Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Morgan Bain Makes His Mark With “Blood”

Morgan Bain has floored me with his latest single “Blood.” It’s such a powerful, poetic track, a slow-burner with stunning lyrics and complex, powerful instrumentation. Morgan conceived the song when he was making the three-week car trip from his home city of Perth to his new home in Melbourne.

“On that drive I was contemplating a lot of things to do with my childhood, and instead of writing really angry songs, which I’ve done many times, I’m now taking a slightly philosophical approach,” he says.

The clip is a thing of beauty too. Director Annelise Hickey said she worked with Morgan to “create something that contrasted against the heavy lyrics, emotive chords and construct the clip to feel a little unconventional and strange. This video is all about Morgan being used as a lifeless prop to create new shapes and forms by the characters around him (almost like artworks). I wanted to use ordinary locations with interesting color palettes & shapes and try to transform the landscapes into something strange (using camera placement / framing and the movements from the characters).”

With the right sounds and visuals, “Blood” is such an exciting release.

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ross Henry Pushes the Envelope With New Electro Stunner, “Places People”

British-born, Sydney-based muso Ross Henry pushes the boundaries with his experimental electro-pop single “Places People.” The song certainly takes some risks with melody and sonic expression, but Ross’ haunting voice anchors it beautifully.

“Over time we can begin to solidify, become trapped, incapacitated, stuck in our roles. At the peak of the toughest parts of life it’s helpful to remember how malleable it all is,” Ross explained of the single’s inspiration. “When we wear ourselves loosely, it gives us room to work with the infinite beauty and simultaneous suffering on the journey. It also gives us space to connect with anyone behind it all. Occasionally I need a reminder of this. I’d love to think this track could serve to help others too”.

Ross is currently in residency every Thursday night at Newtown’s 1989 Bar. Catch him on the 21st or 28th to hear more from his forthcoming EP.

Image use with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alex Lahey Teases New Album With Single Release

There’s just no slowing down Alex Lahey. She’s been touring relentlessly here and abroad, yet she’s somehow found time to record a brand new album. “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself” is the upbeat first single from her forthcoming LP, The Best of Luck Club.

“I wrote this song for my partner who was on tour and was feeling the fatigue and stresses of the road, as we all do,” she explained. “It doesn’t matter how capable or strong or resilient you may be, we all have bad days, and that’s OK. There’s nothing wrong with feeling tired after a hard day’s work and sometimes I have to remind myself of that too.”

The Best of Luck Club drops on May 17. She’ll take its songs on the road this June.

6 June 2019 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
7 June 2019 – Rock Rover, Fremantle
13 June 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
14 June 2019 – The Basement, Canberra
15 June 2019 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
22 June 2019 – Forum, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MAXO Releases New Pop-Rock Smash, “Light It Up”

Canberra singer-songwriter MAXO should get your heart soaring with his new single “Light It Up.” It’s a uplifting song which MAXO says it “about leaving the 9-5 jobs, chasing my dreams, and bringing everyone along for the ride. To break their shackles. To chase their dreams. To feel ALIVE!”

I’ve written about MAXO a few times and I think he’s going from strength to strength. With one accomplished pop-rock song after the next, I can’t wait to hear his next release.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lots of Love For Leipzig Lab’s “Unloved”

Taking their cues from Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, Melbourne act Leipzig Lab have released a hard-hitting single “Unloved.”

This is actually the band’s fifth single but their first released in six months. The hiatus seems to have done that good, with the band refining their sound and creating something which is bold and unforgettable.

“We write all of our songs over the internet,” explained one half of the duo, Keiran Bahlmann. “We both have home studios and a shared drive. We take turns with coming up with parts and recordings, these automatically arrive in each other’s studios. It’s the beauty of making music in this age, we can work and rework a song until we know it’s the best it can be before we even get to rehearse it.”

It’s an unconventional approach to the creative process, but when it turns out music this strong, who am I to question it?

Image used with permission from The A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meg Mac Releases Stellar Single Ahead of Local Shows

Meg Mac has given us one more reason to get tickets for her upcoming shows, her brand new single “Something Tells Me.” It’s everything you want in a Meg Mac song, strength and vulnerability, killer vocals and those melodic hooks you just can’t get out of your head.

