Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yorke Releases Ultimate Road Trip Track, “i’ll keep driving”

I’ve been a Yorke fan since she dropped the singles from Liberosis back in 2020, and it seems she just keeps on getting better. If you’re a fan too or you’re yet to discover her brilliance, wrap your ears around her new single “i’ll keep driving.” I swear this pop banger will make your Monday feel better.

Yorke says she wrote the track about “the realisation that the concept of home can be whatever you want it to be, even a person. I was constantly on the move and craving stability so it took me some time to realise that a healthy relationship can also ground you in a similar way.”

If you’re a Yorke fan like me, you’ll love the visualiser.

“We shot the visualiser at this random cabin in regional Victoria and gave the place a temporary makeover. It’s still in the same world as ‘next life’, just a bit of time has passed… consider it the bridge between the last video and what’s to come. There are also lots of little Easter eggs hidden in the background too. What you can’t see is me shivering, it was eight degrees and the heater didn’t work. I had my hot water bottle on me at all times!”

Yorke’s new EP ten feet tall drops in November. Before that, she’ll appear at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney on October 1 supporting Peach PRC.

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Turpentine Babycino Coming At You With “Write a Song Sounds Shit” Single and Tour

And the award for best band name I’ve heard in a while goes to Turpentine Babycino. But this Mulubinba/Newcastle rock act doesn’t just have a great name going for them. They’ve got an infectious energy that’s pretty hard to resist. I’ve currently got their debut single “Write a Song Sounds Shit” on repeat.

“’Write A Song Sounds Shit’ is about the aftermath of a break-up. Big parties, loud music, long nights, and writing shitty break-up songs are often on the cards to help ‘forget’ about an ex. As a songwriter it’s easy to dismiss a great song due to self-doubt and judgment and after a break-up, these insecurities are heightened. ‘Write A Song Sounds Shit’ is that shitty break-up song that nobody’s supposed to hear, except people will this time,” Turpentine Babycino said. Only thing is though, it’s not shitty. Not even a little bit. Trust me. Have a listen.

After spending most of the year supporting such diverse acts as Bad Dreems, The Screaming Jets, and Mia Dyson, Turpentine Babycino are ready for the spotlight. They’ll travel to capital cities and regional venues in the Eastern states to support the release of “Write a Song Sounds Shit”. Every show is free, so there’s no excuse for staying home.

5 October 2022 – Retreat Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
8 October 2022 – Botany View Hotel, Eora/Sydney
9 October 2022 – The North Wollongong Hotel, Dharawal Country/Wollongong
14 October 2022 – Wave Bowl, Birpai Country/Port Macquarie
16 October 2022 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
28 October 2022 – Last Rites Bar, Yaygir Country/Yamba
29 October 2022 – Eddie’s Grub House, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Wanagi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Sanders Explores “Attachment Theory” With New Pop Single

Boorloo/Perth pop act Grace Sanders has released her dreamy new track “Attachment Theory”. This single is the epitome of cool, with a slowly-unravelling melody that Grace’s voice snakes around. And when those horns drop in, wow. The production is also top-notch thanks to the collaborative efforts of Ezekiel Padmanabham and Grace herself.

Grace was inspired to write the song after exploring the popular psychological theory that the relationships we form as children inform the way we form attachments as we get older.

“The way our relationships and breakups in adulthood can mirror some of those early experiences and become an avenue for reflecting on the version of ‘self’ we become in the context of ‘others’,” Grace explained.

“Attachment Theory” comes from Grace’s new EP Nothing is Personal, slated for release on October 28.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR; credit: Emma Daisy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover the Talents of Vivien Aisi

Vivien Aisi may just be the best singer that you’ve never heard of. Born in Papua New Guinea and now living in Gimuy-walubarra Yidi/Cairns, her latest single “Take Me There” is the perfect showcase for her sultry, soulful voice.

“Take Me There is written about my love for music and where I want it to take me,” Vivien explained. “All my hopes and aspirations, in line with my relationship with music, have been a rollercoaster where I have struggled to fit into the industry, juggle a healthy balance of work, family, and at the same time stay true to who I am as a performer/singer/songwriter. I enjoy a variety of genres and don’t really write to suit a particular style. I allow creativity to take me there and produce what is authentic to me at the moment. It was a good break from all the heavy emotional stuff I generally express through my songwriting.”

With talent to spare, no doubt music is going to take Vivien exactly where she wants to go.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kaypo Drops Beautiful New Single, “Empty Highs”

Meeajin/Brisbane artist Kaypo has totally won me over with his charming new single “Empty Highs.” It’s honest and earnest, just the sort of gentle folk-pop ditty we need when our week is winding down. It sounds sweet, but listen to those lyrics and you’ll hear the pathos coming through.

“I was sitting outside the morning after a bad first date. I’d just arrived back home from a week away on holiday where we were partying almost the entire time. In retrospect, it wasn’t even that bad of a night (just no chemistry there) – but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. All the subconscious thoughts and doubts that had been brewing came front of mind and I wrote the track then and there,” he explained.

Kaypo has been doing some great things of late, playing six slots at the Ekka and opening for Hein Cooper. He’s also a semifinalist in the national Songwriting Prize 2022. Talk about a star on the rise. Kaypo is definitely someone to watch.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Able Joseph Charms With “Lonely LA”

If you love a tender, stripped-back ballad as much as I do, Able Joseph’s new single “Lonely LA” will be right up your alley. This song is the classic case of less is more, with a simple acoustic guitar melody wrapping around gorgeous lyrics and Able’s voice. I’m in.

“There’s a beautiful side to two people having to adjust to life’s curveballs and facing change as a team — be that changing dreams, homes, realities … this isn’t a love song, it’s a relationship song,” Able explained. “This song is a homage to songwriting. We wanted to keep the structure as simple as possible but still weave in different moments and transitions that take you somewhere unexpected. The outro is a deeply honest conversation between two people and the production reflects that; it’s closer to the mic, more intimate and raw. I’m really proud of the story we tell.”

More like this please!

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Trevor Conrad

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bel Kil Surprises With “Backup Plan”

If Katie Melua explored her dark side she might release a song like “Backup Plan,” the cool new single from Bel Kil. This brooding follow-up to “Escaping” is a real departure from her summery debut, but I love an artist that keeps us guessing. The song proves that great things can come out of life’s disappointments.

“I was walking home from the studio on a balmy Friday afternoon, excited to have a beer with a friend, only to receive a text saying he couldn’t make it,” Bel recalled. “I can remember feeling the let down and then when I walked past the pub we were meant to meet at, I started singing voice memos into my phone.” By the time she arrived home, Bel had the lyrics and melody ready to go.

This track isn’t just a sonic departure for Bel. It also gave her the opportunity to hone her production skills.

“I was a lot more focused on guitar and bass tones with this track than in the past. It was nice to take a step away from producing more electronic songs in Ableton and go back to how I used to write with a guitar before I knew how to produce,” she added. “I wanted to capture a slower, contemplative, dreamy and slightly psychedelic feel. I started with the guitar chords and built the production around there, using midi drums originally and my guitar as the bass. I added virtual strings, synths and layers of vocals. I played around with panning and effects. I worked backwards producing the whole track in the box and then overdubbed my friends Tristan Courtney on bass guitar and John Vassallo on drums to achieve more of a ‘live feeling’. In a way, the outro feels climatic and chaotic but it’s intentionally ordered chaos, the way my head was feeling as I reasoned with myself and didn’t let the disappointment get me down. I wanted it to feel like a journey. The song starts out reflective but by the time we reach the peak, there’s this epic hopefulness.”

With such diverse releases, I’m not quite sure what to expect from Bel’s debut EP My Year when it drops in early November. However, as I mentioned before, I love an artist who keeps me guessing. Whatever that release holds, I’m ready for it.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Flynn Gurry Releases Impactful Single, “Running”

With his debut EP Weather & Dogs? dropping in just a couple of days, I thought it was about time I introduced you to Flynn Gurry’s latest single “Running.” A powerful exploration of mental health, this track really showcases Flynn’s talents as a songwriter.

“The songwriting process for ‘Running’ was a really pivotal moment for me, I was actually gaining an understanding and seeing the way that I was dealing with the poor mental health I was experiencing at the time,” Flynn admitted. “My way of coping was to just ignore and run from it by isolating myself and refusing the help that was being laid out in front of me. Being aware of the dark content in this song, I really wanted to ensure that the production on the track wasn’t necessarily overcompensatingly ‘happy’, but it wasn’t just all doom and gloom – I feel Jan [Skubiszewski, producer] and I found a great balance.”

