After wowing crowds at Splendour, Meg Mac’s dropped her latest single “Never Be.” This track just oozes cool. I love the keys and of course Meg’s flawless vocals.
If you want to see Meg perform the song live, I suggest you get tickets for her spring single tour pronto. Some dates have already sold out, and the others won’t be too far behind! Meg’s also spending most of her time in the US these days, so it may be your last chance to see her live this year. Tickets are available from Meg’s website.
4 September 2015 – Odd Fellow, Fremantle (SOLD OUT)
5 September 2015 – Capitol, Perth (SOLD OUT)
11 September 2015 – Metro, Sydney
24 September 2015 – Uni Bar, Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
26 September 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
27 September 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
29 September 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
2 October 2015 – Max Watts, Brisbane
Treat your ears to “Let Me In,” the haunting new single from Melbourne duo Arctic Maps. It’s so chilled out and lovely. It’s just the sort of song that I want to hear as a very busy working week winds down. There’s something magical about the minimalism of the music, which complements singer Freya Bennett’s voice beautifully.
“Let Me In” is the first single from Arctic Maps’ debut EP, which is due out in December.
I love it when a voice is so powerful that it cuts through everything else. I’m one of those people that doesn’t equate power with big belting notes or vocal gymnastics. For me, a powerful voice is simply one that commands your attention. I found just that listening to “Moonlight,” the latest release from Melbourne songbird Bronwyn Rose.
This song has an ethereal, almost creepy quality that gave me goosebumps. Her voice is mesmerising, so pure and haunting. I love the way it intermingles with the rich soundscape Bronwyn and her musicians have created.
“Moonlight” comes from Bronwyn Rose’s debut EP Alive which is available through her Bandcamp page.
It’s been a long while since I’ve heard some straight up and sexy rock and roll. Dirty Hearts have answered my prayers with the release of “Louis XIV,” a bluesy, gritty beast of a single with a killer guitar solo and chorus that will have you singing along.
This is the kind of song that’s going to sound amazing in the live area, so it’s exciting to hear that it won’t be too long before this Brisbane band will be back on stage. There’s also a self-titled EP on the way, probably around the same time. Rock on!
I don’t know what it is about the music of Gurrumul, but listening to him just makes me feel at peace. I don’t need to know what he’s singing about, because I can feel it on an emotional level. Checking out the film clip for “Jesu,” the lead single from Gurrumul’s third studio album The Gospel Album, is just what I needed on this Friday afternoon.
The clip for this song of praise was recorded on location at Brighton’s Trinity Uniting Church and Galiwinku on Elcho Island. It’s the ideal companion for this mellow gospel tune.
The Gospel Album sees Gurrumul delivering his take on the spiritual songs the Christian missionaries brought to Arnhem Land. It’s in stores on July 31, just a couple of days after Gurrumul kicks off the album tour.
29 July 2015 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
2 August 2015 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
5 August 2015 – Festival Theatre @ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
8 August 2015 – Supersense Festival, Melbourne
10 August 2015 – Canberra Theatre, Canberra
12 August 2015 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth
Big Strong Brute has channelled Napoleon Dynamite with the fun clip for his new single “Wait.” The song’s great, but this visual feast of a music video adds another level of enjoyment. Is there anything better on a Friday than watching the Brisbane artist let loose in his loungeroom?
“Wait” comes from Big Strong Brute’s new EP Good Work, which will be released on July 31.
The hip hop genre really isn’t known for its love songs, but Coin Banks bucks the trend with his cool new single “Cursive.”
The Perth emcee lays down some fierce rhymes here, and featured vocals from New York City’s Apani B Fly give the track the right amount of sweetness. I also love the film clip, set in Apani B Fly’s hometown. Has there ever been a cuter couple than these kids?
“Cursive” comes from Coin Banks’ Tails EP. He’ll be releasing a full-length album soon, so keep your ears out for that.
I’m a sucker for an interesting tone. I love a voice that’s instantly identifiable, that cuts through everything else and grabs you. I’ve found that in Thandi Phoenix, a really cool new artist from Sydney. She’s just released her new single “Come Around,” and it’s completely entranced me.
I love the way Thandi’s married soul with electronica here. It’s really different and very powerful. Apparently the song came about after Thandi had her first experiences of betrayal, and that emotion really comes through.
Thandi’s artistry doesn’t stop with the music though. She’s also responsible for the single artwork.
Thandi will play Splendour in the Grass this weekend, so if you’re heading along make sure you catch her set! Image used with permission from Neon Records
The Paper Kites have really impressed me with every one of their singles, so it surprises me to realise I’ve never actually written about them here. The release of their new single “Electric Indigo” and their upcoming Aussie tour is the perfect time to change all that.
There’s such a surety about everything this Melbourne quintet releases, and that makes their music feel comfortable from the first listen. This song is instantly accessible but complex, with lush instrumentation and gorgeous vocals. “Electric Indigo” sounds a bit bigger than their previous releases, but it ticks all the boxes for me.
It’s the first track lifted from The Paper Kites’ forthcoming album twelvefour, which hits stores on August 28. Following that, the band will hit the road and play the following shows all around the country. Don’t wait until then to get your tickets. I predict they’re going to sell quickly.
15 October 2015 – The Gov, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
16 October 2015 – Amplifier, Perth
17 October 2015 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
22 October 2015 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (ALL AGES)
23 October 2015 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
24 October 2015 – The Workers Club, Geelong
29 October 2015 – Solbar, Maroochydore
30 October 2015 – The Soundlounge, Gold Coast
31 October 2015 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
5 November 2015 – Lizotte’s, Lambton (ALL AGES)
6 November 2015 – The Metro, Sydney (ALL AGES)
7 November 2015 – ANU Bar, Canberra
8 November 2015 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul (ALL AGES)
My love affair with brother-sister duo The Acfields continues with the release of their powerful new song “The Years.” It tells the real-life story of an elderly divorced coupled reunited again after suffering from dementia.
“Once we tell the story live, people tend to fall in love with the message of the song,” explained Hannah, who herself was told the story by a grandchild of one of the song’s subjects.
As the tale goes, the husband and wife married, had children, then separated forty years later. As fate would have it, as dementia took hold they ended up at the same nursing home. Despite losing his memory, the ex-husband really did ask the nurse “Who’s the pretty one?” when he clamped eyes on his ex-wife for the first time in years. The song doesn’t go into the particulars, but apparently the pair was often spotted holding hands and fumbling at each others clothes as they rekindled their romance without the baggage of conscious memories.
The brother and sister act decided to make the song a focus after discovering that the song connected with audiences all over the nation, while touring to promote their self-titled full-length album last year. who was originally told about this true story by her friend, a grandchild of the song’s subjects.
The Acfields will celebrate the release of “The Years” with an East Coast tour, kicking off in Brisbane this week.
23 July 2015 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
24 July 2015 – House Concert, Lismore
25 July 2015 – Mandala Organic Arts, Mermaid Beach
26 July 2015 – Bohemian Bungalow, Eumundi
31 July 2015 – Pizza Paradiso, Byron Bay
1 August 2015 – Thirty Three on Hickory, Dorrigo
2 August 2015 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
5 August 2015 – Lizotte’s, Lambton
7 August 2015 – Humph Hall, Allambie Heights
8 August 2015 – House Concert, Terara
