Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Precautions Release Poppy New Single “Mine”

Sydney band The Precautions have put a smile on my face today with the feel good new single “Mine.”

The song has a strong pop spirit, with a hint of Eastern exoticism which helps set it apart. The track has The Precautions’ frontwoman Mary Paras’ stamp all over it. She wrote the track in Sydney and Los Angeles and had a hand in recording and producing it. She’s also singing lead and backing vocals, giving this song a lush, feminine feel.

“Mine” comes from The Precautions’ recently released debut album Free World.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruel Shows Rare Talent Beyond His Years With “Don’t Tell Me”

I’m never quite sure whether to love or hate young performers. On one hand, I can’t help but be impressed with their talent realised at such a tender age. On the other, as I see what they’re doing I can’t help but think of what I was doing in my life at their age and how they’re clearly better than me. So I have mixed emotions about Ruel, because he’s kicking some serious goals at 14. Yes, 14.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he wrote his new single “Don’t Tell Me” at just 12. It’s not one of those songs that needs qualification. I’m not going to tell you it’s good for a 12-year-old, or that Ruel’s performance on it is good for a 14-year-old. It’s just good. I’m so impressed at this young man’s voice and passion. Ordinarily when kids sing about deep emotions there’s a disconnect. They don’t have the experiences to truly evoke what they’re singing about. I’m not sure what Ruel has lived through, but he’s convinced me.

Ruel is supporting Angus and Julia Stone in September. Make sure you arrive in time for his set if you’re going, because you’re going to want to say you saw this kid before he hit the big time.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amy Shark Hits Another Home Run With “Drive You Mad”

Amy Shark continues to prove she can’t put a foot wrong with the release of her new single “Drive You Mad.” This is yet another stellar cut from Amy’s debut EP Night Thinker.

The searingly honest lyrics, penned by Amy, really cut through. Dann Hume’s production helps realise Amy’s vision, taking this song to the next sonic level.

Amy has just completed her first North American tour and played Splendour in the Grass. Next stop, her own tour. If you can find some tickets, which are getting rare as hen’s teeth, you can catch her in major cities on the following dates before she supports Sia later this year.

17, 18. 19, 20 & 21 August 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
24 August 2017 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
25, 26 & 28 August 2017 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
31 August, 1 & 3 September 2017 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
8 September 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide
9 September 2017 – The Capitol, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus Dawson Strips Back for “Atticus Finch” Video

Perth electronic artist Angus Dawson has released a fantastic new video for his cool new single “Atticus Finch.”

When many of us think of electronic music, we think of studio wizardry, songs created by computers rather than real instruments. But Angus challenges our perceptions here, performing live in an abandoned quarry in Darlington. The dramatically rugged backdrop reinforces that this performance is as real as it gets. It’s a beautiful track with a dreamy sax line.

“Atticus Finch” comes from Angus’ Ellesmere Street EP. He’s currently in the middle of a tour to promote the EP. You can still catch him at the Worker’s Club in Melbourne on July 31 and Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Perth on August 5.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sloan Peterson Releases “Rats”

Sydney’s Sloan Peterson has put a spring in my step this Saturday with her defiant new single “Rats,” the second lifted from her self-titled EP. The track somehow has a gritty garage rock feel and a retro charm. I’m not even sure how that all works together, but Sloan pulls it off.

“‘Rats’ was written about low-lifes who wanna make something out of themselves, ratbags and teenagers who are on their own in a big city,” she explained in her press release. “I had a pretty rough couple of years between 13-16 living up in Brisbane, being involved with bad company, never attending school among other horrible situations, and this song speaks to how I was feeling after coming out of such a whirlwind, trying to start all over again in Sydney by myself at only 16.”

The Sloan Peterson EP is available from September 8 via Mirror Records. You can catch her live at Wollongong’s The Last Frost Festival on August 19 and Sounds of the Suburbs in Cronulla on September 3.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Self Talk Releases “Beside Dictionary” Ahead of EP Tour

I’ve had one of those days where the little things don’t go right and molehills seem like mountains. What’s the best way to deal with a day like that? Experts might advocate meditation or slow breathing, but I find grabbing a hairbrush and bouncing around my bedroom singing out a track like “Bedside Dictionary,” the latest track from Melbourne indie-poppers Self Talk, so much more therapeutic.

