Maya Releases Bold New Single “What We Are Worth”

Melbourne-born soul singer Maya has had a big 2017, dividing her time between Los Angeles, New York, and her Australian home, all the time writing, performing, and honing her craft. Those experiences help inform her exciting new single “What We Are Worth.”

This song feels so fresh and original. It’s got a strong message, equally powerful vocals, and a really unique sound that helps set it apart. It’s the sort of track that could establish Maya as one of our most promising young talents.

“What We Are Worth is a conversation with myself about my constant questions about humanity – it’s a song about respecting yourself and the earth we live on,” Maya explained. “My music has to inspire people to reflect on both our actions and reactions to life,” MAYA passionately explains. “The song was made to shock and excite, while also opening up and expressing my feelings with intensity. This song was made to spread a message – to wake up and understand what we are worth to this earth.”

Maya will play a couple of shows around Melbourne to launch the single. Catch her at Ferdydurke in Melbourn on November 30 or The Night Cat in Fitzroy on December 1.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Angie McMahon Books High-Profile Supports With “Slow Mover” Release

What’s better than discovering an awesome new song that you can’t stop playing? Finding out that the artist is supporting a musician you already have tickets for! The song in question is “Slow Mover,” and the woman behind it, Melbourne’s Angie McMahon, will warm up the crowds at Alanis Morissette’s upcoming shows.

This track just oozes heart and charm. I love Angie’s low, smokey vocals and its great groove. Those lyrics too really strike a chord.

“’Slow Mover’ is a song about putting energy into things that are worthwhile, and taking plenty of time to get to a good place,” she explained. “I’d spent a lot of time pining after love, but at this point, my head was shifting, and what I actually wanted and needed was to pursue my music career.”

If you didn’t secure tickets to those sold-out Alanis gigs, don’t worry. Angie is headlining a show tomorrow and supporting The Shins in December. Here are all the places you can see her showcasing tracks from her debut album, due out next year!

2 November 2017 – Workers Club, Melbourne
4 December 2017 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (with The Shins)
5 December 2017 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane (with The Shins)
8 December 2017 – Enmore Theatre Sydney (with The Shins)
22 & 23 January 2018 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
24 January 2018 – ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Don’t Call Mo•Louie

Melbourne chanteuse Mo•Louie has just released a retro-inspired clip for her sultry new single “I’ll Call You.” The track is the second lifted from her debut EP Fire Brick, which drops tomorrow.

“I’ll Call You” is a soulful exploration of a healing heart, with a chilled out groove and biting lyrics. She combines genres so easily here, creating a track that is complex, yet accessible.

Mo•Louie will celebrate her EP release by taking part in an exciting multisensory show Technicolour Wonderland alongside other local talents Youthfire and Abraham Tilbury. It all happens at Ding Dong Lounge on November 24 as part of Melbourne Music Week.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Howlite Releases Haunting New Single Saviour

It’s not quite Halloween fodder, but there’s certainly a haunting quality to Howlite’s new single “Saviour.” It’s a sultry, languorous slow burner with killer vocals from Alison Thom.

“The song draws a lot from religious imagery, as well as deep southern blues and gospel, and I tried to capture the raw emotions and joy of choral singing – when I wrote the refrain in the chorus of the song I imagined it being sung a’capella by a church choir,” Howlite explained. “Much of the lyrical content was inspired by one of my favourite poems called “Ishtar Awakens In Chicago” by Mohja Kahf, which talks about feminine strength and self assurance”

Follow Melburnians can catch Howlite at a couple of shows next month.

4 November 2017 – Revolver Bandroom, Melbourne (with Seattle Fix)
16 November 2017 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne (with General Assembly)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

The Lockhearts Offer Album Teaser With “Goddamn Pretty” Single

Anticipation is building for The Lockhearts’ new album Americana Doom Fuzz with the release of their brand new single “Goddamn Pretty.” The album won’t hit stores until early 2018, but if the single is any indication it’s going to be a corker. I love the ways these guys reinterpret vintage Americana sounds with a little Aussie edge.

If you love what you hear, get yourself to one of The Lockhearts’ upcoming shows. Expect to hear more of the new album tracks and all your old favourites at these shows:

3 November 2017 – The Bendigo Hotel, Bendigo
10 November 2017 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
11 November 2017 – Frankies, Sydney (FREE)
17 November 2017 – Prince of Wales, Brisbane
18 November 2017 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast
2 December 2017 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
3 December 2017 – Sounds of Sunday @ Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast (FREE)

Guy Sebastian Drops Real New Single

I was so amused by Hamish and Andy’s latest stunt, where they wrote a song in 10 minutes and handed it over to Guy Sebastian to pass it off as his latest single. Most of the radio execs fell for the ruse hook, line, and sinker, despite the song’s woeful lyrics, because frankly Guy could sing the phonebook and it’d sell. Thankfully for us all though, his new single “Bloodstone” is a whole lot better than the phonebook or Hamish and Andy’s song.

“Bloodstone” is the latest cut from Guy’s album Conscious, set for release on November 3. It hooked me in with its piano introduction and didn’t let go. Its lyrics are emotionally charged, and it’s got a great soul-pop sensibility. Guy’s vocals are also on point, but that’s nothing new.

