Cavalcade of Stars Appear in Casey Barnes’ Music Video

Casey Barnes has enlisted plenty of star power for the music video for his latest single “Live as One.” Appearances from Erik Thompson, Pete Evans, Shane Heal, Greg Bird, Sally Pearson, Rob Mills, and heaps more have helped the clip go viral. But this clip has more than celebrities to endear itself.

With the Olympics winding down, we’re all thinking of the need to break down barriers and live harmoniously together, putting aside cultural and religious beliefs as well as other differences like sexual orientation, disabilities, and upbringings. It’s such a great positive message expressed beautifully by Casey and his cowriter Rick Price.

“Rick and I were both inspired to write ‘Live As One’ at the start of this year after feeling frustration at the constant fear filled messages and negativity we constantly see every day in the news and on social media, along with the mistakes we keep on making as a human race, over the history of time, with violence and hatred, which clearly isn’t the answer,” Casey explained. “My favourite lyric in the whole song is the opening line: ‘Angry words and a fist never healed no one’. I feel there’s never been a more important time to be spreading messages of hope and positivity, especially for our kids who are the next generation that have the ability to make change.”

“Live as One” is the title track from Casey’s new album, which drops on August 26.

The Plastic Attraction Wows Me With “Holding You”

The Plastic Attraction has hit a home run with its debut single “Holding You.” This song from four Perth schoolyard pals is one of the catchiest tracks I’ve heard in some time. It’s your classic tale of love and heartache, with 90s pop-rock sensibilities given a 21st century update.

“’Holding You’ was born when Matt and Horna were jamming on some ideas and came up with that opening riff,” explained the band’s lead singer Liam. “The whole song stemmed from that intro section and once the drums came in, the song seemed to come together very naturally.”

The Plastic Attraction will launch “Holding You” for hometown fans at The Hen House Live at Badlands Bar in Perth on September 10.

Formidable Vegetable Sound System Spread the Word About “Kimchi”

Quirky doesn’t even begin to cover “Kimchi,” the groovy new single from Fremantle’s Formidable Vegetable Sound System. Both entertaining and informative, the song will make you want to get up and dance and make your own fermented Korean cabbage. Thankfully the lyrics tell you how!

“It’s basically a recipe of how to make it yourself so that everyone can experience how awesome it is!” frontman Charlie Mgee explains. “The food-ninja challenge is getting past the smell, but once you’ve achieved that, everlasting deliciousness is your reward!”

“Kimchi” is just a taste of the ecological electro-swing you’ll find on Formidable Vegetable Sound System’s debut album Grow Do It, which drops on September 2. The band will promote the album with a tour around the country. In keeping with their sustainable philosophy, they won’t be clocking up any frequent flyer points. Instead they’ll travel around the country in their beloved van Norbit, which runs on used fish and chips shop oil sourced from fast food joints around the country.

Charlie promises “The shows will be full of the world’s maddest chicken impersonations, hyperactive trombones, trumpets and violins, songs about dirt, eating weeds, recycling and lots of crazy dancing (on and off stage!)” If you want in, make sure you get to one of the following gigs. All shows are all ages events.

2 September 2016 – Daylesford Town Hall, Daylesford
3 September 2016 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
9 September 2016 – Camelot, Marrickville
10 September 2016 – Canberra Musicians Club, Canberra
11 September 2016 – The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
17 September 2016 – Mt Gambier City Hall, Mt Gambier
18 September 2016 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
21 September 2016 – Hannans Club, Kalgoorlie
2 October 2016 – Permafest @ Swan Valley Adventure Centre, Perth

Let Koi Child Brighten Your Wednesday

After a late night glued to the discus finals and with a cold that’s lingering, I’m struggling to get moving even more than usual this Hump Day. Koi Child’s latest single “Touch Em” is just what I needed to get my butt into gear.

“Touch Em” is a magnificent fireball of brassy energy that showcases the unique funky sound of this Western Australian quartet. Its laidback vid was filmed in Koi Child’s hometown of Fremantle at the legendary Mojos Bar and surrounds.

“Touch Em” comes from Koi Child’s self-titled debut album, which is in stores now. The band will play “Touch Em” and other album tracks on their Aussie tour which kicks off in Mandurah this week.

19 August 2016 – ‘Hooch’ Players Bar, Mandurah
20 & 21 August 2016 – Mojos Bar, Fremantle
26 August 2016 – Volumes Festival @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
27 August 2016 – Howler, Melbourne

Matt Joe Gow Releases Awesome Americana Single “I’m Your Man”

It’s been seven long years since Melbourne-based muso Matt Joe Gow released his debut album The Messenger. But it’s making a welcome return to the music scene with the release of “I’m Your Man,” the lead single from the forthcoming and highly anticipated new album, aptly titled Seven Years.

