Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eleanor Dunlop Gets me “Rollin’ On”

I love the Christmas holiday break, but I hate the things that I miss while everything shuts down. I’ve resorted to asking my husband random questions to make up for the lack of pub trivia in our lives, and I’ve had to take to the streets while I’m waiting for my Tuesday RollerFit classes to resume. My bruised and battered knees are not impressed with the change, and I’m yet to find an area large enough for me to practice my tricks, but it will have to do.

One advantage that street skating does have is that I can program my own playlist. One that’s definitely made the cut is “Rollin’ On” by Sydney songstress Eleanor Dunlop. While I’m sure she didn’t write the song with roller skating in mind, it’s working for me!

“Rollin’ On is about not wanting a good thing to end. Similar to when you’re at a party or out with someone really great and you don’t ever want that moment to end,” Eleanor explained. “When I was writing it I was in need of some motivation and this song was a kind of kick up the butt for me. Dancing and moving helps motivate me so I was half writing half dancing – it got the song-writing ball rolling again for me.”

This is our first taste of Eleanor’s sophomore EP, which will be released sometime next year. It’s much rockier and more danceable than the piano-driven numbers we used to hear from her. What do you think of the change?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard Make me “Smile” with New Single Release

Sheppard has made us all smile this year, so it’s only fitting that their final single release of 2014 is called “Smile.” It’s a summery, frothy, poppy little number that should warm even the hardest heart. Its simple romantic lyrics aren’t going to set the world on fire, but the song’s so endearing that you’d have to be a real misery guts to hate it.

Does this song make you smile?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Horns Release Sizzling Single “Play with Fire”

The Horns don’t have the brassy sound I expected given their name, but the Melbourne dup have really impressed me with their debut single “Play with Fire.”

All the right elements are there: beautiful harmonies, a singalong chorus, and inventive layered instrumentation. It’s a really great track. No wonder they drew a big crowd to the Railway Hotel for the recent launch!

Hopefully we’ll hear more from this talented act really soon!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas One and All!

It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! I hope you all have an amazing day filled with fun, family, food, and other festive goodness. To set the mood I figured I’d share with you Gurrumul and Delta Goodrem’s twist on “Silent Night.”

I really love this. I thought their voices blended so beautifully when they recorded “Bayini” together in 2013, and it’s wonderful to hear that magic breathing new life into the Christmas classic.

You can find the track on this year’s Myer Spirit of Christmas or the So Fresh Songs for Christmas album. It’s worth buying a copy of both, as the Myer release raises money for the Salvos while So Fresh is helping out the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Husband Unleashes Awesome Second Single “The Money”

Perth singer-songwriter Husband has released the title track from his debut album The Money and it’s a cracker. It’s got such wonderful dark, brooding lyrics but a great melody that really soars for balance.

“’The Money’ expresses my frustration about how money and happiness are so closely linked for so many people,” Husband explained. “One night I found myself walking through Perth’s financial district. It felt so dead … its sole purpose is to make money 9-5. The emptiness I felt inspired this song.”

Husband’s debut album The Money will hit stores on January 23. He’ll play the following shows in his home state to support its release.

23 January 2015 – Mojos Bar, Fremantle
30 January 2015 – The Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury (FREE)
28 February & 1 March 2015 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Vanns Announce Plenty of Free Gigs to “Support Scattered by Sundown” EP

The Vanns haven’t long wrapped up a national tour, but they’re wasting no time in getting back out there. The Kiama boys are preparing to hit the road in February to celebrate the upcoming release of their new EP Scattered by Sundown. It’s set to feature the awesome new single “Operator.”

Scattered by Sundown will get a digital release on February 13. It will also be available on CD from the band’s website with five bonus tracks from The Vanns’ archives, including “Guilty Love,” “Belmore Street,” and “How it Used to Be.”

The Vanns have spent 2014 touring with the likes of Sticky Fingers, The Griswolds, Jinja Safari, Dappled Cities and heaps more, so they’re bound to be in fine form at the following shows. And so many of them are free that it doesn’t even matter if Christmas has done a number on your finances!

