Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ocean Alley Drop New Music Ahead of Laneway Shows

Ocean Alley have kept a fairly relentless touring schedule over the last 12 months, but they’ve still found time to write and demo some new music. New single “Tombstone” is one of the latest tracks to come out of those creative stints. Its easy blend of funk, soul, and classic rock showcases everything that made Ocean Alley one of the hottest bands in the country.

Ocean Alley spent much of 2019 abroad playing shows in New Zealand, Bali, Canada, the USA, Europe, and the UK, but they’ll be back on home soil next month for the Laneway Festival shows. They’ll also support Six60 in New Zealand. Catch them at all the following gigs.

1 February – Laneway Festival, Brisbane
2 February – Laneway Festival, Sydney
7 February – Laneway Festival, Adelaide
8 February – Laneway Festival, Melbourne
9 February – Laneway Festival, Fremantle
22 February – Western Springs, Auckland (supporting Six60)
7 March – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (supporting Six60)

Photo credit: Charlie Hardy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Zac Eichner’s Double A-Side Single Twice as Nice

Adelaide indie-electronic act Zac Eichner delivers a double-dose of goodness with his new double A-side single, “Naked & Autumn.” The songs complement one another beautifully, showcasing Zac’s gift for creating electronic music with heart. I love the way his electro beats intertwine with his rough, yet tender vocals, and traditional instruments. “Naked” is a poignant piano ballad while “Autumn” is an uplifting number that Zac describes as a “bittersweet, coming-of-age movie track.”

Both songs are so different, but they’re the ideal introduction to what Zac brings to the local music landscape. When he’s not working on music, Zac devotes his time to helping the next generation.

“I work for the Carly Ryan Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation. I get to head around Australia and talk to primary and high school kids about online safety and wellbeing,” he explained. “I’m currently developing a holistic healing/song writing program to take to schools for kids to be able to express themselves through song, whether that be to capitalise on those songs, just have a voice or strengthen their mental health. It’s something I’m incredibly passionate about and is clearly very close to me.”

Zac is playing launch parties around the nation to celebrate the release of “Naked & Autumn.” Catch him at the following remaining gigs.

8 January 2020 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
10 January 2020 – Rye Hotel, Mornington Peninsula
11 January 2020 – Jive, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sienna Wild Releases Rocking Love Triangle Track, “You Wouldn’t Know”

Melbourne act Sienna Wild are giving me serious Eskimo Joe vibes with their latest single “You Wouldn’t Know.” It’s got a little more edge than your average pop-rock number, and that anthemic chorus really kicks things up a notch. To make sure you can sing along, the band has released a fantastic lyric video to compliment the song’s release.

“The sentiment behind the single came from me setting myself a challenge of writing from the perspective of a third-party in a break up,” explained Louis Goutus, Sienna Wild’s lead singer and bassist. “Up to that point, our writing had been about power within a relationship, whether it be during good times or bad. This time, I wanted to write a song about an outsider who becomes involved in a break up, as opposed to the two protagonists telling the story. It is essentially about a girl telling her boyfriend’s best friend she’s going to leave her man, but the boyfriend is too oblivious to realise. Hence, he ‘wouldn’t know’, but the friend does!”

The lads played a free show in Sydney last week, but there’s more where that came from.

“Fans can expect a tight rock performance full of swirling guitars, crashing choruses and compelling dynamics. You’ll see a band who have conviction and believe what they say, and mean what they do. A good time for all!”
If that sounds right up your alley, make sure you don’t miss the following Sienna Wild gigs.

9 January 2020 – Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
18 January 2020 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane (FREE)
31 January 2020 – The Tote, Collingwood

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Unbroken Expanse Will Rock Your Socks Off With “Go”

For many Aussies, today is the day we’ve been dreading, the day we head back to the office after that well-earned festive break. Days like that deserve rocking soundtracks to help fire us up. If you’re looking for a song that fits the bill, look no further than “Go,” the life-affirming new track from Northern Territory outfit Unbroken Expanse.

