“Heartache Blues” is one of my favourite songs from Reece Mastin’sChange Colours album. So I’m thrilled to see it’s not just the new single, but that’s got an amazing new video to match.
“Heartache Blues is a song about being away from the people, places, and spaces you miss so much when you couldn’t be further away from them,” Reece explained. “It’s a gut-wrenching feeling at the start, but on your way home there’s nothing better than the feeling of getting closer to being back there.”
This song has a great 80s pop-rock vibe, so it’s only fitting that the clip takes us back to the decade with some of the maddest hula hooping action I can recall seeing in some time. What do you think of it?
Proving that they’re one of the most consistent acts on the local landscape these days, Halcyon Drive have released another killer track, their latest single “Books for the Holidays.” It’s the latest track lifted from the band’s forthcoming EP Untethered, which is released on May 13.
“The song is about being frustrated with the state of loneliness. Part longing over unrequited feelings, part despair, part wonderment at the beauty that surrounds us everyday- this is definitely the most heartfelt tune on the EP,” Halcyon Drive’s frontman Michael Oechsle says.
I can certainly feel that frustration coming through in the heartfelt vocals and lush instrumentation, which moves from delicate and sparse to anthemic with ease.
Halcyon Drive have been touring the country virtually non-stop for the last 12 months, but they’re not done yet. Rather than resting, the band’s about to embark on its most extensive run of gigs to date. Here are all the places you can catch Halcyon Drive on their EP tour.
9 June 2016 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
10 June 2016 – The Stag & Hunter, Newcastle (FREE)
11 June 2016 – Transit Bar, Canberra
12 June 2016 – Botany View Hotel, Sydney (FREE)
16 June 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
17 June 2016 – Saloon Bar, Traralgon
18 June 2016 – Shadow Electric, Melbourne
1 July 2016 – Cats, Adelaide
8 July 2016 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
9 July 2016 – Trainspotters, Brisbane
10 July 2016 – Sounds of Sunday, Gold Coast (FREE)
Local alt-folk act The Paper Kites have just released the final video in their “midnight” trilogy for the new single “Renegade.”
Again, the clip depicts the happenings of people between 12 and 4 am, a reference to the band’s stellar 2015 album TwelveFour. This time around it follows a group of kids who break into an aquatic cinema in the wee small hours of the morning.
To celebrate the conclusion of the midnight trilogy, The Paper Kites will play some intimate shows in capital cities across Australia. They’re in fine form after playing shows across Europe in January and February. After that it’s off to Canada and the United States for more shows. Whether you’re here or stateside, make sure you don’t miss one of these gigs.
23 June 2016 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES)
24 June 2016 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
25 June 2016 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (Under 18s permitted with parent/guardian)
1 July 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Under 18s permitted with parent/guardian)
2 July 2016 – Norwood Town Hall, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
9 & 10 July 2016 – Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg
11 July 2016 – Triple Rock, Minneapolis
12 July 2016 – Shank Hall, Milwaukee
13 July 2016 – The Shelter, Detroit
14 July 2016 – Rum Runners, London
16 July 2016 – Ottawa Blues, Ottawa
17 July 2016 – Parc de la Francophonie @ Festival D’ete, Quebec City
19 July 2016 – Showcase Room @ Higher Ground, Burlington
20 July 2016 – The Studio at Waiting Room, Buffalo
21 July 2016 – Club Café, Pittsburgh
22 July 2016 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati
23 July 2016 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
24 July 2016 – Wayhome Music Festival, Oro-Medonte
27 July 2016 – StageOne, Fairfield
28 July 2016 – Cape Cinema, Dennis
29 July 2016 – Port City Musical Hall, Portland
31 July 2016 – Osheaga, Montreal
After cutting his eye teeth in Sydney jazz and blues clubs for the last three years, Jesse Redwing is preparing to unleash his music on the rest of Australia. The new single “Crawlin’ Up the Walls” gives you a taster of what you can expect on the EP he’s currently working on. This is old school blues, dirty and honest, with a modern swagger.
If you like what you hear, catch Jesse Redwing playing Yah Yah’s in Melbourne on 22 April or in Sydney at the Brighton Up Bar on 24 April.
Melbourne chanteuse Tanzer gives classic 60s soul music a modern twist with her delightful new single “Johnny.”
