Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chevalier Wows Me With “Scarlet Skies”

Melbourne songstress Chevalier shows she’s got the goods with her new single “Scarlet Skies.” She might be an up-and-coming artist, but this dynamic track is brimming with confidence. It features some of the most accomplished vocals and intricate sounds that I’ve heard in some time.

Chevalier has spent the last five years touring locally and abroad as a back-up singer and vocal coach to her pal Ruel.

“I first met Ruel and his family when he was 12 and remember thinking he had the most incredible voice,” she explained. “I started working with him on his vocals, then soon after when the touring began, I started doing BVs for him and tutored him for his schoolwork also. I’ve felt like part of the VanDijk family ever since! It’s been a crazy and incredibly rewarding five years watching everything grow so exponentially.”

However, with songs like “Scarlet Skies” in her repertoire, I can’t imagine Chevalier will stay in the background for too much longer.
“My producer Allan McConnell sent through a rough idea of what ended up being the song and I just vibed with it straight away,” she recalled. “I remember first listening to it on my balcony in Fitzroy and the sky was a vibrant array of pink and red. I had just got back from a big tour with Ruel so I popped open a bottle of red, sat back in my egg chair and put the beat on loop. All the lyrics and melodies came out within about 30 minutes; it kind of felt like I was dreaming.”

While you can hear the influence of Jazmine Sullivan and Solange in this track, Chevalier says her biggest influence was her nana, Bette Chevalier. Her nana attended every ballet concert, singing performance, and piano recital with flowers for her beloved granddaughter. Sadly, she passed away while Chevalier was touring Europe with Ruel, but her last wish was for her daughter to continue the tour and keep performing. I think she’d be pretty proud of this special new single, don’t you?

Image used with permission from Ditto Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard Delivers With “Don’t Believe In Love”

Like everyone on the planet, I got pretty excited about Sheppard when they burst onto the scene with “Geronimo.” My interest in the band fizzled a little with each subsequent release, but I think it’s back to its best form with the release of “Don’t Believe in Love.” It’s got a great electro-pop sound that feels so current. It gives such great vibes, but listen to the lyrics and you’ll hear some bite.

“Don’t Believe in Love is an ‘anti-love song,’” explained the band’s frontman, George Sheppard. “We’ve all been in that dark place where we feel like love is not made for us. When it doesn’t go right, love can hurt us like nothing else can, and this song is about those times where it just feels easier to build up those walls and never let love in rather than risk being hurt again.”

This is the first in a long line of new releases from Sheppard. The band plans to release a new song every month leading up to the release of a new album later this year.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Elsy Pastor Brings Hope With “Pastor”

Soulful Adelaide act Elsy Wameyo has followed up last year’s “Outcast” with the release of another strong, personal single, “Pastor.” The song effortlessly combines classic gospel influences with fresh urban sounds, ensuring it sounds modern, yet timeless. Its lyrics focus on two of Elsy’s biggest influences: faith and family.

“‘Pastor’ was written at a time where I felt defeated,” she admitted. “However, deep inside I knew that nothing could ever defeat the almighty. In life, there’s always going to be ups and downs but purpose will always prevail and that’s something that I was and am still sure of.”

She was set to play Sounds of Adelaide next month but that has been postponed. The new date is yet to be announced.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould & Peyton Team Up for ’90s Cover

I’ve got a few guilty pleasures in my life. One of them is big torch ballads. Another is R’n’B from the 1990s. So the latest release from Greg Gould ticks all the boxes for me. He’s teamed up with X Factor UK finalist Peyton for a sensitive cover of Brandy and Monica’s smash “The Boy is Mine.”

Their reworking gives a new texture to the song which calls to light the bullying both artists faced in their youth. If you want something a little more upbeat, there are also three remixes on Spotify.

“I’ve always loved the song and wanted to create something unique and special, after Peyton dropped his vocals next to mine I knew we had just that,” Greg explained. “I’m really proud of this arrangement and how we flipped the narrative of the lyrics to really express something important to both of us. Sharing our personal history being bullied in this video was an emotional, yet cathartic experience for both Peyton and myself … oh and hand this woman an Oscar – Lynne McGranger is so incredible in this!”

If you love this as much as I do, you’ll be thrilled to hear there’s more where that came from. In fact, Greg has recorded a whole album of ‘90s bangers, 1998, which is due for release on April 17. It features collaborations with some of the nation’s best and brightest including Tania Doko, Damien Leith, Rhonda Burchmore, Cosima De Vito, and Mark Gable. Profits from this single and the album will benefit the Olivia Newtown-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. It’s a powerful gesture that remembers Greg’s step-mother Sharon, who lost her own battle with cancer two years ago.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sam Fischer Drops New Remix of “This City”

I’m not quite where I was when Aussie expat Sam Fischer dropped his track “This City” last year, but I’m glad the remix didn’t pass me. This fresh new take, remixed by Luca Shreiner, might be my favourite version. I usually prefer hearing songs in their simplest form, but the beats really add some depth to “This City.” I’m vibing it.

He’s not a household name yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Sam supported Lewis Capaldi on his North American tour which put this track all over Tik Tok.

Now I think it’s time people older than my niece knew about it though. Are you feeling it?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lulu Raes Release Feelgood New Single, “Can’t Run No More”

After getting the sad news that Dave Matthews Band is the latest act in a long line of cancelled shows for me, I needed a bit of a pick-me-up today. Enter The Lulu Raes with a catchy new single “Can’t Run No More.”

This track has such a fun folky feel to it. If you loved The Lemonheads or The Shins, I think it’ll be right up your alley.

“’Can’t Run No More’ is about loving a person, but not being able to talk about it or fully comprehend the feelings, because the person is just one of those individuals who work so hard, accomplishes everything and seems a cut above regular people,” the band explained.

The Lulu Raes is scheduled to play shows at The Grace Darling in Melbourne on April 17 and the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney on April 24 at this stage. However, in these crazy times make sure you watch The Lulu Raes Facebook page a little closer to the date to check whether they will go ahead.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Locked in Lummo Put Best Foot Forward With “Two Shoes”

I’m sure most of us can agree that life is a bit shitty at the moment. Those concert cancellations are coming left and right, and while we understand that they might be for our own good they’re bitter pills to swallow. Social distancing is tough, but thankfully there is some great music to get us through. The latest to catch my ear is “Two Shoes,” the debut single from Sydney indie rockers Locked in Lummo.

This track is so catchy, full of irresistible hooks and introspective lyrics. I love the way the synth works with the driving drumbeats. Hayden Smith’s voice can also seem to do absolutely anything. That falsetto is flawless!

“It’s about getting to 23 and not being where I thought I’d be in life,” he explained, “watching my friends get ‘real jobs’, and being sick of doing the same thing every day.

“The lyrics in the song are personal and raw, and I chose to write about ordinary parts of my every day that I think most people also experience,” he says. “It’s the first song I’ve been proud of writing because it’s honest and authentic to what message I was trying to convey. Ultimately, it’s about feeling spread too thin, and how that takes its toll on the things you are trying to achieve.”

They’ve got a couple of upcoming shows which will hopefully still go ahead. Follow Locked in Lummos’ Facebook page to see if the situation changes though!

27 March 2020 – Miranda Hotel, Miranda
9 April 2020 – Hideaway Bar, Enmore

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Marco Drops Gorgeous New Track “Harder to Breathe”

It feels vaguely inappropriate to plug a track called “Harder to Breathe” during a health pandemic causing respiratory issues, but Marco’s new single is so good that I just can’t resist. He was a wee young thing when he released his last track more than a year ago. Now at the age of 18, this single from the Brisbane artist feels like a coming of age. This song is dazzling in its simplicity. Its melody is super catchy and those lyrics are so beautifully introspective.

“After releasing my last song over a year ago, ‘Harder To Breathe’ feels like an amazing way to kick off 2020 and for people to hear the new music I’ve been working on,” he explained. “This is only the first of many releases this year and I’m certainly looking forward to each and every one of them.”

Marco is scheduled to play Limelight Brisbane at Black Bear Lodge on March 27.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Like Bear Drops Sophomore Single, “Usually Does”

Melbourne songwriter and engineer Nayomi Pattuwage got her start working behind-the-scenes of the music industry. However, with her solo project Like Bear, she’s stepped into the spotlight. And aren’t we glad she did! “Usually Does,” her second single, is an optimistic piece of indie pop that should help you get through your working week.

“I wrote Usually Does two years prior to contacting James [Seymour, who produced the song], so I hadn’t touched on any production ideas since that acoustic demo,” Nayomi explained. “My biggest fear with resurrecting this song was that it had solidified into the acoustic demo that I knew it to be, and I wouldn’t be able to hear anything outside of what it already was. James just tackled it head-on. He is super easy to work with, and ridiculously quick – ideas pour from his fingertips.”

No matter how your week is going, I swear Like Bear’s new single “Usually Does” will make it better.

Image used with permission from Like Bear

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Van Walker Drops First Tunes in a Decade

Van Walker hasn’t released a new album in a decade. But the wait is nearly over for dedicated fans, with the talented singer-songwriter preparing to release Ghosting, a collection of brand new material. The new single “Spirit World” gives us a taste of what we’re in for.

This is such a beautiful song, heartfelt and evocative. I’ve lost of the number of times I’ve listened to it today, marvelling in its lyrics and the deceptively simple folky melody. It’s something special. The song has hit your favourite streaming services accompanied by two B-sides: “Crystal Ball” and “I Gotta Worry.”

Ghosting will be released in August, but fans can look forward to hearing a few more new tunes when Van Walker plays single launch shows all around the country in the coming months.

18 March 2020 – The Welcome Swallow, Brunswick (FREE)
20 March 2020 – Altar, Hobart
21 March 2020 – Two Oaks, Somerset
3 April 2020 – The Wheatchief, Adelaide
11 April 2020 – The Eastern, Ballarat
12 April 2020 – Archie’s Creek, Gippsland (FREE)
17 April 2020 – The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
18 April 2020 – Major Toms, Kyneton
23 April 2020 – Transit Bar, Canberra
24 April 2020 – Marrickville Bowls Club
25 April 2020 – Gumball Festival, Dashville