Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wing Defence Releases Poppy Charmer, “Listerine”

Adelaide Wing Defence has put a smile on my face with their minty fresh new single “Listerine.” It’s got a poppy charm about it, which balances the heavy subject matter of loving someone with a drinking problem.

“You want to help them with every fibre of your being, but they won’t allow it and you don’t fully understand the struggles of the addiction,” explained Wing Defence’s guitarist Paige.

Lead singer Skye added “The very core of this song comes from a place of love and care, although it also delves into the reality that it can make you both go absolutely insane”

Wing Defence will warm up for the sold out Til the Wheels Fall Off festival with a free show at Yah Yahs in Melbourne on September 14.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bell City Square Start Strong With Debut Single “Make Me Feel Nothing”

Melbourne-via-Darwin trio Bell City Square have got me grooving with their debut single “Make Me Feel Nothing.” It’s so hooky, a real dance-floor smash, anchored by such personal, powerful lyrics about battling anxiety.

“I love house music and more minimal electronic music,” said the outfit’s frontman Sam Weaver, explaining the song’s sound. “And with that kind of music every element just fades in and does its part – adds to the rhythm or something – then drops out.”

Bell City Square might be just starting out, but they’ve got a team of agents here in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America working for them. Aussies, you might just be listening to our next global success story.

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alexander Biggs Drops Beautiful New Single Ahead of Amy Shark Supports

If you’ve got tickets for Amy Shark’s sold out shows around Australia, make sure you arrive for the support act. Melbourne musician Alexander Biggs has given me goosebumps with his beautiful new single “Dog Boy.” A song penned in a blanket fort in a ground floor apartment in inner-city Melbourne, Alexander says the song is about realising he hadn’t been taking care of himself or loving himself enough and that he needed to do better.

“It’s an old riff from a phone demo that I eventually put together in the fort, writing the lyrics in one sitting because a good song is a finished one,” he said. “The song builds into an explosion of mess and harmony and melody, and I made it that way searching for catharsis, which I hope listeners can feel, and that I feel when I play it.”

“Dog Boy” comes from Alexander’s new EP Whatever Helps You Sleep, which drops tomorrow.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Prickly About Sian Evans’ “Thorns”

You don’t earn a couple of Queensland Music Award nominations unless you’re a special musician. A QMA finalist in 2016 and 2018, when Sian Evans releases music you need to pay attention. Her new single “Thorns,” nominated in the folk category at this year’s awards, is a gorgeous acoustic track with a moving message.

“Thorns is a folk song. It’s also a love song,” Sian explained. “It’s no secret songwriting is a powerful tool for expression and healing pain, but metaphorically ‘Thorns’ definitely depicts how anything worthwhile has elements of both beauty and pain, and that’s just how life is. Take the good with the bad. It’s not going to be comfortable all of the time. Or even half the time.”

Sian will play a few shows next month to celebrate the release of “Thorns.” Catch her at the following venues.

1 September 2018 – Maleny Music Festival, Sunshine Coast (10am – Maleny Lane, 12.30pm – Platypus Lounge)
2 September 2018 – The Junk Bar, Brisbane
8 September 2018 – Open Bar, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Back With Awaited Album “Home”

It’s been more than four years since the country’s highest-selling independent artist delivered a new album. But John Butler Trio is rewarding fans for their patience with a brand newie, appropriately titled Home.

Home will drop on September 28, but John Butler won’t leave you waiting that long for some new music. The title track is out right now. And isn’t it special.

I must admit, as the first notes piped through my speakers I was taken aback. Where were the acoustic guitars? What was with the electronic sounds? It was all so dark and brooding. But give it a minute people. Just a minute. Because this is really good stuff. Yes, it’s a departure. But true artists evolve. I didn’t expect this new direction, but I like it a lot.

“Given the very personal subject matter of these new songs I pondered what it might mean to record in mainly a solo format for the first time ever,” John Butler explained. “(This track) scratches the surface of the emotional and sonic landscape that eventually became the bedrock of the album.”

you’re interested in the new material, point your browser to John Butler Trio’s website. The album is available for pre-order now. The website has a whole range of exclusive bundls including signs CDs, LPs, and other merchandise.

If you’ve missed seeing John Butler Trio live, you won’t be kept waiting too long. The band will launch Home with shows in Australia, Japan, Europe, and North America in the last quarter of the year. With just one Aussie show on the current list, I think we can safely say more dates will come shortly. But for now, put these in your calendar JBT fans!

