Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Good Lekker Drop New Bop, “Show I Care”

Good Lekker are bringing the summer vibes with their dancetastic new single “Show I Care.” It’s an absolute charmer which is sure to get your toes tapping, at the very least!

“I tried to keep the lyrics as simple as possible in ‘Show I Care’,” vocalist Joshua Fahy explained. “To an extent, I want listeners to be able to imbed their own meaning into the song, however they relate to it. Context is impossible to escape when writing, however. This song reflects me, in my mid-20s, unsure of what comes next in life. It’s about dragging others along for the ride while goals dissipate and past dreams begin to look foreign to yourself. It’s about the transience of friendship as everyone moves on to different stages of life and the difficulties of keeping in touch. It’s about trying to glue all these parts into a half-decent collage and loving what you make. Take your pick for what appeals to you.”

The Eora/Sydney band will hit the road this May with shows in all the East Coast capitals. May might seem like a long way off, but it’ll be here before you know it. Put these dates in your calendar so you don’t miss out!

20 May 2023 – Lady Hampshire, Eora/Sydney
26 May 2023 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
27 May 2023 – O’Skulligans, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

YNG Martyr and Logan M Collaborate on “WAIT!”

Ngambri/Canberra rapper YNG Martyr is one of those young acts that has kind of passed me by. I know he’s played hot festivals like Falls, Spilt Milk, and Lost Paradise, and gone viral with his meme-powered single “Nike Ticks”. But he hasn’t really been on my radar, until now. Hearing his latest single “WAIT!” featuring Naarm/Melbourne artist Logan M, I can definitely hear what the fuss is all about.

“’WAIT!’ is about acknowledging the pain of an impending break up and wishing for things to go back to the way they were,” YNG Martyr explained.

This track effortlessly blends hip-hop and indie-pop influences to create a sound that’s fresh and instantly accessible. I can imagine this one blowing up, and with YNG Martyr’s massive online following it just might.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia; credit: She is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thundamentals, Horrorshow, and Thom Crawford Bring the Head With “100 Degrees”

Thundamentals are bringing the summer vibes on their latest single “100 Degrees.” This absolute banger features the band’s long-time collaborator Thom Crawford and their touring pals Horrorshow. Just try to resist grooving along to this one.

The single’s release is a great reminder that Thundamentals are touring all around the country right now. Limited tickets are still available, so get onto it.

20 January 2023 – Fat Controller, Tandanya/Adelaide
21 January 2023 – Freo Social, Waylyup/Fremantle
27 January 2023 – Uni Bar, Woolyungah/Wollongong
28 January 2023 – UC Hub, Ngunnawal/Canberra
10 February 2023 – 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne
11 February 2023 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung/Torquay
17 February 2023 – The Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
18 February 2023 – The Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Superjesus Back to Their Best With Comeback Single “Money (We’re Only In It For Love)”

If you had any concerns that line-up changes might negatively impact The Superjesus’ sound, let me put them to rest. Their latest single “Money (We’re Only In It For Love)”, their first with Murray Sheridan and Cam Blokland, is one of the best modern rock songs I’ve heard in years.

Frontwoman Sarah McLeod is itching to get back on the road later this month, commenting “We’re gonna play this song so hard on this tour, I can’t wait, I’m gonna scream my eyeballs out!”

Bassist Stuart Rudd added “Having been together in the same band for over 20 years, the DNA wasn’t hard to find and tapping into new creative veins would soon yield our first new single and now we’re looking at our first new album in 20 years.”

I expect you might get a sneaky listen to a few new album tracks when The Superjesus hit the road with Dallas Crane. These shows are long overdue, so make sure you don’t miss them.