“It’s kind of a desperate song,” Guy explained. “You’re in a relationship where you feel like everything is coming to an end and you’re just pleading to your other half.”

With quality tracks like this, you can expect Conscious to do big things on its release next week!

Greta Stanley Drops Beautiful Single “When January Comes” Ahead of Album Release

Greta Stanley gives a masterclass in capturing a sense of time and place with her new single “When January Comes.” The song about growing up in Far North Queensland is a nostalgic delight.

“Summer in far north QLD, a heat that swallows you … I wrote this song watching people around me change through the seasons, the crystal-clear waterfalls, and the backyards of friend’s houses, the company you keep and that bittersweet holiday heat. As much as we complain there is some kinda special feeling around that time of year up here that I can’t quite explain,” she explained.

“When January Comes” comes from Greta’s debut album Full Grown, a collection of songs which tackle what it means to grow up with its discovery and loss of love and constant changes.

“The LP is about all of the bad stuff, and the good stuff, and how unfortunately, one wouldn’t really exist without the other,” Greta adds. “It’s about learning, hurting, coming completely unstuck and then somehow finding your feet again – life is big and scary but it’s big and beautiful too, and it’s easy to sometimes forget that there’s a world outside the door of your own.”

Thankfully there’s not too long to wait to hear more; Full Grown drops tomorrow!

Image used with permission from Title Track

The Teskey Brothers Release “Louisa” Ahead of Aussie Tour

The Teskey Brothers have been one of my favourite musical discoveries of the year. If you haven’t gotten into them yet, you need to wrap your ears around “Louisa,” the band’s bluesy new single.

It’s a little swampier than much of their music, but that soulful spirit that runs through their music is certainly on show.

These guys have had such a busy year with a sold-out tour in July, shows in Los Angeles, New York, and London, and a slot at Queenscliff Music Festival. But they’re not done yet. There’s still time for one more Aussie tour before 2017 is done is dusted. Where will you see The Teskey Brothers?

30 November – Jive Bar, Adelaide (with Timberwolf)
1 December – The Foundry, Brisbane (with Timberwolf)
2 December – The Basement, Sydney (with Timberwolf)
26 January – Melbourne Zoo Twilights 2018, Melbourne (with Saskwatch)

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency/credit Nick McKinlay

Jeremy Neale Visiting Record Stores for Album Release

With the release of his debut solo album Getting The Team Back Together imminent, former Velociraptor frontman Jeremy Neale has announced instore appearances in the East Coast capitals.

The album features the fun single “Dancin’ & Romancin’” and plenty more quirky, energetic power pop tunes. The tunes are great fun, but hone in on the lyrics and you’ll hear some life lessons about love, growth, doubt, and the pursuit of happiness.

Getting The Team Back Together is released on November 3, the same day these instores kick off!

3 November 2017 – Jet Black Cat Music, Brisbane
5 November 2017 – Oh Jean Records, Melbourne
9 November 2017 – Red Eye Records, Sydney

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Jimmy Barnes Sharing Stories From New Book on Upcoming Tour

My poor credit card isn’t thanking me, but I seem to be buying concert tickets like they’re going out of style this week. Monday already saw me participating in presales for Red Hot Summer at Cockatoo Island and New Power Generation at the Enmore, and I’ve just bought tickets for Jimmy BarnesWorking Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs national tour at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre. Thank god I don’t have kids because I’m far too busy to manage anything but seeing shows!

Anyway, with the regular sale still a few days away I thought it was best I clue the rest of you in to what’s sure to be an awesome tour. I caught Jimmy on his Working Class Boy tour last year, and this is even half as good it’s going to be phenomenal. Like the previous tour, Jimmy will share stories of his life and songs the songs that shaped him and his career.

To commemorate his upcoming book release and tour, Jimmy will also rerelease a commemorative edition of For the Working Class Man tomorrow. The album comes bundled with a DVD recorded in 1984 at the Playroom in Queensland. Get it on October 20 and your copy of the Working Class Man book and your concert tickets on October 23.

15 & 16 March 2018 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
17 March 2018 – Canberra Theatre, Canberra
21 March 2018 – Devonport Entertainment Centre, Devonport
22 & 23 March 2018 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston
24 March 2018 – Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre, Hobart
5 April 2018 – Parklands Resort & Conference Centre, Mudgee
6 April 2018 – Civic Centre, Newcastle
7 April 2018 – Bathurst Entertainment Centre, Bathurst
12 April 2018 – Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane
13 April 2018 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
14 April 2018 – The Star Theatre, Gold Coast
18 April 2018 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury
19 April 2018 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth
21 April 2018 – Keith Mitchell Theatre, Port Pirie
22 April 2018 Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
26 April 2018 Frankston Arts Centre Theatre, Frankston
27 April 2018 – Costa Hall, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong
28 April 2018 – The Palais Theatre, St Kilda
29 April 2018 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
3 May 2018 – Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney
8 May 2018 – Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
10 May 2018 – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
11 May 2018 – Spark Arena, Auckland
12 May 2018 – Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
20 May 2018 – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
22 & 23 May 2018 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns
25 May 2018 – Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville
26 May 2018 – Plenary Halls, Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre, Mackay
27 May 2018 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
29 May 2018 – Caloundra Events Centre, Caloundra
30 May 2018 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM