Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dande and the Lion Release Indie-Pop Treat, “Children of the Hour”

I love a happy-sad song. You know those ones that get you up and dancing, but are a lot darker than they first appear once you start listening to the lyrics. So “Children of the Hour,” the latest single from Eora/Sydney act Dande and the Lion, has everything I’m looking for. Rest assured, it will get you up off your seat and grooving along to the beat. But once you tap into the words, you’ll start to fully appreciate this gem.

‘Children of the Hour’ was inspired by a play I read by Lilian Hellman – ‘The Children’s Hour’ – that was later adapted into a film starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine,” explained vocalist Natassa Zoe. “Hellman’s story played a part in helping to initiate my songwriting process and I started to reflect on how this related to experiences in my own life at that time. ‘Children of the Hour’ centres around the push and pull within an intimate relationship; meeting someone who takes you completely off-guard and shakes up your world in a totally unexpected way. So much so, that you start creating excuses to see them, thinking about a future with them, yet despite all those feelings it never quite matches up, for whatever reason you’re both just out of touch.

“The song itself is about being playful in the moment, following the feeling rather than over-thinking things. Yet, despite this, the ‘hour’ never being quite right and ultimately leading to the endless wondering of how things might have been under different circumstances, in another time.”

Dande and the Lion are current touring around the East Coast to support this single’s release. Here are all their remaining dates:
3 March 2023 – Oriental Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
25 March 2023 – The Jynx House @ Venue 114, Kabi Kabi and Jinibari Country/Sunshine Coast (supporting The VANNS)
5 April 2023 – Mumbo Jumbo’s, Darkinjung Country/Terrigal
14 April 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Dharawal Country/Towradgi
21 April 2023 – The Gum Ball, Wonnarua Country/Lower Belford
28 April 2023 – Kelly’s on King, Eora/Newtown

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Saz Watson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MANE Wows Me With “Breathing Again”

LGBTQIA+ indie pop artist MANE has floored me with her beautiful new single “Breathing Again.” Giving us our first taste of her sophomore EP, this stunning track makes me pretty excited about what comes next. It’s anthemic and dramatic while being rooted in honest emotions.

“I distinctly remember writing this song with Charlie (McClean, cofounder of She Writes) at Kobalt studios in LA and feeling overwhelmed by a waterfall of happy/sad emotions … Charlie really gently helped coax them out of me in a way where I didn’t need to be specific or elaborate into any detail which was really nice,” she said. “The song to me is about a moment of clarity or relief in the midst of healing from something – the sometimes fleeting feeling that it is in fact going to be OK, for me those moments provide a lot of hope. It’s refreshing, relieving and sometimes exciting to feel, especially if it’s felt heavy and dark for so long. I think finding a space where you can genuinely smile, breathe and just exist after a grief is a testament to your own resilience, because even though you may still be going through it your finding room around it to seek hope and happiness and I think that’s brave as hell!”

A true creative, MANE also produced and edited the music video for her latest single.

“The footage of the dancer was filmed by Omri Ohana and although the choreography was not intended for my song it was really special editing it myself and seeing how well it came together,” MANE added. “The dilapidated settings of the dancing scenes had a real sense of finding beauty in the ugliness and heaviness that some of us face daily which is kinda what Breathing Again is about … so it just felt really right

The release of “Breathing Again” is the start of an exciting new chapter for MANE. Not only is her new EP on the way, she’s heading to the United States for festivals and a string of headlining shows. America, you are in for such a treat.

8-11 March 2023 – New Colossus Festival, New York City
12 March 2023 – Beerburg Brewery Festival, Austin
13-18 March 2023 – SXSW, Austin
19 March 2023 – New New Festival, Dallas
22 March 2023 – The East Room, Nashville
24 March 2023 – The Monarch, Louisville
25 March 2023 – TBA, Cincinnati
1 April 2023 – Plan 9 Records, Richmond (Acoustic Pop-Up Show)
4 April 2023 – The Camel, Richmond
12 April 2023 – TBA, Los Angeles

Image used with permission from Pretty Good Thanks; credit: Friends on Film

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna O Releases Fantastic New Single “We’ve Got Time”

Boorloo/Perth electro-pop act Anna O has given me chills with her latest single “We’ve Got Time”. This track draws you in with a stripped-back opening verse which showcases Anna O’s vocals before that beat drops. If you love acts like Montaigne and Ngaiire, this will be right up your alley.

I also appreciate that Anna O is a woman who has lived a life because it makes her music so much meatier than your average pop song. Managing life as a mother of two with birth trauma, postnatal depression, physical disability, and undiagnosed neurodivergence, Anna’s relationship with her partner naturally struggled. “We’ve Got Time” came out of that period where they came back to one another despite the obstacles for the sake of the family they’d created.

