Perth-based singer-songwriter Reuben De Melo has properly charmed me with his dreamy new single “How Does It Feel.” It’s a romantic ditty with soulful vocals, honest lyrics, and a healthy dose of ukulele for good measure.
Unlike so many love songs, it sounds like it comes from such true place. And it’s little wonder, when Reuben writing the song about his then-girlfriend, who has since become his wife and the mother of his new baby boy. Awwww!
According to his Facebook page, Reuben’s next gigs will be in March, so it won’t be too long before he’s back in front of audiences doing what he does best!
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Proving it’s no flash in the pan, Midnight Drags has released another banging single “It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself).” It’s such a worthy follow-up to “Ronnie,” with hooks that are every bit as infectious as the last release. It’s a little darker lyrically, but I just love the fuzzy guitars and Lucas James’ rich, rocking vocals. And can we just talk about that cowbell? If this song is any indication, it may be time for a comeback.
“It’s True is really a song about self-loathing and being in an emotionally dark place. It’s about not feeling worthy of being in a relationship and pushing somebody you really care about away,” admitted Lucas James. “It’s another dark song that I loved sweetening up with some bigger pop-rock elements.”
If, like me, you can’t get enough of Midnight Drags, I’ve got some good news for you. Listen out for the act’s album, Bad Business, out on February 26.
If you’ve ever felt addicted to someone else, especially if it wasn’t good for you, Sydnee Carter’s new track “Drug Was You” is sure to strike a chord. This vulnerable pop single explores the addictive nature of the most powerful narcotic on the planet: love.
“I wanted to write a song about longing for a lifetime past, after the love that is supposedly gone,” she explained. “Instead of drawing to a close, the hurt keeps brewing into a driving infatuation, culminating into an emotional cataclysm and realisation. My drug was always you. But of course, listeners can interpret how they like.”
Since winning the prestigious Western Australian Music Song of the Year at the age of 17, Sydnee has rubbed shoulders with the right people, including Duke & Jones, Paces, 360, Slumberjack, and her “Drug Was You” collaborators Wasteland and Justin Martins. Now at 23, Sydnee’s showing she’s got some serious talent. See her launch the single at The Aardvark in Fremantle on February 6.
The last year has taught us all to pivot as we’ve attempted to thrive in this new normal. If you’ve had told me 12 months ago that The Smith Street Band were planning semi-acoustic seated shows I’d have laughed, and yet here we are. And funnily enough, it all makes perfect sense.
As soon as Victorian restrictions were eased, the band set about rehearsing and rewriting many of their songs to suit a more mellow, COVID-safe environment. The band will take these reworked tracks to fans across Victoria and New South Wales in the coming months.
The shows coincide with an album of those reworked tracks, Unplugged in Wombat State Forest. The first single, “It’s OK” isn’t too dramatic a departure from the original, but I expect we’ll hear a few left turns when the album drops on March 5. If you love what you see, you can also stream a video featuring all the songs here. And remember to get on to those The Smith Street Band Unplugged shows. With limited capacity in all venues and some shows already sold out, the remaining tickets won’t last long.
26 February 2021 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
27 February 2021 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
4 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne
5 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
6 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
12 March 2021 – The Enmore, Sydney
17 April 2021 – Yours + Owls Festival, Wollongong
Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency; credit: Ian Laidlaw
Zambian-born, Perth-based singer Portia Clark has teamed up with Darius Rucker for a gorgeous new country single “Ready to Fall.” Portia met the Hootie & The Blowfish singer by chance backstage in Minneapolis. She pitched the idea of collaborating then and there, something they talked more about when Darius toured Australia in 2018. Portia later flew to Nashville to lay this song down.
I love the way Portia’s powerful, pure voice matches Darius’s unmistakable warm delivery. Hopefully, his inclusion will introduce our adopted Aussie’s talents to a few more folks around the world.
Portia is currently working on a new live show saluting great women through musical history. With her versatile voice, I imagine it’ll be fantastic!
Sydney singer-songwriter Nick de la Hoyde has given me all the feels with his latest single “Night Stuff.” I’ve been listening to new music all day waiting for something to hit; something like this sweet synthy pop number.
