Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nicole McKinney Releases “Cool” New Single

I might be all loved up and married now, but my inner teen is still in there embracing angry female music. I think most of us have been in the wrong relationship where we felt like being the cool chick made us a doormat. Nicole McKinney rails against it in her powerful new single, “Cool”.

“This song is about female empowerment, inspired by the day I decided to take back my power and leave my boyfriend at the time,” she explained. “I finally realised what I deserved and no longer cared about being the “cool” girlfriend who just puts up with everything.”
And in case you’re wondering, getting all that frustration out at Huntinground Studios felt pretty damn good!
“I very much enjoyed the recording process for the track,” Nicole added. “It was really fun and creative. I also got to add some yelling which was very cathartic!”

After recently supporting Great Gable in Byron, Nicole has just been announced on the lineup for the Jungle Love Music and Arts Festival, which hits Jimna on September 2 to 4. Expect to hear much more about her as the year goes on.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hannah May Celebrates New Beginnings With “Earthside”

We last heard from Kiwi-born, Gold Coast-based singer-songwriter Hannah May as the announcement of a federal election seemed imminent. Listening to her environmentally-conscious track “Written in the Sea”, I couldn’t help thinking about all the possibilities of changing government and having leaders who seemed to care about the climate.

Now I’m listening to her new song “Earthside”, in the wake of Labor’s victory. Suddenly the party in charge is talking about electric vehicles, meeting global biodiversity targets, and an independent environmental protection agency. What a shift! “Earthside” was inspired by Hannah’s unborn niece and the connection she felt to this life she didn’t yet know. When new babies come into our lives, you can’t help but think about the world they’re entering. It feels right hearing a song like “Earthside” now, a track that’s so gentle, like a lullaby, while so many of us feel calm and optimistic for the future.

“Earthside” comes from Hannah May’s soon-to-be-released debut EP. Expect more music with a message when that drops.

Image used with permission from Hannah May

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timi Afilaka Drops Potent New Single, “Chemistry”

If your Monday is feeling a bit flat, feast your ears on “Chemistry”. The latest track from South African-born, Perth-based indie-pop act Timi Afilaka should put the groove back in your day. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, this song will make you feel better.

“I wrote this song with my good friend, Griggs, the same week we met for the first time. He is the producer, mixer and mastering engineer behind this track,” Timi explained. “We hit it off on Instagram and collaborated on a few songs prior to this meet-up. He was living in Cape Town, and I was living in Johannesburg. We eventually planned to meet up in person; he took a flight to Johannesburg and stayed at my place for a week. We made a song for five days out of that week, and ‘Chemistry’ is one of my favourite songs that came out of it. While Griggs was producing the instrumental, I began writing the lyrics. The song is essentially about embracing the good and bad moments in life but keeping an optimistic mindset through it all. I didn’t think about it that way, but subconsciously I called it ‘Chemistry’ because that’s exactly what Griggs and I had.”

Timi’s definitely got something special. I’m really looking forward to hearing more from this exciting talent.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Edgecliff Ready to Rock You With “I’ll Be Gone”

If you thought musicians from the Northern Beaches were all chilled out surfer types, think again. The lads from Edgecliff are ready to rock you with their latest track “I’ll Be Gone”. This single is unashamedly brash, with plenty of swagger and a riff you’ll have stuck in your head for days.

“The lyrics are about an argument. Whether it is internal or with another person, it is up to the listener to interpret their meaning,” admitted frontman Will Howell. “Basically, the battle of right and wrong. With the music, we just wanted a fierce, snappy song, and it all came together after many songwriting sessions and a contribution from us all.”

If you love what you hear, there’s some good news. According to bass player Kai Stackhouse, the band won’t wait long before hitting us with some more new music.

“We’ve been waiting to release this single for a few months and we are so keen that we also have a few other new tunes ready to dish out ASAP,” he enthused. “We are stoked!”

Edgecliff will delight local fans when they launch the single at Avalon RSL on June 11.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Bridget Mackay

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Johnny Hunter Serves Up Latest Banger, “Dreams”

Johnny Hunter delivers another tantalising taste of their debut album, Want, with a retro new single “Dreams”. If like me you grew up on the post-punk sounds of the ‘80s, this song will be right up your alley. The track’s lyrics, which explore the way life and the place we live can change in the blink of an eye, are as nostalgic as the song sounds.

“The Sydney I grew up in is a very different Sydney to the one we live in today. Iconic buildings have been knocked down for skyrise apartments and famous music venues destroyed by political legislation,” confirmed lead singer Nick Hutt. “One day you are walking down the street in the sunshine, and the next you’re confined to the four walls of your own bedroom. Johnny Hunter started playing live music during the death of live music in Sydney – wallowing in self-pity and declaring the current state of affairs to be insurmountable would result in this band not existing. The same goes for experiencing any modern-day hardships – we can’t dwell upon them; we need to run with them in order to progress.”

If you love what you hear, make sure you listen out for Johnny Hunter’s debut album Want when it drops on June 24.

Image used with permission from Cult Logic; credit: Tom Wilkinson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Start the Party With Laura Mac

It’s just close enough to the weekend to start the party tunes I think. Queue Laura Mac’s, whose latest single “Don’t Know What I’m Thinking” deserves to get turned up loud at your next shindig. I’ve been moving and grooving to this one at home, but something tells me it’d sound even sweeter surrounded by mates with a bevvy in hand.

“Party, disco, dance – we’re just having fun with it!” explained one half of the Queensland duo, Laura Maclachlan. “All our songs have a different vibe but I feel like we’ve kept our own unique sound. DKWIT is staying up all night partying and loving every second of it. Celebrate every chance you get, party with your mates and dance ‘til you drop… High 5!!”