This song is a real charmer with lyrics and rich vocals that have me smitten. If you are too, make sure you catch Matt playing with a full band at Brunswick’s The Retreat Hotel on September 2.

HOLY HOLY Release Killer New Single “Darwinism”

Aussie act HOLY HOLY is giving us a taste of their highly anticipated second album with the release of the new single “Darwinism.”

It’s a sonic feast with grungy guitar and an easy vibe that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. It’s amazing really that this track sounds so coherent because the members of HOLY HOLY are scattered across Australia. From Launceston to Brisbane and Melbourne, ideas are sent backwards and forwards and songs developed despite the distance.

With such an unorthodox approach to music making, it’s only fitting that “Darwinism” had a strange beginning. Lead vocalist Timothy Carroll recalls conceiving the song in a hotel bathroom.

“I remember the boys were all asleep in the apartment and I was looking for a place to play so I locked myself in the bathroom and was making some recordings on my phone,” he said. “I felt straight away it could work as a full band track”.

The song starts sparsely with that melody from the bathroom before building to an orchestral crescendo with trumpet and trombone work from Ross Irwin and Kieran Conrau.

There are no firm dates scheduled yet, but HOLY HOLY will play shows from September to November in the United Kingdom, Europe, and here in Australia, ahead of the release of their next album in early 2017.

Phia Heads to Central Australia for Gorgeous New Music Video

With her debut album The Ocean of Everything set for release later this month, Melbourne songstress Phia has given us another teaser of what’s to come with the release of the poppy new single “Open/Closed.”

Pop is a bit of a dirty word on the modern musical landscape, but this song is a world away from the manufactured music that gave the genre that bad reputation. “Open/Closed” is everything good music should be, catchy as hell with real charm. I also love the music video which Phia shot in the Australian outback.

The Ocean of Everything drops on August 26. Phia will support its worldwide release with some shows abroad. Hopefully it’s not too long before she treats local fans to some dates too!

19 August 2016 – Artlake Festival, Lichterfeld
25 August 2016 – The Gladstone, Brighton
27 August 2016 – The George Tavern, London
28 August 2016 – Hagglers Corner, Sheffield
30 August 2016 – The New Adelphi, Hull
13 September 2016 – Blue Shell, Cologne
14 September 2016 – Objekt 5, Halle
15 September 2016 – Gruene Zitadella, Magdeburg
16 September 2016 – Privatclub, Berlin
20 September 2016 – Ostpol, Dresden
22 September 2016 – Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig
23 September 2016 – Forty One, Saalfeld
24 September 2016 –Wandertheater Festival, Radebeul

Daggy Man Releases Beautiful New Single “Lovers on a Hospital Wing”

Daggy Man continues to impress with the release of his latest single, “Lovers on a Hospital Wing.”

This is such a beautiful song, delicate and perfectly measured. It’s the third single from Daggy Man’s upcoming album called A Lazy Kind of Pain, which should drop in the coming months.

Daggy Man promises to play a few shows soon so we can hear the incredible music he’s creating in person.

Twin Fires Get Toes Tapping with “Let Me Be Your Man”

I’m totally digging the country-rock vibes of “Let Me Be Your Man,” the sophomore single from Sydney ban Twin Fires.

Its Americana feel should come as no surprise, because the track was actually written in Austin, Texas. Its twangy riffs and shuffling beat reference the classic sounds of the American south perfectly, providing an excellent backdrop for this classic story of boy wants girl.

“Let Me Be Your Man” comes from Twin Fires’ EP This Time I’m Fine, which will drop on August 12.

I “Adore” Amy Shark!

Gold Coast songstress Amy Shark has been doing some amazing things of late, including winning the best pop release title for her song “Golden Fleece” at the Queensland Music Awards this year and supporting the likes of Matt Corby, The Delta Riggs, and Dylan Joel. However, I must admit she hasn’t been on my radar until now.

What an introduction “Adore” is though. The production by M-Phazes and Cam Bluff is first class, but it’s the song beneath all of the lush soundscape that really gets me excited. Amy’s vocals are gorgeous, with just the right amount of vulnerability for this confession of longing. The words are so on point.

“Adore” is the first single from Amy’s forthcoming EP The Little Sleeper, which will drop on September 16. She’ll tour the country in October to celebrate its release.