Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mardi Wilson Drops Empowering Folk Track, “Part Time Lover”

Brisbane singer-songwriter Mardi Wilson speaks for anyone who’s ever been screwed over by a sexual partner, both figuratively and literally, with her new single “Part Time Lover.” I love the way its warm, folky sound counterbalances beautifully with those edgy lyrics.

“I would hope if anyone listening to this song feels like they are being/have been taken for a bit of a ride as a ‘part-time lover’ – they realize that they are not alone. I hope that this song speaks to those people and makes them feel empowered and important,” Mardi said. “You can’t help it if someone treat’s you like shit, but you can decide that you deserve better.”

Mardi penned the track back in 2018, after being hospitalised for some health issues. During this difficult time she reached out to someone she was seeing for nearly a year, hoping for support. “The reaction that I got wasn’t what I expected and that really caused a lot of hurt for me, she admitted. “When I eventually got home I went straight for my guitar and started letting it all out.”

COVID-19 has slowed down Mardi’s schedule, but she’s still gigging when and where she can. Follow her Facebook page for details of the next shows as they’re announced.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sinclaire Showcases New Sound With “I Needed You”

Sinclaire won my heart last year with its debut EP Now I’m Ready to Start. Now the Sydney band is back showing a dreamier pop sound on a new single “I Needed You.” The lush synths and haunting vocals on this one remind me of acts like Cub Sport and The 1975. The lyrics are also incredibly clever, as the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter Michael Cross explained.

“On first listen, ‘I Needed You’ feels like a song written about a toxic, dysfunctional relationship between two people. Reciting abusive encounters and unstable dependency on one another, it’s a detailed depiction of everything that would be unhealthy in a relationship. However, it’s actually a story about one person’s addiction to alcohol. For example, the lyric ‘the last time I held you I forgot every word that I said,’ is really referring to the memory loss brought on by excessive drinking.”

Understanding the track’s inspiration makes it hit a little deeper for me. This is a different sound than the one that first got me interested in Sinclaire, but I really appreciate the evolution.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Will Clift’s Soulful New Single is Your Ideal Sunday Soundtrack

Melbourne RnB act and former pro rugby union player Will Clift has just dropped his sophomore single “Fall In Love,” and it’s just the kind of cool, cruisy track Sunday morning ordered. This one goes down easy with its groovy bassline and Will’s effortlessly smooth vocals.

“The song is about the struggle between the excitement and reluctance to fall in love,” Will explained. “When I was writing this track, I wanted to create something that would be a lot of fun to play live and would make people move. This is shown in the video with my bad dance moves, haha! The concept of the music video is that the model is actually a figment of my imagination and ‘the perfect girl’ that I’d ideally fall in love with is unobtainable. It was a lot of fun to make, and I’m not sick of the song after hearing it about 100 times which is a good sign.”

That video, filmed at a private mansion in Noosa, also has me dreaming about summer getaways. It’s the perfect antidote to those winter blues.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

JUNIE Gets Me Grooving With “Sometime”

Sydney RnB act JUNIE has just dropped his second single “Sometime” and it’s an absolute bop. It’s smooth and super catchy, with some rapid-fire rhymes that make the cool groove of the verses even sweeter. Make no mistake, this is the goods.

“While on the surface ‘Sometime’ is a fun and light-hearted jam, the track delves into deeper themes, which explores my battles with patience and confidence,” JUNIE admitted. “Facing your hurdles front on is always overwhelming, but a great way to get past them.”

JUNIE has played the King St. Crawl and shows with other exciting up-and-comers including Down for Tomorrow, A.GIRL, and Wolfjay. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him doing his thing live. Until then, crank this one and enjoy a party at home!

Image used with permission from Carlos Lara

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

David Shaak Drops Sublime Single, “Lost, Alone & Lonesome”

Melbourne-born, Brisbane-based singer-songwriter David Schaak is serving up classic Americana flavours with his latest single “Lost, Alone & Lonesome.” Its dirty guitars and lush Hammond organ are the perfect match for his rough and ready vocals. If you’ve got a taste for Southern rock, you’ll eat this song up.

“There are a lot of songs in the world about heartbreak, but I wanted to write one from the perspective of inevitability,” David said. “Sometimes a relationship can be over and the actual act of breaking up is merely a formality. Yes, there’s going to be a fight and then sadness and then loneliness; both parties have experienced it all before and just want it over and done with.

The line in the chorus ‘When you’re finished, can I keep the broken part?’ actually came from something my dad always said about getting old cars repaired. Always get the broken part back because you can probably get it repaired; to use again later – I don’t think there’s a heart on earth that hasn’t gone through a few repairs.”

“Lost, Alone & Lonesome” comes from David Schaak’s new album Meet My Ghosts, which will be released on October 2.

Image used with permission from Annie Johnsson Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shayne Cook Unleashes Two Superb Singles Ahead of Album Release

Why release just one single to generate buzz about your new album when you can drop two? Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Shayne Cook isn’t doing things by halves, dropping two new tracks ahead of the October release of his album Epiphonetics.

The first track, “Matters of the Heart” is a sweet folky love song exploring the way the heart can wrestle with the head when it comes to relationships. The demo almost fell through the cracks but album producer Simon Moro saw its beauty and developed it into the special song it is today.

The second track “Stawell Gift” is a little darker and moodier. It’s a personal song that details the story of Shayne’s dad and his adoption was the town of Stawell.

“Three years ago, my brother put out a search for the real parental background of our father. His history was traced back to a Greek immigrant who had previously been the captain of a ship in the Greek prior to emigrating and establishing a restaurant in the country Victorian town of Stawell with his wife. During this period his paternal father had an extra-marital affair with a lady working at the restaurant. Our dad was the result and he was sent to live in an orphanage after his birth,” Shayne recounted.

“Dad’s life parents were Christian missionaries and they originally came to the orphanage in search of a girl for adoption. However, they saw dad standing up in his cot looking at them with his big brown eyes and their choice was made on the spot. Dad had loving parents and a good life with them. Whilst both his biological parents had passed at the time of finding out his background – Dad’s heritage was survived by his half-brother and sister. He now has a great relationship with both and had an instant connection. His half-brother George, as it turned out, is a prominent Australian musician who has played with the like of the Black Sorrows, Zydeco Jump and Robyn Archer amongst many others.”

These songs are so different, but they’re both brilliant. They’ve certainly got me excited for Shayne’s album Epiphonetics, which drops on October 23.

Image used with permission from Annie Johnsson Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Farriss Releases Funky First Single, “All The People”

Grace Farriss is the daughter of INXS legend Andrew Farriss, so it should come as no surprise that she’s got some serious musical chops. Her first offering is “All the People,” a fun and funky little number that is just the thing we need to make the world seem brighter.

“’All The People’ came about while I was thinking deeply about the larger and more worldly aspects of life,” Grace explained. “The chord progression and rhythm of the song came first, very strongly, and then I put the melody and the lyrics over the top at the same time. I ended up singing the ‘All The People’ lyrics unknowingly and the meaning became more obvious the more the song took life.”

She’s much more than just a voice. Grace is also a songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. As if her musical talents weren’t enough, she’s releasing a book, “Poetry, Sayings and Stories” later this year. She’s also a painter, an ambassador for the Jane Goodall Institute and SeaShepherd, and she founded her own environmental institute, The Grace Earth Organisation. In addition, she’s studying her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

“All the People” comes from her new album, Grace, which will drop later this year. It features some of the world’s best musicians, including Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley) on drums, Joey Waronker (Beck) on drums, Abe Rounds (Andrew Bird, Meshell Ndegeocello, Birds of Prey Score) on drums, Benji Lysaght (Adele, Father John Misty) on guitar, Ralph Carney (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and the B-52’s) on saxophone, John Kirby (Solange) on keys, and Todd M. Simon (Angel City All-Star Brass Band) on horns. It definitely sounds like one to listen out for!

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kita Alexander Releases Fun Single, “I Miss You, I’m Sorry”

Kita Alexander shows she’s not afraid of apologizing with her poppy new single “I Miss You, I’m Sorry.” Her latest track is a more upbeat affair than the music she typically releases, but I think this sound is just what we need to combat the current climate of bad vibes. It also comes from an honest place, just like her trademark ballads did.

“The song is very truthful, and almost word-for-word, to be honest,” she admitted. “I really looked at myself. ‘I Miss You, I’m Sorry’ is a reflection of turning inwards rather than pointing the finger at someone else. Because I’ve realised you can’t control anyone or anything. You can only control your reactions and your emotions.

“Writing this was a real experience for me,” she added. “It was an easy song to write because it came from experience. But it was hard to look in the mirror and realise you messed up. I don’t know if everyone has that epiphany, but on this occasion, I saw my mistakes and flaws.”

Crank this one and let it chase away those Monday blues!

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Marvell Gets Me Excited With “19 Homes”

Sydney band Marvell is definitely on my must-see list when the pandemic is over and we’re all getting together again. Their latest track “19 Homes” has an infectious blues-rock feel that I can’t get enough of. There’s a little Kings of Leon, a little Nathan Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and a whole lot of heart in this one.

Marvell is the brainchild of brothers Max and Tom Marvell. The pair delivers emotionally raw vocals and an energetic rhythm section that just doesn’t quit. The band is keen to get out there and play for us all again. The “19 Homes” music video gives us a hint of what’s to come when they get back on stage, with footage from the very best open house. Settle in for the clip and get excited about the time when we can party with Marvell for real.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mike Waters Touches on Mental Health Struggles With “I’m Doing Fine”

The physical toll of COVID-19 dominates the headline, but most of us are more likely to suffer mentally from the pandemic. I know I’ve personally been on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, alternating between feeling totally in control and at peace with the situation and finding myself paralysed by anxiety. In this time of uncertainty, Mike Waters’ new single “I’m Doing Fine” really resonates.

The Melbourne singer-songwriter gets honest about his own mental health struggles, including how difficult speaking up about them can be when men are taught to simply suck it up.

“It came from me telling my own story of when I was hit by a really intense bout of deep, dark depression, that I’ve never experienced before,” he explained. “I learned that the thing I needed to do to get through that was to talk to people. This song is about people who say to their friends that they are fine but on the inside they are falling apart.”

Many of us are feeling isolated right now, whether you’re under a mandated lockdown or you’re playing it safe and staying in like me. If you’re struggling, remember help is always available. I find I’m calling home more than usual and video chatting with friends, but there are also plenty of support services available if you’d rather talk to someone you don’t know. Call the following numbers for 24/7 help:

beyondblue: 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 13 11 14
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467