‘During the writing of ‘Go,’ my partner, Jess, was days from giving birth to our son, Elvis,” explained the band’s singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Wheezy. “His impending arrival made me think more and more about how his generation will need to connect with each other more than any generation before it … the song is a message to him, and to all of us, to maintain a progressive, positive view of the world as often as we can. To move forward. To ‘Go.’”

This band from Tennant Creek holds nothing back, and the song is richer for it. Turn it up loud and enjoy this one. Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself hitting play for another go round after it’s done. This is Aussie rock done right.

Unbroken Expanse will launch “Go” at Melbourne’s Gasometer Hotel on January 22.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall In Love With CLEAR

There’s a lot of anger, frustration, and fear in Australia at the moment. Homes, human lives, and wildlife are under threat from bushfires, our PM and his cronies seem next to useless, and it’s impacting our collective moods. One thing I have noticed recently in my local area are love hearts spray-painted throughout the towns. On buildings, street signs, footpaths, just a constant reminder of the love we probably all need right now. If you could use a little more love in your life, take a couple of minutes to listen to “Always,” the beautiful new song from Hervey Bay act CLEAR.

It’s a beautiful ballad which creates a little bubble of romance and happiness. CLEAR’s voice is sublime and listening to it interplay with those gentle synths is just out of this world. It’s got an easy feel to it, perhaps because CLEAR wrote it in record time.
“’Always’ was one of those songs that happen on their own,” she explained. “It took 10 minutes at most to have all the lyrics down and know how the composition was going to be… which ultimately wasn’t too surprising, when the subject matter is about a love that came suddenly and quickly and fell into place with ease. Essentially the story of how the song came about matches the song’s subject matter, which I don’t believe is much of a coincidence.”

This isn’t the first track from CLEAR that’s won my heart. I can’t wait to hear more from this exciting Aussie act.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MOBS Moving On With “Find Another You”

I’ve always felt Melbourne band MOBS were on the verge of greatness. With the release of their new single “Find Another You,” they’re inching ever closer to getting there.

This track sees the band coming of age with its glorious blend of melancholy and optimism. While the verses explore the pain of relationships, the joyous chorus reminds us that there will always be another day, and another person to make our hearts soar. Can we just take a moment to appreciate that sax line too? MOBS take their cues from retro synth-pop acts including Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet along with modern masters like Passion Pit and LANY. It’s fresh, fun, but with a darkness that adds depth.

Inspiration came from the most unlikely of places, according to lead singer Jordan Clarey.

“’Find Another You’ is about the movie She’s All That,” he admitted. “Instead of being about a jerk turning a geeky girl into a popular girl, our song is about that jerk getting hurt and doing whatever he can to get over the fact that he’s vulnerable and just wants to be happy. This was a fun sidestep from the theme of writing about movies as this was us creating our own story inside of the movie”.

These guys had a busy 2019, playing shows in China, the US, and the UK, as well as here at home. With songs like “Find Another You” in their arsenal, we can expect 2020 to be even bigger. They’ll play a string of shows in North America next month and The Great Escape festival in the United Kingdom later this year. Catch MOBS at the following events and expect many more show announcements soon!

9 February 2020 – Set it Off @ Phantasy Nightclub, Lakewood
11 February 2020 – Set it Off @ Majestic Theatre, Madison
12 February 2020 – Set it Off @ TAK Music Venue, Dilworth
15 February 2020 – Set it Off @ The Rec Room, Calgary
18 February 2020 – Set it Off @ Biltmore Ballroom, Vancouver
13 May 2020 – The Great Escape, Brighton

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dom Youdan Offers Original Take on “Addicted to Love”

I absolutely love a clever cover version. If you can reinvent a song and help me appreciate it in a new way, I take my hat off to you. I was already firmly on the Dom Youdan train, but after hearing the Sydney artist’s take on “Addicted to Love” I’m an even bigger fan.

Robert Palmer recorded this song in 1986, but this update makes it sound fresh as a daisy. It’s so incredibly cool. The stripped back arrangement also highlights those lyrics, bringing a new quiet yet powerful intensity to the track.

