Kaypo wowed me a few months back with his gorgeous single “Empty Highs”. His newie, “Help Me Out” is every bit as impressive. If you love artists who tell stories through their songs and favour the simple strum of an acoustic guitar to studio wizardry, this will be right up your alley.
“‘Help Me Out’ is slightly more driven/higher energy production compared to the last two songs which have been slower/more ‘ballady’,” Kaypo explained. “The track itself was inspired by a conversation with someone who at the time wasn’t doing great and had developed an unhealthy dependence on both alcohol/substances as well as an ongoing love interest.”
A young talent with the world at his feet, Kaypo will relocate to London early in 2023.
Image used with permission from Footstomp Music
I don’t know about you, but I think Hump Days become more challenging as the year wears on. You’re so ready for a Christmas break, but it seems there’s always a mad rush before you can take it. Thankfully I’ve found something that takes the edge off: “Say (Light Me Up)”, the latest single from self-produced Eora/Sydney artist jnr.
This is such good pop music. It’s fresh and fun, with an accessible sound that’s sure to win over fans of acts like LANY and Conan Gray. If that’s you, you won’t want to miss this one. A little birdie tells me jnr. will release several more singles in 2023, which is definitely something to look forward to.
Born in London but raised in Naarm/Melbourne, Thomas Headon is bringing a little sunshine to your Tuesday arvo. If you’ve lost your mojo, press play and turn his latest single “Georgia” up. I swear it’ll make you feel better about the world.
“We’ve actually been sitting on this song for over a year now,” he admitted. “I wrote it by myself with my little acoustic guitar in London, then finally produced it up into 100 different versions with my friend Stephen months later, finally landing on this one. It’s actually not even about someone called Georgia, it’s more pointed towards the US state … also which I have nothing to do with, but it’s a metaphor. Anyway, it’s my favourite song of mine to date. I hope people like it.”
Since moving back to the UK in 2020, Thomas has been doing big things. Like supporting Elton John big. He’s also just announced he’ll be part of the Are You Listening? Festival in Reading on 6 May 2023. Hopefully a return visit to Oz isn’t too far away.
Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia
I love Christmas. While I don’t believe in decorating your tree before December 1, you also won’t catch me playing Whamageddon either, because I can’t imagine spending this month trying to avoid this and other glorious Christmas songs. So now that it’s December, I’m probably going to bring you plenty of new Christmas music. Deal with it. The first is Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission’s delightful cover of Cold Chisel’s “Home and Broken Hearted”. Lifted from Chisel’s debut album, it’s a track that many Aussies are unfamiliar with, so I’m thrilled that Mick and his crew are bringing it to audiences.
“Brooke [Taylor, who takes lead vocals on the song] wanted a Christmas song she could sing and I thought this is one people constantly overlook and one I was eager to have a crack at. And what a song it is. The first Cold Chisel album is one that had a major effect on me and one I think still stands up after all this time. So many good songs,” Mick enthused. “We toyed with the idea of changing the protagonist’s gender, or even name (‘Dear Jimmy it’s over, goodbye’), but there’s something timeless about the way the words cascade and people know it as it is, so we thought better of it. I guess the mandolin could never really replace Don Walker’s frantic piano in the chorus but you can’t say I haven’t given it my best shot.”
This song comes from Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission’s latest EP Back in the Day, which features some originals and other choice covers. They’re supporting its release with plenty of shows all around the country.
4 December 2022 – Leftys, Meeajin/Brisbane (with Full Power Happy Hour)
11 December 2022 – Longley International, Muwinina Country/Longley (with Teresa Dixon)
13 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Cookie Baker)
14 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Tom Redwood)
15 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Mark Curtis and the Flannelettes)
16 December 2022 – River Hotel, Kaartdijin Noongar/Margaret River (with Carla Geneve)
17 December 2022 – Navy Club, Waylyup/Fremantle (with Carla Geneve)
18 December 2022 – The Oxford Hotel, Boorloo/Leederville (with Carla Geneve)
21 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Skyscraper Stan)
22 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Alana Jagt and the Monotremes)
23 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Maggie Alley Band)
1 January 2023 – Archies Creek Hotel, Gunai Country/Archies Creek (with Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels)
Image used with permission from Dave Laing Publicity
Grace Amos is one of those special artists who seem to get better with every single release. She’s always had a cool angsty rock vibe reminiscent of Alanis Morissette or Demi Lovato, depending on your vintage. But in her latest track “By the Grace of God, ” she sounds her most confident. It’s only fitting as the song talks about embracing and retaining your own power, even when faced with seemingly all-consuming love.