27 January 2023 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
28 January 2023 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
9 February 2023 – The Triffid, Meeajin/Brisbane
10 February 2023 – Kings Beach Hotel, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast
11 February 2023 – Miami Marketta, Bundjalung Country/Gold Coast
17 February 2023 – The Gov, Tarntanya/Adelaide
3 March 2023 – The Corner, Wurundjeri Country/Richmond

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: David Sheerman

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Turpentine Babycino Release Rocking Second Single, “Calamity”

Mulubinba/Newcastle indie-rock act Turpentine Babycino impressed me from the jump with their debut single “Write a Song Sounds Shit.” Now with the release of their follow-up “Calamity,” they prove they’ve got real staying power. It’s another high-energy number that’s short, at less than three minutes, but definitely not sweet.

“Gabe, our drummer, wrote the music for this song and it was my job to create a story with the lyrics and melody,” explained the band’s frontwoman, Georgie Winchester. “The music was very energetic and kinda agro which spurred a sleeping monster – memories of my days at college university. I was reading a book at the time in which I found the word ‘calamity’ meaning ‘an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster’. This is exactly what happened during my time at college after getting mixed up in a passionately toxic relationship. I decided it was my time to finally write about my experience and get the fuck over it through this track. In my mind, I traveled back to those days at uni and felt everything again which was great as I harnessed the emotions and wrote the song in around 30 minutes. As a band, it’s one of our absolute favorite Turpentine tracks as it sounds awesome live and it’s as real as it gets.”

You’ll soon get to hear just how awesome it sounds live soon, as Turpentine Babycino are wasting no time getting on the road. They’ll kick things off with a couple of hometown shows before touring up and down the East Coast.

22 January 2023 – The Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
28 January 2023 – Prince Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
3 February 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Dharawal/Wollongong
9 February 2023 – The Retreat Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
11 February 2023 – Transit Bar, Ngunnawal/Canberra
17 February 2023 – Lass O’Gowrie, Mulubinba/Newcastle
23 February 2023 – The Rails, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
24 February 2023 – Tomcat, Meeanjin/Brisbane
25 February 2023 – Wave Bowl, Guruk/Port Macquarie
2 March 2023 – Eddie’s Grub House, Bundjalung/Coolangatta
3 March 2023 – Last Rites, Yaegl/Yamba
5 March 2023 – The Grand Junction, Wonnarua/Maitland
8 April 2023 – The Beatty Hotel, Dungog/Gresford
29 April 2023 – Hoey Moey, Gumbaynggirr/Coffs Harbour

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Romanie Releases Powerful Pop Single “Anthony”

Watching art that imitates your own life can be pretty powerful. If you’re as talented as Naarm/Melbourne artist Romanie, it can also be inspirational. After she watched Anthony Hopkins playing a man coming to terms with dementia in “The Father” within a year of losing her grandfather to the disease, she felt compelled to write her latest single “Anthony”.

“I remember coming home from the cinema late at night and getting this wave of inspiration,” she recalled. “I sat down with my guitar and wrote the song almost completely in one go. We were still in and out of lockdowns and I was chatting on Zoom with my friends from overseas Michiel and Kate who encouraged me to finish the song. The first band rehearsal back, we played Anthony through and it felt like magic to make this song into something bigger with my band, so much fun.”

If you’ve ever lost someone to dementia, I know “Anthony” will strike a chord with you too. Romanie will celebrate its release with the following shows in the coming weeks.

16 January 2023 – The Merri Creek Tavern, Wurundjeri Country/Northcote (supporting Enjoy Your Stay)
19 January 2023 – Nighthawks, Yálla-birr-ang/Collingwood (supporting Dayzed)
22 January 2023 – Tomcat, Turrbal Country/Fortitude Valley (free)

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Claire Louise

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LOSER Shows a Different Side With New Ballad, “Only One”

The music scene has been a little quiet as everyone’s taken time off for the festive season, so I’m pretty excited to hear my first great new release for the year. LOSER have just dropped “Only One”, their third song from their Stadium Dreams on a Bedroom Budget EP, and it continues the trend of quality releases from this alt-rock act.

It’s more of a ballad than the EP’s previous songs, but you could hardly accuse it of being gentle. If those powerful, heartfelt vocals don’t wake you up from your mid-afternoon slump, nothing will.