29 September 2018 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach
3 October 2018 – Bigcat, Osaka
4 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Shinjuku-ku
5 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Tokyo
11 October 2018 – Barrowlands, Glasgow
12 October 2018 – Albert Hall, Manchester
13 October 2018 – Vicar St, Dublin
15 October 2018 – Great Hall, Exeter
16 October 2018 – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
17 October 2018 – Eventim Apollo, London
19 October 2018 – Palladium, Koln
20 October 2018 – Mehr! Theater, Hamburg
21 October 2018 – Huxleys, Berlin
22 October 2018 – Tonhalle, Munich
23 October 2018 – Arena Wien, Wien
26 October 2018 – Atlantico, Rome
27 October 2018 – Gran Teatro Geox, Padova
28 October 2018 – Alcatraz, Milan
30 October 2018 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg City
31 October 2018 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
1 November 2018 – AB, Brussels
2 November 2018 – Halle 622, Zurich
3 November 2018 – Les Docks, Lausanne
6 November 2018 – La Laiterie, Strasbourg
7 November 2018 – La Cooperative de Mai, Clermont-ferrand
8 November 2018 – Le Radiant, Caluire et Cuire
9 November 2018 – L’Olympia, Paris
10 November 2018 – L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, Paris
16 November 2018 – Warner Theater, Washington, D.C.
17 November 2018 – The Fillmore, Philadelphia
20 November 2018 – Beacon Theatre, New York
21 November 2018 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston
23 November 2018 – Corona Theatre, Montreal
24 November 2018 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa
25 November 2018 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
27 November 2018 – Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
29 November 2018 – The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
30 November 2018 – Taft Theatre, Cincinnati
1 December 2018 – The Caverns, Pelham
2 December 2018 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta
4 December 2018 – Soul Kitchen Music Hall, Mobile
5 December 2018 – The Joy Theater, New Orleans
7 December 2018 – Paramount Theatre, Austin
8 December 2018 – House of Blues, Houston
9 December 2018 – House of Blues, Dallas
13 December 2018 – Rialto Theatre, Tucson
14 December 2018 – The Theatre @ Ace Hotel, Los Angeles
15 December 2018 – Fox Theater, Oakland

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruel Shows No Signs of Fatigue With Third EP Single & Tour

Forget about Bieber. London-born, Aussie-raised teen Ruel is creating much better music at 15 than Justin was at that age. He’s also writing the track and playing several instruments. And people are starting to take notice. Tyler, The Creator has just recruited him for his Camp Flog Knaw Festival, happening this November. But before that he’ll play shows around Australia.

If you’re not familiar with Ruel yet, his new single “Younger,” the third single lifted from his EP Ready, is the perfect introduction. It’s such smart pop music, with lyrics that speak to his core teen audience but also make people like me well past those years feel nostalgic. His voice is stellar and the production, which Ruel has a major stake in, is flawless.

See these shows while you can still catch him in small venues. This guy is destined for the stadiums. Trust me.

27 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Under 18s matinee)
28 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Licensed 18+)
29 September 2018 – Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley (Licensed ALL AGES)
4 October 2018 – The Gov, Hindmarsh (Licensed ALL AGES)
5 October 2018 – 256 Wickham, Fortitude Valley (Licensed ALL AGES)
10 October 2018 – Enmore Theatre, Newtown (Licensed ALL AGES)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cookin’ On 3 Burners Teams Up With Kaiit For Funky New Single “Warning”

If “Warning” doesn’t have you grooving around your office this Friday afternoon, you’ve got more willpower than me. The latest single from Cookin’ On 3 Burners features silky smooth vocals from up-and-coming soul chanteuse Kaiit. While the musical pairing is brand new, Kaiit and the Burners developed a lasting friendship through the Dig Deep mentorship program.

This is such a cool track, one that pays tribute to the foundations of funk, jazz, and soul while somehow feeling fresh. I love it. If you do too, make sure you catch Cookin’ On 3 Burners celebrating the single’s release at the following shows.

31 August 2018 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
7 September 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
8 September 2018 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
20 September 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
21 September 2018 – Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest, Kandanga

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KRSTN Releases Soulful New Single “Second Chance”

Melbourne soul-pop act KRSTN oozes cool in her new single “Second Chance.” It’s got a great early naughties RnB vibe with its rap break and easy groove.

“Second Chance is a song I wrote about conflicting thoughts – despite knowing someone has done you wrong and the reasons for that are clear, you’re still willing to work it out and give them a second chance,” KRSTN explained. “I think everyone has felt this about someone at some point, whether romantically or otherwise.”

With a Bachelor of Music in classical piano under her belt and a performance history that dates back to when she was just six years old, I have a feeling this song just scratches the surface of what KRSTN can do. I really enjoy it, but I can’t wait to hear more.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Loser

Strap yourself in for two-and-a-half minutes of blistering rock courtesy of Melbourne band Loser. Their debut single, also called “Loser” is a sucker punch of chunky guitar riffs and slacker lyrics that I find irresistible.

There’s a spontaneous energy about the band that might come because they’re a relatively new outfit. Frontman Tim Maxwell (Apart From This/Grim Rhythm) wrote the songs in late 2017 and got Chris Cowburn (The Smith Street Band) and Craig Selak (The Bennies) involved. Just three weeks later after three jam sessions, they were in the studio. Keeping with the band’s philosophy that time’s not there for wasting, they filmed the clip at Max Watts in Melbourne just a week later.

Tim says the song is about “feeling isolated, overwhelmed and conflicted between what you feel is right within yourself, and what everyone else is constantly telling you.”

It’s just the thing you need to fire you up on the home stretch to the weekend!

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Iron Eye Rock You With “Conscience Cleaner”

The Iron Eye have supported an impressive list of acts including Shihad, DZ Deathrays, Harts, Like Thieves, and Dallas Frasca. However, with the release of their new single “Conscience Cleaner,” the Brisbane rockers are showing why they deserve to be headliners.

It’s a ball-tearing track that doesn’t take a backwards step. The band seems to just hit the accelerator and go! It’s earned them a spot on Spotify’s All New Rock playlist, which puts them alongside world famous acts like Alice in Chains, Dashboard Confessional, and Hands Like Houses.

Fresh from a Sydney show last week, The Iron Eye will play more gigs in Australia and New Zealand to celebrate the release of “Conscience Cleaner.”

12 September 2018 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
14 September 2018 – Galato’s, Auckland
15 September 2018 – Churchill’s, Christchurch
5 October 2018 – Crowbar, Brisbane