Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love with Brandon Duff’s “Crystal Eyes”

I’m feeling properly charmed by Brandon Duff’s new single “Crystal Eyes.” It beautifully captures the flush of new love with lyrics that really bring the object of his affection to life.

Brandon calls the track “an emotional coming-of-age song. It explores ideas of youth and young love, drawing from experiences of finding someone new in your life and sharing your past heartbreaks to grow closer.

“Being excited to have someone new in your life but with melancholy undertones knowing it may not last. There’s a beauty about finding someone new that makes you feel refreshed and loved, but it can also resurface past feelings of loss that have never really left. I drew on experiences of youth, drinking in parks and staying out in Newtown, trying to find where you fit in the world. I have fond memories of going out with friends in the city and feeling larger than life and wanted to capture that within the song as well.”

“Crystal Eyes” saw Brandon named as a finalist in the APRA Songwriters at the Rocks competition this year. That’s a testament to just how well this guy crafts a song. I can’t wait to hear more. If you’re around Newcastle, you can see Brandon doing his thing as part of Lizotte’s’ Live N’ Local night on February 9.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Outfit Brighten Up the Day With “Sunny”

It’s a little grey and gloomy around my part of the country, but outfit are bringing the sunshine with their soulful debut single “sunny.” This cool bop from the Perth trio is so catchy, don’t be surprised if you’re humming it for the rest of the day. Tim Tan wrote the track after struggling to fall asleep.

“The concept surrounded the sentiment of ‘I woke up, but in a way I guess I could have kept sleeping’ describing the cyclical nature of day to day life at the time,” he explained. “We were in between houses, work in the music industry took a dive due to the pandemic and really we just needed a light at the end of the tunnel to move closer to. From there the song grew into a full concept dealing with issues around mental health and finding comfort in what and who you have around you to collectively move towards the sunnier, sunnier, sunnier place.”

Outfit might be brand new, but these guys are no strangers to the music industry. Tim’s songwriting work for local acts Jaguar Jonze and Enschway and K-Pop acts aespa and ENHYPHEN has accumulated around 200 million streams and more than 3 million physical unit sales. No wonder this track is such an earworm!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Ciara Isabel Muscat

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Summit Drops Summery New Single “River Days”

If you weren’t already convinced summer is just around the corner, South Summit’s new single “River Days” might get you over the line. This is a cool indie surf-jam that gets me in the mood for coastal getaways and lazy evenings watching the sun set over the waves. This Perth band reminds me a little bit of hot Aussie acts like Ocean Alley and Lime Cordiale, and with songs like this in their catalogue they deserve to be every bit as big.

“When we first wrote it, we knew it had potential and did not want to rush the writing process,” explained the band’s frontman and songwriter Zaya. “We didn’t plan on recording ‘River Days’ this early as we didn’t think it was ready, but we took a leap of faith. We came out with a song that was completely different to what we came in with, which retained the elements of the original demo, but truly captured the meaning behind the words.

“‘River Days’ is a story about the abuse of alcohol and how it can change the people closest to you. It is drawn from many personal experiences and deep emotions. The song is an attempt to show the very personal journey I have taken. ‘Save me from the river’ is a cry for help. Help to be spared from seeing those closest to me change for the worse, help to save them from alcohol and help to stop me from treading the same path.”

If you’re around Perth, there are plenty of opportunities to catch South Summit in the flesh in the coming months. Check them out at the following shows:

19 November 2021 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (supporting LATE 90s)
2 December 2021 – Perth Music Night @ The Sewing Room, Perth
3 December 2021 – Jack Rabbit Slim’s, Perth (supporting Young Robin)
11 December 2021 – The YMCA HQ, Leederville (ALL AGES)
12 December 2021 – Sunday Music @ Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Velvet Bloom Casts a Spell With “Run”

Melbourne chanteuse Velvet Bloom effortlessly fuses jazz and soul influences in her stunning new single “Run.” It wraps you up like a big sonic hug, making you feel all warm and safe and comfortable. Her tone is just beautiful, effortless, easy. If you don’t have goosebumps after hearing this one, I suggest checking for a pulse.

“I remember writing this track during the second COVID lockdown in 2020,” Velvet Bloom recalls. “Restrictions were harsh and ‘Run’ was one of the first songs that I could fully resonate with after a creative lull. Sometimes, risks can be scary and the fear of sacrificing what you already have for something uncertain can cause inner turmoil. ‘Run’ is about overcoming those fears and leaning into the unknown with excitement.”

Despite this project’s relatively short time on the scene, Velvet Bloom has already supported Kim Churchill, Teenage Dads, The Grogans, The Mamas, and stacks more. She also recently played a sold-out show launching this single. Hopefully as the world gets back to normal we’ll have plenty of chances to see her live really soon.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Anthony Rennick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall For Deb Suckling’s Latest Single “Romeo and Juliet”

If you’ve ever been in love with the wrong person, Deb Suckling’s new single “Romeo and Juliet” is bound to resonate with you. I love the grunginess of this one. The kind of love she sings about is pretty messy, and the sound of this track reflects that beautifully.