Laura Mac will play their very first live show supporting British India tomorrow night before playing some East Coast shows in July and August.

21 May 2022 – Solbar, Maroochydore (supporting British India)
29 July 2022 – Greaser Bar, Brisbane (FREE)
6 Aug 2022 – The Last Chance, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Dane Beesley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jem Cassar-Daley Releases Fun New Single “Oh No” Ahead of EP Release

Jem Cassar-Daley has released a fresh new single “Oh No” ahead of the release of her debut EP. It’s got such a great pop vibe and an addictive melody that I can’t get out of my head. Jem’s vocals are also superb on this one.

“I wrote ‘Oh No’ at my first ever APRA SONGHUBS on the Gold Coast last year, where I met Ali Barter and Tom Eggert,” Jem explained. “We had a session together and started jamming on the guitar and the song took its form from there. The vocals in the final track are actually the original demo vocals recorded in Bignote Studios! We felt that the energy from that day was hard to recapture so we kept them.”

Jem continued collaborating with Tom, recording the song in his study in the valley earlier this year.

Jem’s debut EP I Don’t Know Who to Call drops next Friday. In addition to its launch event, Jem has plenty of gigs booked for the next couple of months. Here are all the dates you need:

29 May 2022 – Reconciliation Day Even Concert @ Canberra Theatre, Canberra
9 June 2022 – The Outpost Bar, Brisbane
24 June 2022 – Coutts Crossing Coronation Hall, Coutts Crossing
30 July 2022 – Live! at the Baptist @ Studio 188, Ipswich
26-28 August 2022 – Gurindji Freedom Day Festival, Kalkarindji

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Drew Wilson’s New Single, “On and On”

Drew Wilson has earned some serious brownie points with the release of his new single “On and On”, a romantic ditty penned for his wife. It’s irresistibly catchy with a chorus you’ll be humming for days to come.

“The bulk of ‘On and On’ was written in five minutes after a phone call from my wife telling me that she was on her way home from work. The words just appeared and the story took over from there. It is about our first date and first big adventure packing our things and heading overseas,” he reminisced. “This is more mature and thoughtful songwriting – this song pens as an open love letter to my wife and I hope it encourages the audience to reflect on the connections they have with some of the special people they have within their life.”

Drew will launch his new single with a free show at The Solbar in Maroochydore on Sunday.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Rya Park’s New Single, “Everything We Want”

I’m in a pretty romantic mood coming off a long weekend away for my wedding anniversary. If you’re feeling loved up too or you just want to live vicariously through some music, you’re going to dig Rya Park’s smooth new single “Everything We Want.” Dedicated to her partner Nick Tam, the guitarist for punk act Kill Bell and a Melbourne music photographer, this track is so romantic and heartfelt. If you adore a love song grounded in reality rather than saccharine sentiments, this one’s for you.

“This song is about Nick and our little love story. We’ve done so much in the time that we’ve been together; travelled the world, had multiple coffee hang outs at the cafe near the psych hospital I was staying at, lived together, lived apart, but mostly have been each other’s biggest support and best friend throughout it all,” Rya gushed. “You change so much through your 20s and we both have grown so much since first meeting each other six years ago at Beyond the Valley music festival. Some of the stuff we’ve been through together has been challenging but has definitely united us and made us stronger.”

“Everything We Wanted” is the second single from Rya’s forthcoming debut EP Generational. With contributions from Alex Lahey, Gordi, and Edward Quinn (Sycco) it’s already sounding pretty fabulous. Generational drops on June 3, a week before the official launch at the LeadBeater in Richmond on June 10.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cheap Date’s Lara Dee Releases Stunning New Single, “Dear Daughter”

Lara Dee, the frontwoman of Brisbane band Cheap Date, has released a gorgeous new single “Dear Daughter.” This is a real departure for Lara, a song that sees her being truly vulnerable. It’s something that has taken her many years to do, but I’m so glad she did.

“‘Dear Daughter’ is a song that I wrote during a very tumultuous period of my teen years. Some six years later, I have finally worked up the courage to release the song and be a little bit vulnerable,” she admitted.

“I had to grow up very quickly, spending much of my adolescence in and out of hospital wards both for my own treatment and my brother’s. When I reflect on this song and my state of mind during the writing process, I have finally realised that ‘Dear Daughter’ saved me.

“Unlike many of the songs I write, ‘Dear Daughter’ was complete within 30 minutes, without any hesitation or reflection. I was 15 and buried deep in a vicious cycle of a relapsing eating disorder and self-harm. On this particular night I was pushed to my limits and needed to escape. Before the ritualistic process of self-harm could progress to something scarily worse, I remembered my mum was in the room next door.

“Music was something I had always been passionate about and used to express emotion. It was also one of the many things I had thrown to the wayside in the grips of my struggles. In this particular moment I thought about my mum and our relationship. She has always been my best friend and biggest support and our relationship is one that I am always grateful for. I thought about how she would feel and respond if she knew how I was feeling and how I was treating her ‘little girl’.

“This led to a bigger thought and emotion around how I would feel if I had to enforce my thinking and actions onto a younger version of myself. So I sat down and decided to write a note to a future child of mine and a past version of myself. ‘Dear Daughter’ is the product of that evening and I am very proud to have emerged on the other side.”
This might be a solo release, but it definitely doesn’t spell the end of Cheap Date. The band are supporting Suzi on her upcoming Aussie tour. Check out both great acts at the following venues:

20 May 2022 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
27 May 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 May 2022 – Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast
29 May 2022 – O’Skulligans, Brisbane
3 June 2022 – The Eastern, Ballarat
4 June 2022 – Workers Club, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music