“I wanted to create an altogether new anthem; one that slowly crept up on you and met nostalgia head on,” Dom explained. “This is my homage to a track that has inspired my artistry, as well as being the soundtrack to many a late night (and very early morning).”

Dom has just announced a last-minute gig at London’s Ronnie Scotts on January 7. If you’re over in the UK, get on it!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Legends Come Together For “The Dangerous Age”

When you put together talents like Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilbey (The Church), and Sean Sennett (Crush 76), you know magic is going to happen. The combined skills of this formidable trio is sure to make their new album The Dangerous Age one of the hottest albums of 2020.

I was intrigued by the first single “Monument City Lights, 19733,” but it didn’t quite gel with me. However, I’m a much bigger fan of the latest taste of the album, “All Tied Up.” I think Kate might give one of the best vocals of her career on this track, which she says is unlike anything else in her back catalogue. That’s exciting in and of itself. You’re not just getting a taste of nostalgia here folks; these guys are creating brand new music that pushes the boundaries.

“When I listen to ‘All Tied Up’ now, I can’t help feel as though someone else wrote and sang this song … it’s so different to any other song I’ve ever sung,” Kate confirmed. “I wrote from within the words, I was writing the music and the melody to create an atmosphere of surf, empty space and unfinished business. It’s like the sound of the suburbs where I grew up. Pregnant with subtext …”

Kate wrote the music for these songs after receiving lyrics from Steve and Sean. That unique collaborative process and the talents involved should make this album something special. The Dangerous Age drops on January 31.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Ben Witkowski’s “Mountain Man”

The New Year is all about being the best version of yourself, making those pledges to try harder and improve yourself. If you’re needing a little inspiration, look no further than “Mountain Man,” the latest single from Melbourne singer-songwriter Ben Witkowski.

“I wrote ‘Mountain Man’ back in a time where I was struggling mentally. I started to think of everything that made me happy, and suddenly this other version of myself appeared in my mind. Someone who believed in themselves and could chase their dreams. I decided to name this alter-ego the ‘Mountain Man’,” he explained. “I hope this song can resonate with other people that may be doing it tough. We can all achieve anything if we truly believe in ourselves.”

I love the way this song builds to an epic, powerful crescendo which elevates it above so many gentle folk songs. I couldn’t help thinking of acts like Mumford & Sons and Glen Hansard, who really make a powerful emotional impact through stirring lyrics and back-to-basics instrumentation. I hear this is the first of many new songs for Ben. I can’t wait to hear the rest.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

World Travels Inspire Brandon Dodd’s Solo Debut, “Absolute”

At 24 years old, Brandon Dodd has experienced more like than most people from the Central Coast. He was just 19 when he was handpicked as the guitarist of Kasey Chambers band. That opportunity saw him travelling the world, both with the band and independently, collecting experiences that give his debut solo single “Absolute” a compelling maturity. He wrote the song about his time in Zambia, a locale he calls one of his “favourite places in the world.”

“Over the past couple of years I have been lucky enough to go over to teach music at a small school there called ‘Our Rainbow House’. That place now feels like my second home to me now. The amazing people that I have met through that school were the inspiration behind this song,” he explained. “My first time visiting Africa I could see that there was beauty in everything, the people, the culture, the landscapes, the animals. But the thing I love most about being at that school, with those kids and teachers in that little town is that it is real. It is absolute.”

While Coasties can see him playing local pubs and clubs, he’ll get the opportunity to front bigger audiences as the support act for the legendary Patty Griffin next March. If you have tickets to one of her shows, make sure you arrive early for his set!

1 March 2020 – Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan (supporting Patty Griffin)
3 March 2020 – Melbourne Recital Hall, Melbourne (supporting Patty Griffin)
5 March 2020 – The Capital, Bendigo (supporting Patty Griffin)
10 March 2020 – City Recital Hall, Sydney (supporting Patty Griffin)
12 March 2020 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (supporting Patty Griffin)
13 March 2020 – Lismore City Hall, Lismore (supporting Patty Griffin)