This music sounds so fresh but it also reminds me of some of the angry girl music I was listening to in the ‘90s like Juliana Hatfield, Letters to Cleo, and The Breeders. This nostalgic track is about “relationships that don’t really get past the beginning, not because they don’t work or the people involved don’t like each other, but it just doesn’t go any further,” the band explained. “It’s about the various things that come with that, how it might feel, the frustration or disconnection, or even just acceptance really.”

“Bedside Dictionary” comes from Self Talk’s EP Almost Everything, which drops on August 11. Preorder the EP and you’ll get instant downloads of “Bedside Dictionary” and “Old Habits.” Self Talk will support its release with shows all around the country next month.

12 August 2017 – The Old Bar, Melbourne
18 August 2017 – The Phoenix, Canberra
19 August 2017 – The Record Crate, Sydney
25 August 2017 – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
26 August 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Paris is Patient

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lance Ferguson Drops “Back to You” Single From Wild Remixed Solo Album

Melbourne soul pioneer and Bamboos founder Lance Ferguson has offered us a taste of his first solo album Raw Material with the release of the single “Back to You.”

The funky, feel good track is really the perfect showcase of what this album is all about. It samples “2+1,” which Lance recorded with his Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist. Lance loves working with samples, taking the original song and recutting it and recreating it until it’s something fresh. “Back to You” also sees Lance working with One Above, EMRSN, and Melbourne MC Mosé. This album might be technically a solo endeavour, but Lance does his best work when he’s bouncing off the creative energy of others.

The album is one of the more unique on the musical landscape. The creative process say Lance writing and recording twelve new songs. He pressed each one onto individual vinyl singles. He kept the first and sent the second to his favourite producers, encouraging them to sample the song they received and use it to start a new track. The first disc gives us the reworked versions, including six songs remastered by Lance. The second shows us the original recordings.

Raw Material drops on August 4.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sophisticated Dingo Gives You “Head Talk”

A band with a name as fantastic as Sophisticated Dingo was always going to get me on side. Happily the Melbourne duo has backed up the moniker with a totally catchy new single “Head Talk.”

It’s got a great spontaneous energy about it that really cuts through. I love the big chunky guitars and heavy drums on this one. The gang-vocals of the choruses were actually recorded in the kitchen and living room of their producer’s house to give the track a more DIY sound.

It sounds fun, but all that raucous enthusiasm is wrapped around some fairly heavy lyrics about feelings of isolation.

“Even stupid little things like drunken fights over the phone can take a toll on your psyche if you don’t have clarity and closure in situations,” explained Sophisticated Dingo’s frontman Lewis “Lew” Matte. “It’s important to clear the air wherever possible and to understand the situation so you don’t falsely interpret things, for your own wellbeing.”

Mark your calendars Melbourne, because Sophisticated Dingo will launch “Head Talk” at The Tote Hotel (Upstairs) on September 1.

Image used with permission from Pompadour PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The New Buzz’s New Single Has Me Buzzing

If there’s one new band you should be hearing buzz about, it’s The New Buzz. “Valley of Silence” is only the Brisbane band’s second single, but it sounds like it might have been recorded after the band were playing together for many decades.

That’s partly because their sound is so tight and partly because their sweet soul is the best kind of throwback. The band wears influences like Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding on its sleeve, and I love it. “Valley of Silence” was also recorded on vintage equipment to give it that authentic old school sound.

“Valley of Silence” features wild, passionate vocals from alt-country crooner Karl S. Williams. He’s a big part of the reason this song is so strong, which worries me a little. Without him in the band, will the songs have the same impact? It seems unfair to judge based on “Brisket Bits,” because B-sides are invariably not as strong as A-sides, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. For now though, let’s just appreciate how good “Valley of Silence is.

If you love the track, snap up one of the ultra-limited edition vinyl versions. There are just 30, all hand-numbered and featuring a unique hand-drawn sketch from Karl.

Image use with permission from Valley Heat Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Maja Makes Her Mark With “Wake Up and Find”

Iconic artists need just one name. Think Madonna, Prince, Beyonce, and Cher. Now we have a new name to the list: Maja. This Serbian-born, Melbourne-based chanteuse might be far from a household name yet, but her new single “Wake Up and Find” shows she’s got the talent to get there.

The tone of Maja’s voice is exquisite. I also love this song’s retro feel. There’s a really intriguing blend of surf rock, country, jazz, and soul that strangely works here.

“Wake Up and Find” comes from Maja’s EP Still Bleeding, which drops on August 4.

Maja will play Bar 303 in Northcote on July 30. She’s also planning some intimate shows across the country in September to support her EP’s release.