Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Shakes Covers The Angels Classic in Lockdown

Doc Neeson and the Brewster brothers could never have imagined COVID-19 when they penned the classic Aussie rock song “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.” However, it’s the perfect anthem for our times. New York punksters Baby Shakes first covered The Angels’ hit for their 2019 album Cause a Scene, but they’ve revisited it in a new lockdown video.

Baby Shakes filmed the clip on their phones, mostly within their Brooklyn apartments. Its release has been a great way for the band to communicate with their fans and make some new ones.

“The news has been pretty gruesome and many friends outside of NY have expressed their concern. We thought it was important to show everyone how we’ve been living our common everyday lives from the safety of our homes,” explained the band’s bass player, Claudia Gonzalez.

“Some people said it made them cry and some laughed and said it cheered them up. We were thrilled that so many Australians expressed pride and nostalgia overhearing a classic song from their youth. Overall, most people said that they felt the same way,” added lead guitarist Judy Lindsay.

I love the energy Baby Shakes breathed into their take on “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.” Their cover makes it sound so fresh and edgy. What do you think of it?

Image used with permission from Dave Laing Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

CVIRO and GXNXVS Take Us Way Back With “Stay With Me”

Gold Coast singer CVIRO and his producer buddy GXNXVS for a slamming new single “Stay With Me.” It’s giving me old-school R’n’B vibes. If you were listening to Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, or Jagged Edge back in the day like I was, or you stole their albums from your mum’s record collection, you’re definitely going to dig this.

No wonder these guys are already generating plenty of buzz. They’ve got fans in the United States and United Kingdom, not to mention right here at home, and they’ve been championed by tastemakers including Vice, Clash, and the OVO team (who have incidentally never featured an Aussie act before). They’ve also clocked up 38 million streams!

CVIRO and GXNXVS will drop a few more singles before releasing an EP in the last quarter of the year. That means there’s plenty of new music for anyone else loving their sound.

Image used with permission from Universal Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mick Thomas Releases New Pandemic-Inspired Folk Charmer, “See You When I’m Looking at You”

Former Weddings, Parties, Anything frontman Mick Thomas is back with a whole swag of new tunes for your isolation playlist. The new Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission album See You On the Other Side: A Postcard from April 2020 features a selection of choice cuts written and recorded in lockdown. They might be apart, but Mick couldn’t have done it without the help of his famous friends. The album features appearances from Angie Hart (Frente), Nick Barker, Vikki Thorn (The Waifs), Darren Hanlon, Shelley Short, Alana Jagt, Brooke Russell, Van Walker, Ron S. Peno (Died Pretty), Alannah Russack (The Hummingbirds), Ben Salter, Dana Gehrman, Cam Butler, and Jen Anderson. Talk about star power.

You’ll see many of them on my favourite track from the album, “See You When I’m Looking at You.” But there’s plenty more where that came from. All the new music is available now on all the best streaming platforms. If you prefer something more tangible, check out the Mick Thomas Bandcamp page.

Gigs are few and far between these days, but Mick is making the most of the streaming technology available. Fresh from his own virtual album launch, he’ll take part in Memo Music Hall’s “Keep the Circle Unbroken” streaming show tomorrow night. Visit Memo Musical Hall’s website for ticket details.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paige Black Reminds Us Of the Silver Linings With “Rebuild”

If there are any upsides to the pandemic, it’s hearing all the beautiful music it’s inspired. One of the latest additions to our pandemic playlists is “Rebuild,” a beautiful single from Yarra Valley native Paige Black.

“Rebuild” is a gentle folky number, the kind of song that would go down a treat while you’re enjoying a glass of red in front of a crackling fire.

“I wrote this song about hope, while reflecting on the current pandemic we are all going through,” Paige explained. “It captures the way our reality suddenly changed overnight and how communities throughout the world were compelled to band together to overcome the devastating loss and forthcoming challenges, some worse than others.”

“As time went on in isolation, I began to reflect on the silver linings that have transpired as a result of staying put in our homes. Mother Nature has had a chance to breathe and bloom and our consumerist and workaholic behaviours were forced to alter. Maybe this has created an opportunity to change our habits for the greater good of the human race and the environment. A chance to “shape a world that matters”, slow down and think about our values.”

That new lockdown might not be easy Victoria, but perhaps you can hear this song and reframe your thinking. Stay safe everybody!

Image used with permission from Arow Agency

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