Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ivey Release Poppy Gem, “Won’t Be”

The rain might have been relentless in many parts of the country of late, but Gold Coast five-piece Ivey are bringing the sunshine with their feelgood new single “Won’t Be.” Lifted from their recently released EP Gorgeous, it’s a catchy piece of indie pop brilliance with real summer vibes.

“This song actually began from an ableton loop our drummer Matt had created. Drawn to the lead synth riff you hear at the start of the song, we started to construct a song around it,” the band explained. “What was resulted from that is one our most collaborative songwriting effort to date, and our first exploration into electronic music. ‘Won’t Be’ became a kind of anthem for the whole EP, theming topics of lost love, animosity and clarity.”

Ivey have supported acts like Ocean Alley and Cub Sport, but they’re ready to step into the spotlight with shows celebrating their recent EP release. Hear “Won’t Be” and other tracks from Gorgeous at the following shows.

26 October 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
2 November 2018 – West Thebarton Hotel, Adelaide (FREE)
3 November 2018 – Gasometer (Upstairs), Melbourne
8 December 2018 – Waywards, Sydney
9 December 2018 – North Gong Hotel, Wollongong (FREE)
22 December 2018 – End of Year Party Vol. 2, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Zap Releases Dreamy New Single “Legs and Arms”

With equal measures of romantic charm and quirk, Zap brings you their latest single “Legs and Arms.” The release is a truly international one; Zap is made up of two Aussies and a Greek who found their artistic groove in their adopted home of Berlin. The film clip, which is sure to make you giggle and also encourage you to book a Mediterranean holiday, took them to the Greek Islands.

Zap have a couple of shows in Berlin, so if you’re spending time in the German capital make sure you check them out. They’ll play Yorckschlösschen on November 2 and Artistania on November 23.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spectoral Puts Heart and Soul into New EP Release

Melbourne producer Spectoral has just released his debut EP An Incorruptible Dream, so there’s no better time to introduce you to everything he’s about. He has a knack for creating complex, interesting sounds, but for me the most interesting thing about Spectoral is the emotive, poetic lyrics he writes. Sometimes electronic artists neglect that, but the strong emotional core helps anchor every song on Spectoral’s release.

Take my favourite track from the EP, the single “Movin’ On,” an honest exploration of unrequited love. While Spectoral was inspired by a friend’s plight, the song has such heart that it’s easy to imagine he experienced all of the torturous yearning first-hand.

“We’d catch up and she’d always tell me news about this guy she was in love with. Things never really worked in her favour with him because he was already taken – it was this kinda Love Actually moment for her I guess, just in reverse,” recounted Spectoral. “So anyway, we’d chat about it, and she just found it so hard to give up the dream of one day him being hers. So this song’s about that. It’s about accepting the loss and letting it go.”

An Incorruptible Dream, featuring “Movin’ On,” is out now.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Loser Back With Another Earworm, “Phase Me”

Loser prove they’re not one-trick ponies with the release of new single “Phase Me,” the follow-up to their self-titled debut.

“Phase Me” is not quite as aggressive as “Loser” but it’s every bit as addictive. Just try to get that riff out of your head. It’s a real alt-rock gem with a nostalgic ‘90s feel.

“Phase Me” is the latest cut from Loser’s forthcoming debut EP Restless Noise, which will be released on October 26.

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

M-Phazes Releases Stellar Colabs With Daniel Johns & Josh Hardy

Gold Coast producer M-Phazes has teamed up with Daniel Johns and Hopium’s Josh Hardy for two new songs, released as a double A-side called II.

These two tracks couldn’t be more different. “Bad Behaviour,” featuring Daniel Johns, is emotionally intense, hard-hitting and full of aggressive yearning. “Heavy,” featuring Josh Hardy, has a much more chilled sound, with swooning vocals and laidback synths wrapped around powerful lyrics. They show the diversity of the ARIA Award nominated producer and hint at good things to come.

M-Phazes recently wrote on his Instagram, “After 8 years of co-writes, re-writes, label politics, building studios and relocating to LA, I’m finally ready to release a collection of new music that almost never saw the light of day. I’m constantly producing music for other artists but always found it hard to really “finish” my own songs. Those feelings of “is this good enough?” created a weight of expectation that dragged me down, feeling like the music I put out defined my worth as a person. I know I’m not the only one who goes through this and I feel like it’s a big problem throughout the artistic community.”

The release of these strong tracks is definitely a step in the right direction.

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Midnight Oil Releases Live Sydney Domain CD & DVD

In February 2017, Midnight Oil announced what would be their first tour in more than 15 years. The Great Circle World Tour would start in Sydney’s pubs, just as the band did in the early days, before circumnavigating the globe. Over the next six months The Oils played shows in 16 countries across five continents, spreading their message of the importance of a healthy planet and fair treatment for all its citizens. Then eventually they came home to Sydney.

They played the Domain, a place steeped in history: a ceremonial site for the Gadigal people, a site for political rallies against the Great Depression and Vietnam War. If you were there, you’re probably still talking about it. And if you weren’t, you’ll finally get the chance to experience it with the release of Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney on November 9.

The concert will be released on DVD and CD, and available to download or stream digitally. It’s got all the hits on it and some special moments too, like this fantastic version of Yothu Yindi’s classic, “Treaty.” It features Yirrmal Marika, the grandson of Yothu Yindi’s original lead singer. You’ll also hear a few bonus tracks captured at the Melbourne show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl a few days earlier. If you’re a real fan, you’ll want the special deluxe CD/DVD bundle. It features a bonus 75-minute film, Oils at the Reef. Featuring interviews with the band and footage from a stripped back benefit gig at Cairns’ Tanks Arts Centre, which raised money for Great Barrier Reef Legacy and the Australian Marine Conservation Society, it’s destined to be a real collector’s item. It’s available for pre-order now ahead of its November 9 release.

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Glades Drop Another Awesome Track Ahead of Album Release

Sydney electro-pop trio Glades has just dropped a killer new cut from their forthcoming debut album, their banging new single “Eyes Wide Shut.” The track comes with an awesome video shot in Los Angeles and directed by Grey Ghost.

“Eyes Wide Shut” is the fourth track lifted from Glades’ debut album To Love You, which will be released on November 2. Glades will celebrate its release with shows around the country at the following venues. Get your tickets while you can; I don’t think these guys will be playing venues as small as these forever!

24 November 2018 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 November 2018 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
1 December 2018 – Jive, Adelaide
6 December 2018 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
7 December 2018 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cyrus On the Comeback Trail With “Blah”

Cyrus has been a little quiet since taking the X Factor crown in 2015. Ordinarily that might be a sign that a reality TV winner will drop out of the industry, but in Cyrus’s case I think we can rest easy. He’s spent the last couple of years honing his craft and surrounding himself with some really cool local talents like Ned Philpot, Feki, Simba, and M2. Listening to his new single “Blah,” it seems time out of the spotlight has done him good.

This is such a cool, fresh track, co-written by Cyrus and his producer Amastro. The delivery is so soulful and the lyrics are authentic, if perhaps a little edgy for X Factor viewers.

“‘Blah’ is about dismissing the social norms and pressures that society places on us. I think everyone has or will experience this sort of pressure at some point in their lives, and can identify with the lyrics of this song,” Cyrus explained. “Walking into this session, I told Angus (Amastro) I wanted to work on something heavy. It’s the most experimental session I’ve been in, and the concept for the song was literally inspired by how honest and free our time was together.”

If you have preconceptions about who the people who win reality TV shows are, I encourage you to leave them behind when you listen to this. It’s a sign that Cyrus is capable of much more than the karaoke covers that thrust him into the limelight.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shag Rock Release Dream-Inspired Single “Fuzzy Connection”

Shag Rock have got your Saturday soundtrack sorted with their feel-good new single “Fuzzy Connection.” It’s a return to form for the band, with its jangly guitar riffs and cool indie pop groove. Like so many great tracks, it came to the band in a dream.

“Believe it or not, this song was actually written in a dream where the whole band were at some sick party. In the dream our bass player wrote it, so technically all credit goes to him,” explained lead guitarist Jacob Reed. “Basically I woke up at 1.30am one night, somehow remembered the chorus from the song in that dream, grabbed the out-of-tune acoustic sitting next to my bed, worked out the basic chords and croakily sung the chorus. Then when I woke up the next morning, I realised I recorded something that night on my phone and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world”

The release of “Fuzzy Connection” caps off a big year for Shag Rock, who played BIGSOUND, gigged along the East Coast with the release of their last single “Double Life,” and found themselves supporting The Rubens and Tia Gostelow. With tracks like these under their belt, expect more big things from this Brisbane band.

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

IVY Rock Out With “Sinners Grin”

Central Coast rockers IVY pull no punches with their electric new single “Sinners Grin.” It’s a sexy, bluesy number with a raw garage band sound that fans of classic rock will eat up.

This kind of rough and ready music is best experienced in the flesh, so IVY are packing up the van and heading out on the road for shows along the East Coast, including an appearance at the Hunter’s FKA Festival. Catch them at the following shows.

12 October 2018 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
13 October 2018 – FKA Festival, Hunter Valley
14 October 2018 – The Lord Gladstone, Sydney
27 October 2018 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney
16 November 2018 – Last Chance Rock N Roll Bar, Melbourne
23 November 2018 – Netherworld, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Good Intent