NIDALA Wows Me With New Single “Said Too Much”

Byron Bay-based First Nations performer NIDALA has captured my heart with her gorgeous new single “Said Too Much.” It’s an earnest folky love song that is so disarming in its simplicity and rawness. I felt this one, and honestly, that’s the highest compliment I can pay a piece of music.

“’Said Too Much’ is about dating and how it collides my worlds together! My ancestral heritage sees partnership as a central part in human-nature relationships, and my tech-ridden modern existence plays it out through online dating in a culture that fears deep connection,” NIDALA explained. “It’s about being confused, and being able to dance it off. I chose this theme because I wanted it to feel relatable and deeply human, and I wanted to paint my Indigeneity in the colours of softness it so rarely gets to wear in white Australia.”

“Said Too Much” comes from NIDALA’s debut, carbon-neutral EP Colours of My People, which drops on September 2. NIDALA will donate 20% of the EP’s proceeds to programs for planting trees and another 20% to Indigenous-run mental health and creative mentoring initiatives. Preorders are available now through NIDALA’s Bandcamp page.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Rude Rum Release Rocking New Single, “Talk”

Brisbane band Rude Rum have just dropped their latest single “Talk,” and I can’t stop listening. With infectious hooks and plenty of swagger, this is rock music the way it’s meant to be.

“This is definitely one of our most attitude-filled tracks” explained the band’s frontman and songwriter Jaeden Ogston. “It was created with such raw emotional energy, and definitely nurtures a new side of our persona by stepping away from previous funk-esque influences”.

You might have seen Rude Rum touring with FANGZ or Total Pace, but they’re ready to play their own headlining shows around their home state. Check them out at the following venues to see how they bring all that energy to the stage.

3 September 2021 – Studio 188, Ipswich
11 September 2021 – Vinnie’s Dive Bar, Gold Coast
18 September 2021 – King Lear’s Throne, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Rude Rum; credit: Darcy Goss Media

Julia Lostrom Releases Dreamy New Single, “Want It All Back”

With so much of the country in lockdown, there’s no better time to discover Julia Lostrom’s self-care anthem “Want It All Back.” Julia is a Greek-born, Zambian-raised, Melbourne-based artist with a cool, sultry vibe that I’m really digging.

“Want It All Back” reminds listeners of the importance of taking care of yourself, even when everything appears to be fine. “I hope people take whatever they need from this song,” Julia said. “If it connects to anyone sonically, lyrically or visually I’d feel extremely honoured. I write to connect to myself and process my life and if anyone resonates with it, then that’s amazing.”

Julia has plenty of new material in the pipeline, so expect to hear a lot more from her in the coming months.

Image used with permission from Broken Leg

Wanderers Drop Groovy New Single, “Penny”

Adelaide band Wanderers have found inspiration from the big screen for their latest single “Penny.” The track is a homage to Penny Lane, Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous. If you’ve longed for the return of yacht rock (and who hasn’t?), this is your tune.

Dusty Lee, Wanderers’ singer-songwriter, explained how the song came together quickly in the band’s 60s inspired cabin. “There was something in the air that night, what initially started as a jam, became a nearly fully fleshed out song in about an hour. Told from the perspective of the young journalist in the film and the impact the character Penny had on him.”

“Penny” comes from Wanderers’ forthcoming EP, which should drop later this year. The band will play the following shows in the coming weeks to celebrate its release.

21 August 2021 – The Lab, Adelaide
2 September 2021 – The Gaso, Upstairs, Melbourne
10 September 2021 – Soundcity, Port Lincoln

Image used with permission from Big Oak Records

Jannah Beth Celebrates Art Over Profits With “Want Me Dead”

Sydney artist Jannah Beth celebrates their love of music in their latest single “Want Me Dead.” Despite its macabre name, this is an upbeat track that effortlessly blends rap and pop vibe. It’s definitely put the groove into my Friday.

“‘Want Me Dead’ is a song about conflicting music industry experiences and reconnecting with why I started music in the first place,” she explained. “I honestly do feel like I’m out here ‘selling my soul’; this whole project has been informed by my real-life experiences, not trends or extrinsic motivations. I left school and a turbulent home life at 15 to chase my dreams and I’ve worked my ass off over the past 10 years to get to the place where I’m now seeing my dreams come to fruition.”

Jannah Beth believes so much in an industry that nurtures art that she’s been working behind the scenes to make it happen. She’s built several studios in Marrickville’s creative hub by the Bowling Club. Already more than half of the resident artists and producers are female or non-binary. She’s also launching her own artist-run creative space, Offbeat Collective, really soon.