The track is about those sleepless nights we’ve all spent, tossing and turning while thoughts of that special someone race through our minds. It’s so relatable and real, and I can’t say enough good things about it.
Mondays are hard work, but ELKI has just what the doctor ordered. Her smashing new pop single “Spend Your Life” is an uplifting track with cool Scandi vibes.
After spending 2020 working in a mental health institution, ELKI knew her return to music had to make a difference to people. And so, she dropped this track, which she believes is “something different and important … a mental health song that jump-starts action and gets you out of a rut.”
I think I could listen to this song anywhere and love it, but ELKI insists “It’s a song to listen to while you’re moving. Get up from your
desk and jump in your car. Blast it with the windows down, with fresh night air on a lonely freeway.”
You heard her! Crank this up, have a dance and get those feel-good endorphins flowing!
Melbourne pop act Lakelend has got me grooving with his latest single “Supernova.” This is an irresistible synthy pop track that takes its cues from acts like Lauv, LANY, and The Chainsmokers. It’ll definitely get you dancing, but its romantic lyrics might tug at your heartstrings too!
“Sometimes that new person falls into your lap when you least expect it. A breath of fresh air. Something that you haven’t experienced before,” Lakelend explains of the song’s inspiration. “I was all in. Never in my life had I experienced a love for someone that built up so incredibly quickly. I think it’s only human to return love and affection if it’s received well and is something you’re capable of giving back. In hindsight, there were certain moments that I was blind to everything happening around me. My close friends, my family and even my own goals and ambitions. I don’t regret it, but I’m just being honest.”
“Supernova” is only Lakelend’s second single, but he’s already showing big promise.
Sydney pop act Boleyn smoulders with his latest single “Violence.” It’s got such a cool, soulful sound and lyrics that confront and make you think about how we get what we want out of relationships.
Boleyn explained the song came about after a frank conversation with a friend. “’If he loves me, why won’t he hurt me?’ A friend was complaining her partner wasn’t being aggressive enough in the bedroom and that seed buried itself in my mind. ‘Violence’ is fundamentally about consent. How do we communicate our sexual needs? What boundaries do we set? How is that expressed? What anxieties do we harbor about communicating our true desires? ‘Violence’ is about letting go everything except your needs and communicating those with honesty – you want bruises? You want it to hurt? To leave a mark? Cool, I’m game – you just need to ask,” he explained.
If you love “Violence,” there’s more where that came from. Boleyn has spent the pandemic working on new material with Xavier Dunn (Peking Duk, Jack River, CXLOE) and Guy Stacey (GVY), so he’s got a stack of new material waiting to be unleashed. I for one can’t wait.
So many of us approached 2021 with a sense of optimism. The year might be looking like the same old shit, but I’m not ready to surrender just yet. So I’m seeking out music that puts a smile on my face, even as the world goes to hell in a handbasket. The latest track to get my toes tapping is “It’s Alright” from Pierce Brothers.
If any band will convince you it’s all going to be OK, it’s these guys. The song’s inception reminds us of the kind of world we’ll get back to. Jack Pierce penned the chorus in 2018, while he was trekking through the mountains of Switzerland. It sat in a drawer until brother Pat took it out recently, laid down the verses, and gave it a new bluesy feel. It’s got that upbeat, energetic folk feel that sweeps you along for the ride. If you’re into Nathaniel Rateliff or Mumford and Sons, you’ll love this.
Pierce Brothers are forging ahead and doing all the things the pandemic has made so difficult. “It’s Alright” comes from the band’s sophomore album Into the Great Unknown, which will drop on March 5. They recently cancelled NSW shows, but not to be deterred they’re forging ahead with the following dates, including a few new gigs in regional Victoria. All shows have limited COVID-safe capacity, so grab those tickets before they sell out!
16 January 2021 – Moonah Arts Collective, Rye
22 & 23 January 2021 – Volta Arts & Culture, Ballarat
30 January 2021 – The Wedge, Sale
13 February 2021 – Marlo Pub, Marlo
20 March 2021 – The Sheds, Wonthaggi
2 April 2021 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay
