” It reminds me a little of the powerful female anthems I listened to in the ‘90s with its fuzzy guitars and dark, honest lyrics about mental health struggles. I’ll give you a language warning if you’re at work, but once you head home, I suggest blasting this one.
“Releasing this kinda feels like a sigh of relief,” Rya admitted. “When I first wrote it, I felt scared and sad … but I’ve managed to pick myself up a little bit and push through. I want this song to be there for someone else that may be going through something similar, to feel like they aren’t entirely alone.”
Rya has toured with Clews and Motor Ace, but she’s about to headline her own shows. Aussies can catch her next month before she heads to London for more soon-to-be-announced dates.
20 September 2019 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
28 September 2019 – Oxford Art Gallery, Sydney
Sydney neo-soul act imbi the girl have released a super-impressive new single “Our Room.” This is one of those songs that draws you in and truly captivates. It’s poetic, its got smooth soulful vocals, it’s unique, it’s got something to say, it’s special. It’s one of those songs that doesn’t deserve analysis, because rather than reading about you should just be experiencing it.
Imbi the girl is playing two headline shows in November, but I’m putting them on your radar now because you want to get yourself organised. Their last headline gigs sold out, so you can bet these ones will do the same.
7 November 2019 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
9 November 2019 – Red Rattler Theatre, Sydney
Image used with permission from Bianca Blancato; photo credit: Seamus Platt
Australia’s coolest 16-year-old Ruel is back with a another sweet, soulful single, “Face to Face.” This song goes down smoothly with a killer hook and earnest lyrics. Is it just me or does this kid just keep getting better and better?
“Face to Face” comes from Ruel’s forthcoming EP Free Time, which drops on September 13. Ruel will celebrate its release with all ages shows in most Aussie capitals and New Zealand. Tickets will not last, so get on them now!
19 September 2019 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
22 September 2019 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
24 September 2019 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
28 September 2019 – Shed 10, Auckland
1 October 2019 – Odeon, Hobart
4 October 2019 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Melbourne punksters Press Club might be conquering the world right now, but they don’t want us to forget them here at home. They’ve just released a brand new video for the ballsy single “Thinking About You” and their new album Wasted Energy drops tomorrow, August 16.
“The idea for the ‘Thinking About You’ video clip came to me as we touched down from a 20-plus hour transit home from our first European tour in May this year,” explained guitarist Greg Rietwyk. “I pictured a surreal retelling of the story of a stalking stranger that is told within the song lyrics, with [vocalist] Nat [Foster] being tormented by masked freaks. We enlisted the help of our good friend and filmmaker Gina Somfleth from Popcandi productions. We are all massive fans of Gina’s keen eye for cinematography.It was shot on location at Nat’s parents farm outside of Ballarat in North Western, Victoria. We particularly enjoyed being able to feed our inner pyromaniacs in what was to become the climax of the film. We’ve thrown a few DIY festivals at the farm where it was shot so the location holds a special place in our collective hearts”
It’s no coincidence that on album release day, Press Club will play an instore in Melbourne before jetting off for more UK and European dates. With appearances at Reading and Leeds festivals and stacks more, if you’re living abroad you don’t want to miss this.
16 August 2019 – Oh Jean Instore, Melbourne
22 August 2019 – The Parish, Huddersfield
23 August 2019 – Reading Festival, Reading
24 August 2019 – Leeds Festival, Leeds
25 August 2019 – Greenbelt Festival, Northamptonshire
27 August 2019 – Redrum, Stafford
28 August 2019 – Bodega, Nottingham
29 August 2019 – Surf Cafe, Newcastle
30 August 2019 – Broadcast, Glasgow
31 August 2019 – Night People, Manchester
3 September 2019 – Annie’s, Worcester
4 September 2019 – Bermuda Bob’s Hi-Fi, Norwich
5 September 2019 – New Cross Inn, London
6 September 2019 – Prince Albert, Brighton
8 September 2019 – Cinetol, Amsterdam
10 September 2019 – Haldern Pop Bar, Haldern
11 September 2019 – Sonic Ballroom, Cologne
12 September 2019 – Alte Hackerei, Karlsruhe
13 September 2019 – Dynamo, Zurich
14 September 2019 – Strom, Munich
15 September 2019 – Cross Club, Prague
18 September 2019 – Stengade – Copenhagen
19 & 20 September 2019 – Reeperbahn, Hamburg
21 September 2019 – Vera, Groningen
Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency; photo credit: Ian Laidlaw
Sydney act Sunscreen are taking me back to the hey days of 80s New Romantic sounds with their poppy new single, “Think About You.” It’s an old-fashioned love song at its core, with Sunscreen’s own spin.
“This song is reminiscent of all things new, bright, and exciting,” explained lead vocalist and guitarist Sarah Sykes. “The feeling when you just can’t get close enough to someone.”