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: She Is Aphrodite

Georgia Maq and Alice Ivy Come Together For Sublime “Someone Stranger” Single

Today has brought a lot of bad news. You could let it get to you, or you could hit play on “Someone Stranger,” the stunning new track from Georgia Maq and Alice Ivy, and just dance out. I know which option I’ve taken.

“Annika and I knew we wanted to make a song together so we made the time and in about three hours we had pretty much finished ‘Someone Stranger’,” Georgia Maq explained. “I write lyrics really quickly when I feel I have to and Annika creates amazing melodies so it just worked really well together. The song is very much open to interpretation, but personally it’s about purging romance through movement.”

With so much of the country in lockdown, this song’s themes of loneliness and the need for connection really hit. The gorgeous electro-pop melodies are upbeat though, balancing the heavy themes with uplifting sounds. Georgia and Alice’s voices blend so perfectly too. This is wonderful.

Georgia Maq will perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of VIVID later this year. She’s planning to announce new shows soon, which will give us all something to look forward to.

Image used with permission from Our Golden Friend

Okay Dane Show Off Bold New Sound With “Different Waves”

Melbourne rock act Okay Dane spent 2020 honing their sound, and now in 2021 they’re ready to show it off. “Different Waves” is a confident rock anthem that should put some extra pep into your Humpday.

“‘Different Waves’ is the end product of a year-long process of trying things, hating them and throwing them out. It was definitely a rough patch and I had a hard time with writer’s block, and finding the right direction both lyrically and musically,” explained songwriter Jake Kougioumtzis.

“Once we were able to get back together after months of lockdowns and playing live again, it was like the ice had thawed, and I was able to find the right words and the music started pouring out. I was able to channel all of the stress, anxiety and tension of the last year into a new batch of songs and ‘Different Waves’ definitely feels like a reflection of all we’ve been through in the last year and a half.”

With a new single under their belt, returning to stages is the next logical step. Okay Dane will play the following shows through August and September.

21 August 2021 – O’Skulligans, Brisbane
27 August 2021 – Hotel Metro, Adelaide (FREE)
4 September 2021 – Last Chance, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Patrick James Releases Positive Pandemic Track, “Grateful”

The pandemic has left many of us feeling frustrated and flat. However, for Patrick James, it inspired more positive emotions. He wrote his latest single “Grateful” in the middle of the pandemic, buoyed by his appreciation and admiration of the people around him.

It’s a beautiful song and one which serves as a powerful reminder to appreciate the people who give our lives more meaning. Press play, take a few deep breaths, and let this song soothe your soul.

Image used with permission from KAOS

Bella B Shines on Debut With “Light On”

Brisbane singer-songwriter Bella B has just dropped her gorgeous debut track “Light On.” Its simple piano melody lets her voice and lyrics shine. The addition of synths give it a fresh feel without undermining the track’s emotional centre.

“‘Light On’ is a plea to someone to step up and commit to being in a relationship. They keep running, shying away from the hard conversations – and you keep pursuing them, which only makes them pull away harder”, Bella explained.

This track has a confidence we don’t often see from debut releases, but Bella is no stranger to the music industry. She’s written tracks for other local artists including HANNI. Something tells me we’ll see her spending more time fronting her own material in future.

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Eliza & The Delusionals Release Shiny New Single, “Save Me”

So today hasn’t been the easiest. Brisbane joins Greater Sydney in lockdown. With the footy in doubt, I’ve realised it might just be the glue holding me together right now. If like me you need to lift your spirits, press play. “Save Me,” the shimmery new bop from Eliza & The Delusionals is just what you need right now.

I’m getting all nostalgic listening to the dreamy vocals and synthy production here. It’s been a long time coming, with Eliza Klatt and Kurt Skuse writing part of the track in Los Angeles, then finishing it in their home studio in Australia. With such a long gestation, the track has gone through a real sonic evolution since its conception.

“We never intended on changing or re-working the song, but a few months later myself and Kurt were having a writing session and came up with this verse idea and new chords that we were loving and we just needed a chorus,” Eliza explained. “I sung the ‘Save Me’ chorus that we demoed just to see how it fit and we instantly fell in love with those two ideas together. It felt like two puzzle pieces that were meant to be together.”

Eliza & The Delusionals’ shows with The Vanns might be postponed, but they’ve got a few solo shows on their schedule. Catch them (hopefully) at the following venues this October:

3 October 2021 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
8 October 2021 – The Brightside, Brisbane
9 October 2021 – Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar, Sydney
15 October 2021 – The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Luke Henery