“This song, for me, is about hope. It’s about the life we are building together now, and making a beautiful situation out of what felt like a very broken one,” she explained. “The last two lines of the bridge say ‘Can I see you right in front of me now? Cos you’re my way home. You’re my way home.’ And that’s just it, we’re finding our way home to each other again.”

“We’ve Got Time” is one of several new Anna O tracks produced by Luke Minness (PRISCILLA, Have a Good Day). Their partnership has led to one of the most productive years of Anna’s life, so it sounds like there’s plenty more fantastic music in store.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

High Tropics Rock Out With “Girlfriends”

Kabi Kabi/Sunshine Coast indie-rock act High Tropics has put a smile on my face this morning with their cool new single “Girlfriends.” With gritty guitars, easy vocals, and an infectious melody, I know you’re going to dig it too.

“‘Girlfriends’ is a down-and-out love song that doubles as a love letter to the green queen Mary Jane,” explained the band’s creator, Josh Stewart. “Written during the healing process of a six-year relationship ending, it’s a song about picking yourself up and moving on.”

This track sounds effortless, but Josh has recently been candid about the struggles he faces with Crohn’s disease.

“I first got into music for all the wrong reasons, eventually completed a bachelor of audio engineering and got really ill in my final year of the degree,” he shared. “I ended up getting diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2013, which altered the course of my life. Ironically though, it was the thing that made me fall in love with and develop my songwriting, as it became my way of escaping reality. It’s my therapy.”

“As I’ve seen a bit of the stigma around disabilities lessen in society over the last few years, it’s helped me reflect and embrace my own struggles and experiences, and see it as part of my story, not something to be ashamed of. I want to be a force for good, and hiding my condition from the world doesn’t help anyone. Our industry has made some great headway with diversity over the last few years, but disabled artists are still extremely underrepresented, and my silence certainly hasn’t helped. I’d like to see more support for people living with disabilities, specifically within the music industry. It’s time to lose the stigma, let’s show the world everybody can rock.”

You can see Josh and his friends rock out when High Tropics hits cities around Queensland to promote this single in the coming months. Catch them at the following venues near you:

31 March 2023 – Solbar, Gubbi Gubbi/Maroochydore
21 April 2023 – Ole Bar, Kabi Kabi/Noosa
12 May 2023 – Tomcat, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Polish Club Soundtrack Rugby League Season With “Good Time”

I’m not sure how many of you share my sentiments, but I’m pretty excited this week for the return of the regular seasons of the NRL and NRLW. With the trial games out of the way, it’s time to see whether my beloved Eels can go one better in 2023. The Nine Network has a history of opting for fairly safe choices for their rugby league theme song. Everyone loves the Hoodoo Gurus and Barnesy, but Nine’s shaken things up this year, opting for a little Polish Club instead. Rest assured, you’ll be hearing their track “Good Time” a lot this year. And that’s a very good thing.

“We wanted a short, sharp song, filled with nothing but catchphrases, with each part being its own hook. I think we nailed it,” said Novak. I don’t disagree.

Now hopefully we can see Polish Club booked as part of the grand final entertainment!

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Derek Bogart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliott Releases Stunning New Single, “Tell Me”

It’s been far too long since we heard new music from Eliott, one of my favourite singer-songwriters in the country. Her latest single “Tell Me” is worth the wait, a vulnerable indie-pop track that somehow manages to feel intimate, yet epic.

“I wrote ‘Tell Me’ when I was 22 years old and really feeling the weight of the world,” Eliott said. “My direction wasn’t clear I was a little lost and unsure of the path I wanted to take.”

Working with her cowriter Andy Hopkins in Forbes Street Studios in Eora/Sydney helped Eliott process her emotions and bring the song together.

“Something for me which has helped heal and understand the motions that I’m going through is songwriting,” she added. “Songwriting for me is the purest form of therapy, I’ll often subconsciously write something which I’ve been internally keeping in for a very long time and it gives me the space to let it out into the world and out of my own head – and with this song, that was the case.”

The gorgeous video was captured in just one take.

“To pull it together in that amount of time was nerve-wracking, but I felt alive,” Eliott said. “There’s no room for error there, no leeway. You can’t have a bad performance. I really had to step into that role. But I think this song tells me to trust myself, so I did and it worked.”

Hopefully this is the first of several songs we hear from Eliott this year.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Jess Brohier

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Laura Frank Does Country Her Way With “Days Gone By”

With her cropped platinum do and bold blazer, you’ve probably guessed that Laura Frank isn’t your ordinary country singer. Imbuing her sound with more rock edge than the average, she recently earned the People’s Choice Award for Most Promising Future Star at the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival. If you’re not already across her music, her latest single “Days Gone By” is the ideal introduction.

Laura says this song is “a thank you to the lessons learnt, the mistakes made, the journey had. Or more accurately – a ‘Thank you, but I don’t need you anymore’.”