The track tells the story of a performer whose larger than life persona is at odds with the man behind the image. I love its big brassy orchestration and Tanzer’s sultry vocals.
“Johnny” comes from Tanzer’s debut EP Four Love Songs, which will drop on May 16. She’ll launch it for hometown fans at the Toff in Town on May 28.
Lazy Sundays are ideal for listening to the laidback groove of a tune like “Karma My Life,” the new single from Melbourne band The Hiding.
I just love this song’s carefree, roadtrippy vibe. It makes sense that it reminds me of travel, because the folky percussive guitar sound was influenced by the acoustic performances the lads saw in Central Park whilst living in New York.
The lyrics are also full of positivity and wisdom.
“Life can throw so many speed bumps and The Hiding has experienced its fair share of these,” explained lyricist and guitarist Anthony Salce in the press release. “It can be deflating and soul damaging, however, these are life lessons we all experience and Karma my life is about accepting these journeys, appreciating the turning point and celebrating the ‘positive experience’ that changed your life.”
And can I just take a moment to talk about the mesmerising music video? It features the work of renowned sand artist Fatmir Mura. “As Karma My Life is an honest and emotive piece, we wanted the video to represent the changing nature of the band and the need to adapt to your surroundings, which Fatmir delivers very well in his sand art,” Anthony explained. I couldn’t take my eyes off this video. It’s truly stunning.
If you’re digging what The Hiding do too, and you live in their home state, you can catch them at the following upcoming shows. Hopefully they won’t leave the rest of Australia waiting too long to see them!
29 April 2016 – Rifle Brigade Hotel, Bendigo
6 May 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
21 May 2016 – Revolver, Melbourne
Listening to “Dallas,” the debut single from Perth one-man electronic project WULFE was an interesting experience for me. I’m used to thinking of electronic music as the stuff they play in the clubs that gets people up on the floor and dancing until dawn. However, “Dallas” shows a different side of electronica, something more subtle, delicate, and really quite beautiful.
Even though I didn’t have lyrics to cling onto, I found myself going on a real emotional journey with “Dallas.” I love how the piano anchors it, an organic heart supporting the shimmery synths.
I was already impressed by this track, but when I noticed WULFE is just 18 I became even moreso. This is one young artist with a big future ahead.
This might be the rantings of a child of the ‘80s looking back at the decade she was born with rose-coloured glasses, but I’m convinced the women of the music world we looked up to were so much cooler than young ladies that serve as musical role models today. We had Pat Benatar, the Wilson sisters of Heart, the Bangles … I was almost feeling like they’d broken the mould until I heard “Miles Away,” the title track of Tully on Tully’s EP.
It seems I’m not the only one digging this 80s-inspired power pop anthem. Rage recently chose the video as its indie clip of the week.
Tully on Tully are currently on tour to support the Miles Away EP’s recent release. You can still catch them at the following venues.
15 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 April 2016 – Workers Club, Melbourne
22 April 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
26 May 2016 – Bar On The Hill @ University of Newcastle, Newcastle (lunchtime gig)
26 May 2016 – Gallery Bar @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 May 2016 – Transit Bar, Canberra
Greg Chiapello has certainly taken his time to release a follow-up to his debut single “Hot Coffee.” The Queensland singer-songwriter has kept us waiting since last February to hear something new, but it’s worth the wait.
“Around the World” showcases the same stellar falsetto and quirky pop sensibility that drew me to Greg’s music all those months ago. I love its retro 70s vibe and easy groove.
Hopefully Greg won’t leave us waiting so long for the follow up to this one!
Hump Days are never easy, but when you’re battling a cold as I am pushing through a work day is that much harder. If you’re struggling today, take a moment to press play and let the feel-good power-pop vibes of “Ghosts of 1999.”
The track comes from Sunshine Coast indie-rock act Selahphonic, who’ve spend the better part of 2015 touring Australia and the United States. All that experience is paying off, because they’re sounding like they’ve got years of experience under their belt. It’s polished without feeling bland. At this relatively early stage in their career I can already imagine them selling out stadiums.
See Selahphonic before they blow up at the following single launch shows.
15 April 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
30 April 2016 – Moonshine, Manly
6 May 2016 – The Helm, Sunshine Coast
11 June 2016 – Sea N’ Sound Festival, Mooloolaba