“The ballad of the EP, this song took ages to get right. We recorded it multiple times and I doubted it for a while but eventually, we got the right sound. ‘Only One’ is one of the first love songs I have written,” Tim Maxwell admitted. “No matter how many times you fuck up in life there will always be someone by your side to support you and give you hope.”

The music video sees the band playing live, giving fans a little taste of what they’re in for when they come to a LOSER show.

“We wanted all the music videos for the release to be live performances. This was to create a different reason to watch the video, because you are getting an actual live take audio performance and not the audio from the EP,” the band explained. “We also wanted to show people that we can actually play our own instruments. It’s funny that in 2023 that has become a point of difference, but we don’t wanna hide behind technology, because when it comes to performing we’re the real deal.”

You’ll get a chance to see LOSER playing live when they launch the single at Yah Yah’s in Naarm/Melbourne on February 17. The next track from their EP drops on February 24.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Find Yourself Under Bumpy’s Spell With “Hide & Seek”

What better way to kick off the New Year than with one of the country’s very best voices? Bumpy, a Naarm/Melbourne artist and proud Noongar woman, is about to release her debut EP, but before that she’s treating us to a sumptuous new single, Hide & Seek”.

“‘Hide & Seek has lived in many different forms in this project. From playing it solo, duo, trio to full band it has been a really enjoyable time arranging it to be recorded, trying to reflect more of the live band’s sound,” Bumpy explained. “Hide & Seek follows the playfulness of desire and the feelings of getting caught up in temptation.”

This track showcases Bumpy’s sublime vocals perfectly. Her soulful voice is just exquisite, and she knows how to use it just right. She isn’t one of those artists who litters her songs with runs and trills, preferring instead to use her voice to tell stories. It’s so authentic and honest, ensuring her message cuts through.

“Hide & Seek” comes from Bumpy’s EP Morning Sun, which drops on January 27.

Image used with permission from [PIAS] Australia; credit: Feign Jima

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Casey Donovan Drops NYE Anthem “Shake It”

With the end of the year just a day away, Casey Donovan has dropped the ultimate party anthem. Once you hear “Shake It” once, I’m pretty sure you’ll add it to your NYE playlist. This is Casey’s first original single since she dropped her Eurovision entrant back in 2020, and it’s well and truly worth the wait.

A song this fun could only come with an equally entertaining music video. The clip, which stars some elite ballroom dancers, was filmed at the Revesby Community Centre, in the Bankstown LGA where Casey grew up.

“I’m proud of who I am and where I come from both heritage and the place, I grew up in,” Casey confirmed. “I will never mask or shy away from the suburbs, we all start from somewhere and everything and anything is possible”.

You can watch Casey debut this song tomorrow night at the ABC’s New Year’s Eve concert at the Sydney Opera House. She’ll be back there on January 26 for the network’s Australia Day concert. She’ll also appear on ABC’s Sydney World Pride concert at the Domain on February 24 and the Sydney World Pride First Nations Concert at the Opera House on March 2. Then on March 9 she’ll begin her starring run in & Juliet. It’s not even 2023, but already it’s shaping up to the be a big year for Casey Donovan!

Image used with permission from Karen-Lee Goody

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers Drop Bluegrass Banger, “If You’d Have Told Me”

I’m not sure I’ve ever written about a bluegrass track on Sounds of Oz before. After listening to “If You’ve Have Told Me”, the latest single from Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers, I’m convinced I need more music from this genre in my life. Michael said it wrote the song about the “hidden extras” that often reveal themselves in relationships once you’re in them.

With so much country music focused on crossing over to the mainstream, it’s refreshing to hear something so pure. If you dig it too, you’ll be as excited as I am to hear there’s more where this came from. Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers have recorded a whole bluegrass album, to be released early next year. Fans might get an early listen to some of that material when Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers play the Hunter Valley’s Dashville Skyline festival from February 25 to 27.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country