Weather & Dogs? drops this Friday, September 23. I’ve already taken a listen and I know you’re going to love it. Flynn will support Goanna at their show at the Lighthouse Theatre in his hometown of Peek Wurrong/Warrnambool on October 27.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Shanae, Australia’s Newest Soul Superstar

The artist formerly known as MADAM3EMPRESS is back with a brand new moniker and single. Now known as Shanae, this Eora/Sydney-born artist has just dropped the sultry new tune “Illusions.” This track sizzles, with Shanae showing that you don’t need big notes to be a true soul diva.

Shanae said “Illusions” is “super personal to me, and one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever written. I wrote the song with my producer Rory Noble quite some time ago, and it’s about questioning ‘how do you know if you’re in love?’, which is something I was experiencing at the time.”

Fresh from performances at BigSound and supporting PJ Morton, we can expect big things from this exciting talent. MADAM3EMPRESS might be a distant memory, but the future looks bright for Shanae.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia; credit: Jade D’Amico

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RedHook Speak Out Against Sexism With “SAY”

In the wake of the recently released Raising Their Voices report into sexual harassment and discrimination across the Australian music industry, RedHook have dropped their powerful new single “SAY.” Lead singer Emmy Mack wrote the song to share her own experiences of sexism before and after the birth of the #MeToo movement. That’s right, if you thought #MeToo solved everything, Emmy is here to burst your bubble.

“When I was first starting out, I was told in no uncertain terms that I had a ‘use-by date’, I was pressured to dumb down my ‘image’ and conform to a more palatable ‘female rock artist’ stereotype; and I was repeatedly made to feel like my opinion didn’t matter when it came to my own music and career,” Emmy said. “And even though it does feel like things are starting to shift in a more positive direction, with the #MeToo movement and now this Raising Their Voices report helping to bring these issues out of the shadows, we clearly still have a long way to go. I hope my little trauma dump on ‘SAY’ helps empower people who’ve copped similar bullshit in any aspect of life. My vision for the song is to be a loud and impetuous ‘fuck you’ to anyone who’s ever tried to make anyone else in this world feel voiceless or small.”

Fuck yes. RedHook have a bunch of upcoming dates playing festivals and supporting In Hearts Wake. Catch them anywhere you can.

22 September 2022 – Drifters Wharf, Darkinjung Country/Gosford (supporting In Hearts Wake)
23 September 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (supporting In Hearts Wake)
24 September 2022 – Manning Bar, Eora/Sydney (early show – supporting In Hearts Wake)
24 September 2022 – Manning Bar, Eora/Sydney (late show – supporting In Hearts Wake)
29 September 2022 – Uni Bar, Tharawal/Wollongong (supporting In Hearts Wake)
30 September 2022 – UC Hub, Ngunnawal/Canberra (supporting In Hearts Wake)
1 October 2022 – Beer Deluxe, Wiradjuri/Albury (supporting In Hearts Wake)
5 October 2022 – Volta, Wathaurong/Ballarat (supporting In Hearts Wake)
6 October 2022 – Sooki Lounge, Wurundjeri/Belgrave (supporting In Hearts Wake)
7 October 2022 – The Wool Exchange, Djilang/Geelong (supporting In Hearts Wake)
8 October 2022 – Pier Bandroom, Boonwurrung/Frankston (supporting In Hearts Wake)
14 October 2022 – Altar, Nipaluna/Hobart (supporting In Hearts Wake)
15 October 2022 – Lion Arts Factory, Tarndanya/Adelaide (supporting In Hearts Wake)
16 October 2022 – North Sound System, Kaurna/Elizabeth (Licensed-All Ages supporting In Hearts Wake)
21 October 2022 – Vinnie’s Dive, Yugambeh/Cold Coast (supporting In Hearts Wake)
22 October 2022 – The Northern, Cavanbah, Byron Bay (supporting In Hearts Wake)
29 October 2022 – Scorched Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane
2 December 2022 – Good Things Festival, Naarm/Melbourne
3 December 2022 – Good Things Festival, Eora/Sydney
4 December 2022 – Good Things Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 December 2022 – Rolling Sets Festival, Darkinjung Country/The Entrance

Image used with permission from Good Intent