“This song was inspired by the numerous young people I have in my life including my son,” Deb explained. “The fact that we all have experienced huge first love at this time in our lives – that it can be so complex and so difficult to navigate because peers and parents all seem to have an opinion on your first true love. It’s also inspired by the music I listened to during my forays into teenage love.”

Listen out for Deb Suckling’s long-awaited debut solo album Worthy when it drops on November 19. She’ll celebrate the release with a free show at Brisbane Powerhouse’s next Livespark event on November 28.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barefoot Spacemen’s Debut “Here I Go” is Out of This World

Melbourne band Barefoot Spacemen are bringing feel-good vibes to your Friday with their debut single “Here I Go.” This is such a cool track, with textured jazz and R’n’B influences ensuring you’re going to have a good time. By the time that sax solo dropped I was well and truly in.

While this funky single will get your toe-tapping, it’s also got a great message. Those lyrics should really get you thinking about how egoism can kick in when people start taking themselves too seriously.

I know you’ve been waiting a really long time for live gigs Melbourne, and Barefoot Spacemen are taking full advantage of their return. You can catch them launching “Here I Go” at Colour Club on November 25.

Image used with permission from Barefoot Spacemen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

San Joseph Releases Moving Pop Single, “Everything in the Room”

Melbourne artist San Joseph casts a spell with his new single “Everything in the Room.” It’s only his second release, but the songwriting and vocals are so confident and capable. The month between this release and his debut “Blink Twice” haven’t been ideal thanks to the COVID pandemic, but San Joseph is navigating the conditions in the only way he can.

“I’ve been in lockdown since ‘Blink Twice’ came out,” he admitted, “so music for me has meant spending every day trying to figure out how to master social media in a way that feels like me.”

This song is his way of bringing that experience to life, transforming the contents of his bedroom into his own conscience as he struggles to let someone go.

“It’s been such a volatile state for me, mentally,” he confirmed. “I had the sudden realisation that I’d been writing the same song a million different ways about the same person. It explores a paranoia that inanimate objects were judging me for not having moved on from my ex.”

With lockdowns really testing San Joseph’s ability to connect with fans over his new music, hopefully it’s not too long before we see him playing shows. Keep an eye on his Facebook page for news of that as soon as it comes.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jamie Payet Covers The Beatles’ Classic, “All You Need is Love”

Melbourne singer-songwriter Jamie Payet usually releases original material, but with his latest release he shows the magic he can bring to a classic. His take on “All You Need Is Love” is pretty brilliant. I wasn’t sure about the up-tempo treatment at first, but I was on board as soon as I heard that horn section kick in.

Crank it up and I swear you’ll feel better. It might be a throwback, but it captures the message we all need to hear right now.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ILUKA Spreads Sunshine With “Get Free” Single

Weekends are all about freedom, especially now those lockdowns have lifted, so what better time to introduce you to ILUKA’s banging new single “Get Free.” This synthy poppy masterpiece is the perfect track to get you grooving on this Saturday morning.

“I think it was a confession of the journey I’ve been on over the years. A celebration of the messy and long-winded route I’ve always taken – always a little left of centre and always in reach of something but never quite getting there, wherever ‘there’ even is,” ILUKA said of the song’s inspiration. “I think it was a way for me to find joy in that path rather than frustration and loneliness and in turn, to hopefully bring some kind of joy to the listeners.”

The song comes with a beautiful video filmed on Gundungurra and Darug land in the Blue Mountains, choreographed by Matthew Gode, and directed by Sophia de Vries. She explained, “We wanted to create a visual journey that embodied the idea of feeling free. Expansive natural environments, vibrant colours, and expressive movement. I was particularly inspired by the French filmmaker Eric Rohmer and the feeling of long summer days with no place to be.”

Expect to hear a lot more from ILUKA really soon, as she’s currently putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited debut album.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Vasili Papathanasopoulos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get to Know Latest Viral Sensation, Suzi’s Single “Amelia”

Mornington Peninsula singer-songwriter Suzi wears her heart on her sleeve with “Amelia,” a relatable slice of Aussie folk-rock. This song has been going gangbusters on TikTok where more than 500,000 people have viewed the song and left hundreds of comments. Now it’s time for those of us who aren’t on the platform to discover it.

On first listen, this song sounds like it might come from a place of anger, but instead it reflects on the way that someone’s insults are an indication of their own insecurities and shortcomings. We’ve all met an Amelia, and this song perfectly encapsulates the frustration that comes with that experience. Crank this one up and sing it at the top of your lungs.

Image used with permission from Soda Music Group