Sunscreen recently travelled all over the East Coast with their High Over Love tour, but they’ve got a few more shows left in them. Hear this track and more songs from the band’s forthcoming Falling in an Elevator EP at the following shows.
16 August 2019 – Week.End Club, Sydney (FREE)
23 August 2019 – UOW Unibar, Wollongong
Do you ever feel like bad luck follows you? Then you’ll relate to “Not My Fault,” the fun new single from Melbourne indie rock act Mylk.
This track is the perfect introduction to Mylk. It’s got a healthy dose of humour, an approachable sound, and a groove that won’t quit.
“It feels great to be releasing this track after working so hard on it for such a long time. We love the song, and to finally be able to show it to the world is exciting and relieving, hopefully it gets stuck in people’s heads!” said the group’s front man, Nathaniel Peacock. “It was while jamming the song instrumentally that we just happened to sing the words ‘it’s not my fault’ to the tune of the chorus and the rest of the lyrics just came together. The lyrical content of the song is not meant to be taken super seriously at all, with the track aiming to be fun and catchy, and something to make people move.”
Mylk will celebrate the release of “Not My Fault” with a hometown launch show at the Grace Darling Hotel on August 23.
In the wake of same sex marriage passing in Australia, Wolfjay wrote a simply stunning song about love. “Together” is the latest track from this Melbourne act who are generating serious buzz here and abroad.
“I wrote ‘Together’ the day Australia voted to legalise same-sex marriage in the nation-wide plebiscite, laying on the floor in a recording studio with someone I found fascinating and incredible and lovely,” Wolfjay explained. “We drank prosecco until there wasn’t any left and took turns being honest with each other. ‘Together’ is about having the freedom of being absorbed by the warmth and weight of being close to someone, sharing the same space for a moment and letting it consume you, finally letting go of every stressful thing that’s trying to steal that moment away — forgetting the future together”.
This song has got such a special sound. There’s a great modern indie pop sensibility about it with its beats and synths, but then with strings and subtle guitar sounds laid over the top there’s a little added romance.
If you love “Together,” you’ll be happy to learn there’s more where it came from. It’s the first in a trilogy series of tracks which will be released in the coming weeks. Wolfjay will also play the following shows celebrating its release through August and September.
29 August 2019 – The Gasometer Upstairs, Melbourne
1 September 2019 – Good Intent 1st Birthday @ The Marlyon Sunday, Sydney
3 & 5 September 2019 – BigSound @ The Flying Cock, Brisbane
13 September 2019 – The Stag Hotel, Adelaide
Image used with permission from Good Intent
Anxieties and insecurities have never sounded as sweet as they do infusing “Origami,” the sensational sophomore single from Sydney trio The Flowers. The band describes the song as “an ode to anxiety – social anxiety, insecurity within relationships and a little existential panic to top it all off.” I just think it’s brilliant.
This song is the perfect combination of happy-sad. It’s indie pop with a cutting rock edge and angelic vocals from Agnes O’Dwyer.
“After years of feeling like I was made differently, made wrong, I decided to write this song,” she explained. “It was an attempt to try and make sense of my conflicting needs to both be wanted and alone at the same time. The song explores the lengths we go to in order to seek the answers to ‘fix’ the anxiety instead of actually, truly listening to it.”
I wish I discovered this track before their recent single launch. However, hopefully it’s just the first of many shows for this exciting Sydney act.
Image used with permission from Habit Music Company
I’m sure I’m not alone in having one of those weeks where Friday hasn’t arrived soon enough. Thank god for bands like Newcastle garage punk act Split Feed who can let us cut loose for just a few minutes. Their latest track “Trinkets” is the perfect song to slip on to exorcise your frustrations.
“Trinkets” explores the power inanimate objects can hold over us.
“I have a little souvenir that I got when I was overseas a while ago during a past relationship that brings back positive but also negative memories,” admitted Split Feed’s lead singer and guitarist, Joe Willis. “This song sort of adopts a tug of war motif, I’m wanting to let go of some of these memories that are aroused from this souvenir but there are some memories that keep me from throwing it away.”
“Trinkets” gives us our first taste of Split Feed’s sophomore EP. The band has a reputation for their explosive live sets, so Sydneysiders shouldn’t miss them when they play Crowbar with Luca Brasi tomorrow night. Saturday plans sorted!
Tiny Castle’s new single “Composure” is a shimmery melancholy masterpiece. It sees the Brisbane rock act in a more subdued mode than we’re used to, but it’s absolutely beautiful.
Drummer Chris Trupp insists “’Composure’ isn’t a soundtrack for the down and out, but maybe a helping hand along the way.” Either way, I’m here for it with all its synths and sincerity.
Tiny Castle will launch “Composure” for hometown fans at the Black Bear Lodge on August 30.
