Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dylan Wright’s Latest Song “Passing Through” Resonates

Dylan Wright started writing his latest single in 2016, “Passing Through” when Donald Trump won the American election and the world seemed so chaotic. Four years later, there’s even more turbulence and unrest. As Victorians are in lockdown and the rest of Australia nervously watches COVID-19 cases climb, this track’s lyrics hit hard.

“The song talks about the world as we know it crumbling down around us but that there is a light within all of us that will get us through our darkest days, even though we may not think we’ll be able to get through as first,” Dylan explained. “Unfortunately, there have been many disasters and tragedies over the past couple of years since I wrote ‘Passing Through’ and that light still does shine out from us in those moments.”

Gigs are few and far between these days, but Dylan recently managed shows in Sydney and Mudgee. Follow his Facebook page for news of any upcoming gigs as they’re announced.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Dreggs Spread Sunshine With “Call Me Home” Single

In the time of COVID-19, there isn’t too much to smile about. That makes it the perfect time for a new track from The Dreggs. This Sunshine Coast indie-folk duo makes such sweet music, and their latest single “Call Me Home” is no exception. Those harmonies, the acoustic guitars, it all sounds so good.

“As a musician, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of making something that should be fun and simple, so complex,” the lads admitted. “‘Call Me Home’ is simply put a happy and energetic track that should be enjoyed lightly. Whether you’re road-tripping down the coastline, thinking about your lover, or just wanting to dance around the house, we feel ‘Call Me Home’ is the perfect theme.”

The Dreggs sold out thirteen shows on their 15-date Postcards tour this year but had to cancel the lot of them due to the global pandemic. While they hope top tour extensively later this year, for now they’re content with the few gigs available. Here are all the places you can see them doing what they do best in the coming months.

11 July 2020 – Airwaves Drive-in Music Festival @ Nambour Showgrounds, Nambour
8 August 2020 – Anti-Social @ The Zoo, Brisbane
1 October 2020 – The Lansdowne, Sydney (supporting Caravana Sun)
9 October 2020 – The Foundry, Brisbane (supporting Caravana Sun)

Image used with permission from Ditto Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Agnes Manners’ New Single “Sydney” Packs a Punch

Agnes Manners, the new solo project from former Hellions guitarist Matthew Gravolin, shows that quality trumps quantity with his powerful new single “Sydney.” Featuring Trophy Eyes vocalist John Floreani, the song clocks in at just under two minutes. But two minutes is all it takes to grab you and strike a powerful emotional connection.

If you’re familiar with Hellions, you probably don’t expect the gentle flutes, strings, and piano, or the admission that these instruments were deliberately chosen to create the feel of a Disney tune. But that’s perhaps not the most surprising instrument you’ll hear.

“During that recording trip, I ambled down to a beach after a long night at the bar to try and get a voice recording of sea sounds to put in one of the songs. I had too much to drink and I ended up vomiting on the beach – I forgot that the voice memo was still recording all the while. I revisited the recording the next day and salvaged the sound of me being sick over the sounds of waves. After some cutting, the result can be heard at the end of ‘Sydney,’” Matthew admitted.

“Although admittedly a bit uncouth, I feel that it suits the lyrical content of the song. It’s about a particularly excessive time in my life before I made the move from Sydney to Melbourne. Paranoia and shame are the operant themes, written from a perspective that felt very real and frightening at the time.”

That unconventional approach really pays off here. This is one of those tracks I had to listen to a couple of times in a row because I wanted to make sure I caught it all. Even then I missed the vomit! Who knows what’s in store when Agnes Manners’ debut album Fantasia Famish drops on September 18.

Image used with permission from Habit Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jasmine Rae Hits Back at Critics With “Don’t Do It For the Haters”

Country artist Jasmine Rae seems to get even better with every passing year. She’s losing a little of her sweetness and her vocals are becoming richer and more compelling. If you haven’t heard her music for a few years, her tough new single “Don’t Do It For the Haters” might take you by surprise!

Jasmine was inspired by a copyright lawsuit levelled at her 2017 song “When I Found You.” The negative emails, phone calls, and comments from keyboard warriors took her aback but fuelled a fire inside her.

“Because I was the face of our song, I copped an enormous amount of hate anyway, from all directions. It was a really confronting and confusing time for me,” she admitted. “For a while, I didn’t want to co-write with anyone, didn’t want to put myself out there or be vulnerable and I was questioning everything. People around me actually thought that I would give up…

“I wanted to write something about that whole experience. I initially wrote some very angry songs but this one feels truer. This song is the one that sums up the real lessons learned by that experience and puts a full stop on it for me. It gives me closure.”

This powerful and deeply personal song comes from Jasmine’s brand-new album Lion Side, which drops on July 24.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Luke Howell Goes Solo With “Stuck On You”

Luke Howell is a seasoned musician who got his big break in the X Factor boyband What About Tonight. However, he had much bigger dreams than making manufactured pop. After spending a couple of years in Los Angeles collaborating with top producers and songwriters, he’s back on home soil and making his own music. His long-awaited debut single is “Stuck On You,” a laidback rootsy soul-pop number that takes inspiration from James Bay and Matt Corby.

Luke said the song “came naturally” during a session with local producer Josh Beattie.

“After recording about five songs that day, we came across this punchy bass line that moved us all in different/interesting ways. For what started out as lyrically sad, the groove of the record was anything but that. It evolved into to something magic and we knew that we were on a good path.”

Luke is currently working on an EP of new material that showcases his own sound. If this track is any indication, fans are in for a real treat.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leanne Tennant Drops “Record Stores” Single Ahead of Album Launch

Queensland singer-songwriter Leanne Tennant speaks for so many of us in her latest single “Record Stores,” an ode to those special places that are so much more than retail outlets. They’re places where we can find new friends, new sonic connections that make us feel less alone.

“I was dwelling on anything and everything, and began to spiral into a pretty shitty place,” Leanne admitted. “Through the thick of it I walked over to my record player and threw on an album, and within minutes my whole mindset had shifted. I wrote record stores later that day as a reminder of the power and importance of music. We play it at our weddings, we play it at our funerals, it’s the soundtrack to all the important milestones in our lives, and has the ability to instantly change someone’s mindset. It is a powerful thing, and life would be pretty grim without it”.

“Record Stores” comes from Leanne’s new album Happiness is….. which drops this Thursday, July 9. If you love this track and the previous singles, including “Cherry Cola” and “Bring It All Back,” make sure you check out the rest on your favourite streaming service. And if you’re in Cairns, check out her album launch show at Tanks Art Centre on July 31. Tickets are limited due to COVID-19 regulations, so make sure you buy yours from TicketLink soon.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Waxflower Drops New Single for BLM Charities

Brisbane pop-punk quartet Waxflower is doing its part for racial equality with the release of “Sixteen Floors.” All proceeds from the track will benefit Black Lives Matter and Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.

You won’t be disappointed supporting the cause with your streams and downloads, because this track is an absolute belter. Waxflower frontman Tristan Higginson drew from his own experience in the aftermath of a relationship.

“’Sixteen Floors’ was written at the end of a relationship, and along with my anxiety and panic disorder I was facing a new kind of sadness, with the backbone of my emotional support system gone,” he explained. “The song served as a vessel for all the negative thoughts and emotions that I wanted to externalise, but couldn’t. I remember that writing session being very fast, and very cathartic.”

Waxflower recently signed with Europe’s Rude Records, home to American Hi-Fi, Blood Youth, The Maine, and heaps more. Something tells me it’s only a matter of time before Waxflower follows in their footsteps and gain a global following.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paige Valentine Shows Her Soul With “Pure”

Fremantle singer-songwriter Paige Valentine has floored me with her beautiful new single “Pure.” It’s an exercise in restraint, with sparse synths giving her stunning vocals space to shine. Paige co-wrote the song with her friend and current The Voice contestant Matt Gresham.

“I was beginning to witness a number of friends’ long-term relationships being tested and drew a bit on personal experience, when two people who love each other seem to drift apart chasing different dreams, or going through hardships, or just generally changing as people. Matt already had the chords ready to go, I ad-libbed the first verse and chorus while he was playing guitar. We both knew we were onto something really special and something that really hit a nerve, Matt even asked if I wanted to continue writing it – it was intense,” she recalled. “We finished the song half an hour later … vulnerable, personal, challenging songwriting. I went to Sydney and did some pre-production with Billy Otto, before returning to Fremantle and finishing the single with Dylan Ollivierre (The Money War). ‘Pure’ is about trying to remember why you love someone and wanting to get back to that innocence of when you fell in love.”

Paige has been making waves in her native Western Australia. She’s already been nominated for five WAM awards and been a finalist in the Vanda & Young International Song Competition. Something tells me we’ll see big things from her in the years ahead.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit She is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sing Along to Stonefox’s New Indie Pop Stunner, “White Caps”

“White Caps” is no traditional love song, but it tells the start of a story with a happy ending for Stonefox lead singer Jenna Russo. This melodic electro-pop single explores those heady feelings that come when finding someone you click with.

“White Caps is about a relationship where you’re so infatuated with someone that no matter how much they could hurt you, you’re always going to be there for them. When we wrote White Caps, I was falling in love with a girl who had a boyfriend,” Jenna explained. “I did everything I possibly could to show her how I felt, but she had no idea. I was so enthralled, that even though I knew I’d probably get hurt, I wasn’t going to give up. Ironically things ended up great in the end, she’s my girlfriend now.”

“White Caps” gives us our first taste of Stonefox’s next EP As You Fall In, which drops on August 14.

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wolfpup Gives Me Chills With Emotional New Track, “Empty Lanes”

If you didn’t know better, you might think “Empty Lanes” is Amy Shark’s latest release. However, this brilliant new track is the work of Sydney singer-songwriter Wolfpup. There are certainly some similarities between their vocal tone, an unflinchingly honest approach to songwriting, and willingness to experience with electronic sounds. However, I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Amy Shark is a massive star, and with just as much talent Wolfpup might blow up in just the same way.

“I’d spent a year interstate, when I came home, everything had changed. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the people around me,” she explained of the song’s inspiration. “All my former coworkers had moved into new jobs, my friends had finished their degrees, everyone I knew had gone places. I’m not sure, I think it’s a part of growing up. I couldn’t relate to anyone anymore, I couldn’t share my stories, and I didn’t understand theirs.”

I really dig this song and cannot wait to hear more from Wolfpup.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department