“Over the years I put up walls and built castles around myself to protect myself from the disappointment, the failures & the mistakes,” she added. “In more recent times I’ve started to knock those down and forge a new path. Without those experiences or lessons, I wouldn’t be the person I am.”

Laura produced the video with her partner Nick Morrissey.

“From the concept, to design, hair and makeup, set, videography to editing, Nick and I have been doing it with just ourselves.”

In the video, shot in the Queensland hinterland, Lisa takes the wheel of a 1950 Chevy. She makes it look easy, but looks can be deceiving!

“It’s the first time I’ve driven a left-hand drive car… it was strange, but didn’t take me long to get the hang of it!”

Speaking of driving, Lisa will put some kays on her vehicle in the coming months as she plays shows around her home state:

11 March 2023 – Cooly Goes Country @ The Coolangatta Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
29 April 2023 – Twin Towns Clubs & Resorts, Bundjalung Country/Tweed Heads (supporting Chocolate Starfish)
27 May 2023 Vixens of Fall @ Caloundra RSL, Kabi Kabi Country/Sunshine Coast

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Releases Album Title Track “Between Tonight & Tomorrow” & Tour Dates

Few singer-songwriters produce such consistently good material as Matt Joe Gow. Like a fine wine, he also somehow seems to get better and better. Whether it’s wisdom or maturity, his trajectory as an artist is unmatched. Take a listen to his incredible new single “Between Tonight & Tomorrow” and you’ll hear exactly what I mean. I love the way its introspective lyrics play with that haunting guitar refrain. This is about as close to perfection as you’ll hear today.

The release of “Between Tonight & Tomorrow” is the start of a pretty exciting chapter for Matt’s fans. It’s the title track from Matt’s new album, which drops on March 10. He’ll also play a string of shows to celebrate its release.

16 March 2023 – George Lane, Naarm/Melbourne
17 & 18 March 2023 – Majors Creek Festival, Walbinga Country/Majors Creek
18 March 2023 – The Tea Club, Wandiwandian Country/Nowra
26 March 2023 – Memo Music Hall, Naarm/Melbourne
31 March 2023 – Palais-Hepburn, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Hepburn Springs
1 April 2023 – Saints & Sailors, Wadawurrung Country/Portarlington
2 April 2023 – Hydrant Food Hall, Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Ballarat
7 April 2023 – Baroque Room, Kedumba/Katoomba
8 April 2023 – Stag & Hunter, Mulubinba/Newcastle
9 April 2023 – Hiway Enmore, Eora/Sydney
15 April 2023 – Sandy Point Centre, Brataualung Country/Sandy Point
21 April 2023 – Star Hotel, Dhudhuroa/Yackandandah
22 April 2023 – Mt Beauty Festival, Dhudhuroa and Yaitmathang Country/Mt Beauty
25 April 2023 – Arrowtown Festival, Otago

Image used with permission from Matt Joe Gow

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Du0 Drops Hot New Single, “Summer Nights”

The season might be almost over, but DuO doesn’t think it’s too late for one more summer banger. The Meeanjin/Brisbane electronic artist has just dropped his new single “Summer Nights” and it’s an absolute scorcher. Just when you think it can’t get any better, that sax line drops. Exquisite!

“Written in a hot Australian summer, ‘Summer Nights’ started on a back deck with a guitar and from there was produced with chill and uplifting synth and sax parts,” DuO recalled. “Lyrically it’s a nostalgic take on love when summer’s balmy nights seemed endless and you could live in the moment while the future seemed so far away.”

There’s more new music where this came from. Expect to hear an announcement about Du0’s next EP in the coming month.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gretta Ziller Drops Fun New Single “Ain’t Even Your Lover”

Gretta Ziller has me grooving to her upbeat new diss track, “Ain’t Even Your Lover.” If you’re strutting away from the wrong relationship, this song is your new anthem.

“It’s a song about giving your time and emotion to someone. And that someone being a leech – just sucking and sucking and taking and taking – and it not being a real human relationship, where it’s give and take,” Gretta said. “It’s a little bit sarcastic and a little bit sassy, like, ‘I’ve done everything and I didn’t even get sex out of it!’ It is also about being hurt by that person and the things you learn along the way. The most frustrating thing about that whole adventure was the way I let myself be treated; I rolled over, and I was so disappointed in myself for letting that happen!”

“Ain’t Even Your Lover” came out of a weekly songwriting club Gretta joined in 2020, which challenged her to write a song every week. So something good did come out of those lockdowns! Hopefully we hear a few more of those gems really soon. Gretta will play the following shows in the coming months:

4 & 5 March 2023 – Country by the Bay, Bunurong Country/Frankston
9 March 2023 – The Gov, Tarntanya/Adelaide (supporting Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley)
9-11 June 2023 – Let’s Wing It Festival, Geawegal Country/Scone

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute