Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Loretta Keep Stellar Singles Coming Ahead of EP Launch and Tour

Eora/Sydney pop-rock act Loretta have been releasing music at such a furious pace that I don’t blame you if you’re struggling to keep up. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, they’ve digitally bundled their latest track “Wish I Could Show You” with “All My Friends (Are Your Friends)”, which dropped in mid-September. The two tracks show different sides of this exciting ensemble.

“‘Wish I Could Show You’ is about the essence of growth, self-discovery, and profound changes and experiences that come with time and getting older. It offers a deeply personal perspective from us that acts as a love letter to the past, acknowledging the evolution of relationships, friendships and personal aspirations,” Loretta explained of the upbeat, nostalgic cut.

“‘All My Friends’ navigates the complexities that come with trying to maintain a friendship after a breakup, delving into the challenges that come with sharing a social circle with an ex,” Loretta said of this bittersweet ballad. “It is a portrayal of the stage immediately after a relationship ends, encapsulating the bittersweet reality of seeing your ex move on, whilst trying to focus on moving on yourself.”

We can look forward to more new music from Loretta when their new EP Never Thought of Growing Up drops on November 3. To celebrate the release, they’ll play the following East Coast shows:

4 November 2023 – Yah Yah’s, Naarm/Melbourne
9 November 2023 – Stranded Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
17 November 2023 – Towradji Beach Hotel, Warrang/Wollongong
23 November 2023 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
25 November 2023 – King Street, Mulubinba/Newcastle

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks Drop “Dumb Decisions”

Woolyungah/Wollongong band Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks have just dropped the video for their latest single “Dumb Decisions,” and it’s a love song with a different. Sweet without the saccharine, it celebrates the risky decision to get romantically involved with a friend.

This is the first song featuring the band’s new drummer Paul Pozzachio, who’s slotted in nicely alongside vocalist Lizzie Jack, lead guitarist Alex Fordyce, and bassist Jayke Beckette. I love the jangly 90s feel and relatable storyteller lyrics.

Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks will open up the RAD Stage at the Yours & Owls Festival on October 15, so if you’re getting along make sure you catch their set!

Image used with permission from Lizzie Jack and the Beanstalks

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hattie Oates Floors Me With “You Could Love Me Back”

If you’ve ever had it bad for someone who was yet to see your worth, I know you’re going to fall for Hattie Oates’ latest single “You Could Love Me Back.” This is a perfect piece of indie pop music, with a catchy melody and lyrics that speak right to your soul.

“I wrote this song early last year in Sydney, with one of my favorite co-writers/producers, Liam Quinn. It was our second session together, and we wanted to try something a bit more down-tempo and heartfelt. I had typed the first verse in my notes that morning, so once we’d settled on some chords, it all clicked into place fairly quickly; we were done in a few hours. I remember listening back to it on the drive home and thinking … ‘OMG, this needs to be in a movie scene!’ I felt like it held a sort of cinematic emotion; I may have cried a little haha!”

Hattie has been having a ball seeing the sights of London of late (follow her on Insta for all the pics!), but hopefully she’ll be back playing shows for us all really soon.

Image used with permission from Decent Music PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Highline Impress With “Exit A”

Highline found a special place in my heart with their EP Overrun last year. It’s taken some time for this Eora/Sydney band to regroup, but they’ve come back strong with “Exit A,” their first release for 2023. It’s a gorgeous indie-rock ballad which shows they’re a real force to be reckoned with.

“Exit A is a song about losing a friend. It’s reflecting on the loss and realising that the writing was on the wall so to speak ‘I should have seen this coming from miles away’. It’s frustrating losing people that once meant so much to you and this song expresses that frustration,” explained frontman Sam Rigney. “The song captures the sadness that comes with witnessing this happen and the reflective emotions that come with recognising things aren’t how they used to be, and wondering whether you could have stopped it from happening. This song was one of those tunes where the general premise was always there but no progress was really made for about a year then it all sort of wrote itself within a couple of hours. The title came about because the chords were E and A, so we just called the song EA, which is how we arrived at Exit A.”

There’s more new music from Highline on its way, with the band promising to release their next EP in 2024. They’ve also just been announced on the bill for the Good Gumnuts Festival in Pakana Country/Heybridge on January 5 and 6.

Image used with permission from Peach & Sons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Waugh Releases Powerful Single, “We Are Here”

We don’t often hear queer voices like Michael Waugh’s. His brand of country-folk is a world away from the pop and dance tracks that usually come from the LGBTQIA+ community, and it makes a refreshing change. His new single “We Are Here” is a powerful anthem that celebrates gay pioneers while acknowledging the hardships so many faced, including Michael himself. Take a moment to properly listen to this song. Trust me, you’ll want to take these lyrics in.

“I want to celebrate those gay men through history – many of whom risked their lives – so that I can stand here today, wearing my rainbow elastic-panelled Blundstone boots, and speak my truth,” he explained.

“What made it safe for me to come out was having other queer artists and storytellers who were unafraid to speak their truth. You can’t be what you can’t see, right? So, I had this really ambitious idea when writing ‘We Are Here’. I wanted to talk about the history of gay men, and to include myself as a point on that timeline. I also wanted to let the next generation know that we are here, we are waiting to be their community, and that they are loved.”

Michael is currently touring from town to town, busting stereotypes everywhere he plays. Here are his upcoming gigs:

7 & 8 October 2023– Nanga Music Festival, Noongar Country/Dwellingup
13 October 2023 – Stratford Courthouse, Brayakaulung Country/Stratford
15 October 2023 – Wesley of Warragul, Darug Country/Warragul

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dinley Jones Delivers Fun Throwback Single, “Get Down, Right Now”

Eora/Sydney artist Dinley Jones is giving me late ‘90s, early 00’s vibes with his fun new pop single “Get Down, Right Now.” If you blasted acts like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 5ive back in the day, you’re going to love this one.

Dinley started his career in musical theatre at the tender age of 13, which explains the fire dance moves in the clip. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an artist like this on the scene. Only time will tell whether the scene has moved on from music like this, but I’d love to think there’s still a place for something so purely nostalgic.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Kelly Releases Voice-Inspired Single, “If Not Now”

Normally the press release that accompanies the launch of a single contains information about the song and the artist. There’ll usually be quotes from the musician about the track’s inspiration, the recording process, and its video. There might even be some tour dates or information about the album to come. There are probably images attached so press outlets like mine can include them in our articles and catch your eye.

The press release of Paul Kelly’s new single “If Not Now” doesn’t have any of that. Instead, it just contains the lyrics of this song. As you listen to this one, it makes perfect sense. Honestly, the words to this song are all that matter. They speak for themselves, a call to all Australians to make change today. Or at least when we head to the ballot boxes on October 14.

These Voice-inspired songs are coming thick and fast at the moment, and I love it. The best art has something to say. When it can inspire us, immobilise us, perhaps even change our hearts and minds, it’s done its job.

In case you were wondering, Paul does have some upcoming shows. Check him out when he plays near you:

6 October 2023 – Now & Forever @ Shepparton Showgrounds, Kanny-goopna/Shepparton
14 October 2023 – The Warm Up, Mparntwe/Alice Springs
29 October 2023 – Harvest Rock II Festival @ Murlawirrapurka and Ityamai-Itpina/Rymill and King Rodney Parks, Tartanya/Adelaide

Image: Stuart Sevastos @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Benn Gunn Shows Yes Support With “Let Their Voice Be Heard”

John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” might be the official anthem for the Yes campaign, but Benn Gunn’s latest single is a worthy unofficial option. “Let Their Voice Be Heard” is a plea for all Australians to come together as one and vote yes in the upcoming Voice referendum.

“It’s long overdue that we are proud of our indigenous Australians,” Benn enthused. “They’re the longest surviving culture on earth which makes them the greatest survivors in human history.”

I love how inclusive this song is. It’s a celebration of the notion of moving forward as a society, doing better because everyone is heard. The press release for this single explains that the feedback the Voice to Parliament could provide has the potential to save Australians hundreds of millions of dollars. The Federal Government currently invests around $4.5 billion dollars a year on Indigenous initiatives including health care and other essential services. However, the distrust some Indigenous Australians have of governments stemming from harmful policies of the past mean that even programs with excellent intentions can struggle to gain widespread acceptance in the communities they’re trying to help. With Indigenous elders offering their feedback on new policies and programs, we’re likely to see greater acceptance and outcomes. Surely that benefits us all. As Benn Gunn sings, “It’s time to come together and make a brand new start.”

Image used with permission from Checked Label Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saralyn Finds Closure With New Single, “Last Goodbye”

Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley singer-songwriter Saralyn has got me right in the feels with her latest single “Last Goodbye.” It’s such a beautiful country ballad about lost love inspired by Saralyn’s own heartbreak.

“I feel like in life we say goodbye to many things unexpectedly, it doesn’t just have to be a relationship, but deep down there is a knowing that maybe it’s for the best,” says Saralyn. “When I wrote this song it allowed me to have closure … I didn’t know that it was still lurking in the back of my mind.”

Saralyn will support Amber Lawrence at her show at the Paterson School of Arts Hall this Saturday, October 7.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skyuka Shows Her Darker Side With “Houseplants”

Boorloo/Perth talent Skyuka first caught my attention with her upbeat indie-pop ditty “Michael Cera.” It was playful and sweet, and not at all like her latest single “Houseplants.” We love peeling back the layers of an artist, so we’re pretty psyched to her switching things up with this brooding, angsty track.

“‘Houseplants’ is definitely the first angry song I’ve released, and it feels great,” she enthused. “It’s about having complete, utter disappointment in someone and a lack of communication making you question everything to the point that you drive yourself crazy, creating your own narratives that may not even exist. ‘Houseplants’ originally started with just a bass line that I wrote and from there came the melody quite easily. I was having a terrible night mentally, so the salty lyrics just poured out of me. I then programmed some synth and recorded my vocals from home. My brother (Token Friend) put down live bass and guitar; and did a lot of layering in parts to really build the tension. We both then went to Debaser Studios with Jasper Emmitt Miller who put down live drums. We were very grateful to then have Andy Lawson steer the track in the right direction with his production and mixing skills.”

There’s more new music from Skyuka on the way with her EP slated for release later this year.

Photo credit: Sarah Haleem