“It’s mainly about looking back on previous relationships I’ve shared and how I always put in so much, without really getting the same in return,” she admitted. “So I wrote this as a reminder to myself to know what I’m worth, to stop letting people “walk all over me”. I wrote this song for me.”
Naarm/Melbourne rock outfit The Velvet Club have got my toes tapping with their latest single “Thinking Straight.” This is a straight-up banger with totally relatable lyrics about escaping chaotic thoughts. Hot tip, turning a track like this up and just enjoying the music is the perfect way to get your head right!
“Lyrically, ‘Thinking Straight’ is about getting stuck in your own head and doubting yourself but at the same time recognising that you’re in your head and taking five to relax and reset,” explained lead singer AJ. “It’s just about recognising that at times things get overwhelming and to accept that and find ways to relax and get back on track when it happens instead of dwelling in it and trying to avoid it.”
The Velvet Club have been impressing crowds recently opening up for Ra Ra Viper. They’ve got just three shows for that tour left, plus some other gigs in the coming months. Here are all the places you can see them:
1 December 2022 – Liberty Alive, Boorloo/Perth (supporting South Summit)
3 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (ALL AGES supporting Ra Ra Viper)
3 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (18+ supporting Ra Ra Viper)
4 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (18+ supporting Ra Ra Viper)
18 February 2023 – Now & Again Festival @ Werribee Park, Wirribi-yaluk/Werribee
Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Tim Lambert
It’s not quite December, but it seems like summer’s already here. That makes it the perfect time for listening to a track like “Waiting for the Sun”, the latest single from Meeanjin/Brisbane band Lucid Safari. Just see if you’re not singing along with the “whoas” by the end of it.
“As well as welcoming back the sunny season, the song reflects the feeling of living through the ebbs and flows of life knowing that when times are tough, good things are sure to come back around,” explained Lucid Safari’s frontman Daniel Lewis.
Lucid Safari have been playing plenty of hometown gigs lately, including a double-header single launch with The Urban Sea and a show supporting Reece Mastin. Hopefully it’s not too long before they pack up the van and head to venues around the rest of the country.
Image used with permission from Kick Push PR; credit: Guy Crofts
Taking time to release their second single has paid off for SacredCrows. After dropping their debut “Strange” earlier this year, SacredCrows are delivering “Dragonfly,” a straight-up blues-rock track that might even be better than their first effort. It makes me feel like dancing, despite those dark lyrics about noxious personality traits and the way they can lead to self-sabotage.
“This one is a live favourite with the band and crowds, but yeah, it’s a little neurotic under all the fun stuff,” admitted SacredCrows frontman Glenn Whitehall. “I guess that’s the gold in songmaking, having a way to vent.”
You can bet this track will be on regular rotation until SacredCrows grace us with another one!
Yorke has dropped another taste of her new EP which has me even more excited about its launch later this week. With the release of new single “when the honeymoon is over,” we’ve now heard three stellar pop gems from this five-track EP. While I’m really looking forward to hearing the final pieces of the puzzle, I’m also relishing this song for a little while.
I also love the video, the second Yorke’s created with her director and partner Kyle Caulfield. I hear it took a month of long days and nights, including countless trips to Bunnings, but it’s come together beautifully.
“Love can sort of just sneak up on you at the least expected of times, these heart balloons are the visual metaphor for those feelings of love starting to introduce themselves into life, in a way that can’t be ignored,” Kyle explained.
Yorke’s new EP ten feet tall drops on December 2. Fresh from supporting Peach PRC, she’ll play the following headlining shows along the East Coast in the New Year to support its release.
3 February 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
9 February 2022 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
10 February 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
Charlie Needs Braces is bringing the good vibes to your Saturday with her latest single “Yanoo”. It’s an easy breezy summer song that encourages us all the embrace the endings rather than holding on to relationships that no longer serve us.
“Yanoo means goodbye in my mob’s language and is inspired by all the inevitable and natural endings we all go through at some point in relationships,” explained Charlie, a proud GuriNgai woman, a descendant of Bungaree and Matora.
“Yanoo” comes from Charlie’s forthcoming album Saltwater People, which drops on February 10. Before that she’ll support Squid Nebula at Shotkickers in Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung/Thornbury on December 30.
Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Tiffany Garvie