5 February 2015 – Sandbar, Mildura (FREE)
6 February 2015 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
7 February 2015 – Gordon Hotel, Portland (FREE)
8 February 2015 – Hotel Warnambool, Warnambool (FREE)
12 February 2015 – Front Bar @ Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda (FREE)
13 February 2015 – The Otis Room, Brunie (FREE)
14 February 2015 – Republic Bar, Hobart
26 February 2015 – Royal Oak Hotel, Lanceston
27 February 2015 – Saloon Bar, Traralgon (FREE)
28 February 2015 – Transit Bar, Canberra (FREE)
5 March 2015 – The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown (FREE)
6 March 2015 – Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith (FREE)
11 March 2015 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (FREE)
12 March 2015 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
13 March 2015 – Lennox Hotel, Lennox (FREE)
14 March 2015 – Trainspotters, Brisbane
15 March 2015 – Broadbeach Tavern, Broadbeach (FREE)
20 March 2015 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Martin Bradstreet Switches Focus To Music with Alexei Martov

While the band may be based out of Montreal, blues/psych-rock outfit Alexei Martov is undeniably Australian thanks to the talents of frontman Martin Bradstreet. The gifted vocalist and guitarist (he also plays piano) is joined in the group by two brothers, Matthew and Jonah Dorfman, who hold things down as the band’s rhythm section.


They have been kicking around for several years with releases such as Scent of a Wolf and Way of the Crow, but it feels like they’re due for a breakthrough soon with the recent release of their self-titled EP. And there’s a good reason for that, beyond the fact that the music on the eight-track project is some of their best to date. Bradstreet seems to be focusing more on the band than he had in the past, something that’s become evident through digging into his history.

The Australian native’s background doesn’t only include playing music since his teenage years; it turns out the guy has been pretty involved in online poker too. Bradstreet claims that he took on the pseudonym for musical reasons, according to the band’s Facebook. But it turns out that he also frequently used it as his online poker handle, along with the name MagicNinja, since sometime in 2007.

Instead of playing the wildly popular Texas Hold’em—the poker variant that led to the game’s online boom in the early aughts—Bradstreet sticks to the somewhat-lesser-known Pot Limit Omaha. As it turns out, though, it’s apparently a lot like its much more popular cousin. As pointed out by Betfair Poker, “Pot Limit Omaha is structured exactly the same as Texas Hold’em–but players are dealt four cards instead of two.” And if you’re wondering just how he’s faired in playing the game, it looks pretty good for Bradstreet. Although he lost several hundred thousand playing under the MagicNinja name, he looks to be doing just fine as Alexei Martov (per his profile on HighStakesDB).

As for that aforementioned focus shifting solely to music, the proof is all on the web. According to the aforementioned HighStakesDB page, he hasn’t played online since the summer of 2013. Although, to be fair, it’s hard to say if he’s completely kicked poker to the curb. Chances are he’s introduced his bandmates to the game and the three are enjoying some Pot Limit Omaha in their downtime between shows and recording sessions.

You can listen to Alexei Martov’s new self-titled EP below and buy it on iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Davey Lane Disses Christmas

I know that not everyone loves Christmas as much as me. Some folks out there are just gritting their teeth trying to wait it all out. So this song is for them. The bah-humbuggers as my mum likes to call them. Davey Lane’s spoken for you all with his new single “Wake Me Up When Christmas Ends.” The song might be a bit grinchy, but Davey’s showing he’s got some Christmas spirit by giving it away!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Former Eagle and the Worm Drummer Jim Lawrie Gives Away Singles


To celebrate the forthcoming release of his sophomore album EONS, Jim Lawrie is getting into the Christmas spirit and giving away two singles for free.

They’re both excellent, but “Just Like Normal’s” really bowled me over. What an amazing song that is. With songwriting skills like this, he was really wasted behind the drums of Eagle and the Worm. I’m so glad that he’s gone solo so we can hear songs like that.

If you’ve got tickets for Falls or the Southbound Festival in Busselton, make sure you don’t miss the talented Mr Lawrie’s sets!

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Central Rain Releases “Cold Turkey on Christmas Day”

We’re officially in the home stretch. Can you believe that this time next week, Christmas will be done and dusted for another year? Right now I’m turning into the Christmas Monster, cranking carols and wrapping gifts and getting far too excited for someone my age. The thing is though, there are only so many versions of “Winter Wonderland” you can hear. So I’m always excited when something new crosses my path, especially something Australian. And if it doesn’t get overly sappy and sentimental, so much the better.

So without further ado, I bring you “Cold Turkey on Christmas Day,” the new track from Melbourne’s Central Rain. It name checks Santa and the turkey, but it’s not your run-of-the-mill song for the season.

“Cold Turkey on Christmas Day” is the lead single from Central Rain’s debut EP, which is slated for a 2015 release. What do you think of it? If you love it, check out Central Rain’s Bandcamp page for a free download.