Meg is currently touring Europe, after recent dates in North America, so she’s bound to be in fine form once she finally touches down on home soil. Many Aussie shows are already sold out, so the remaining tickets won’t last long. If you manage to nab one, make sure you arrive early enough for the support act, Fergus James. Meg hand-picked Fergus, a triple j unearthed artist, as she felt the platform was so pivotal to her own career. Catch Meg Mac in Oz or abroad at the following shows.

12 March 2019 – Baumhaus, Berlin
14 March 2019 – Paradiso – Upstairs, Amsterdam
15 March 2019 – Pop Up , Paris
16 March 2019 – Botanique – Witloof Bar, Brussels
18 March 2019 – Omeara, London (SOLD OUT)
6 April 2019 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
12 April 2019 – Coffs Ex Services Club, Coffs Harbour
13 April 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
14 April 2019 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, QLD
3 May 2019 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong (SOLD OUT)
4 May 2019 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
8 May 2019 – ANU, Canberra (SOLD OUT)
9 May 2019 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
10 May 2019 – Newcastle Uni, Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
16 May 2019 – Tanks, Cairns (SOLD OUT)
23 May 2019 – Hobart Uni, Hobart
13 June 2019 – HQ, Adelaide
14 June 2019 – Astor Theatre, Perth (SOLD OUT)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sam Phay Impresses With “Fool”

Melbourne-based writer-producer Sam Phay has floored me with his latest offering “Fool.” It’s difficult to believe this is just Sam’s second solo offering. There’s a confidence in this electronic track, yet a vulnerability in the vocals which reminds me a little of works from James Blake and Matt Corby.

Sam took inspiration from Father John Misty’s “The Songwriter,” which he says “really made me think about how I write, and that it is so often through my own eyes. But, so many of my stories had an entire other person experiencing those things with me. I wanted to write the other side of the story.”

“Fool” comes from Sam’s forthcoming EP Botanical, which drops later this year. He’ll play the following shows with Machine Age next month.

20 April 2019 – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane
26 April 2019 – The Gaso Upstairs, Melbourne
27 April 2019 – Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar, Sydney

Image used with permission from Arow Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aurelia & Deutsch Duke Face Off For “Battleground II”

Aurelia and Deutsch Duke are two exciting Australian acts making waves overseas. When you put two such talented people together, magic is bound to happen. And so it does with their brand new single “Battleground II.”

As the name suggests, this isn’t your average three-minute pop song. It’s an epic, cinematic, atmospheric piece that really needs to be heard rather than read about. Listen in.

“There was a lot of crazy things going on in the world at the time, there still are I guess, and we just felt really compelled to write about how it’s so common to be living in fight mode and how desperately we need to choose peace and kindness,” Aurelia explained.

These guys have teamed up several times for other people’s projects. It’s thrilling hearing them now making their own beautiful music together.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kattimoni Celebrates Female Empowerment With Fierce New Single

Melbourne soul singer Kattimoni has releases a sassy new single, just in time for International Women’s Day. “I Do What I Want” is a fierce feminine anthem about independence and living your best life. Turn it up loud ladies!

“We don’t have to listen to all the noise that tell us what to do, how to look and who to be,” Kattimoni insists. “Take ownership of yourself, trust your own inner authority and do what you want. Be the Boss Queen of your own life.”

Kattimoni will launch “I Do What I Want” at Brunswick’s The Penny Black on March 30.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tesse & Georgia Mulligan Team Up For “Over Now”

Tesse and Georgia Mulligan have come together for one of the most beautiful duets I’ve heard in some time. “Over Now” is a bit of a slow burner, but take a moment to let it wash over you. The connection that comes through is really so magical.

This collaboration has been a long time coming, as Tom Stephens, who records under the name Tesse, and Georgia met in the studio way back in 2015.

“I was called in to play drums on Georgia’s record,” he recalled. “From the start there was an ease to the interaction. Georgia is a straight shooter; it saves a lot of time. There’s a mutual understanding and appreciation for the process.”

Both artists had a big year in 2018. Tesse released the debut album How it Unfolds and supported the likes of Jack River, Angie McMahon, and Oh Mercy. Meanwhile Georgia impressed at BIGSOUND and Newtown Festival. Both acts had tracks among the most played on FBi Radio. However, they’re both happy to take time out from their own careers to explore something new together.

“It gets exhausting focusing solely on your own creative pursuits,” Georgia added. “It’s refreshing diving into someone else’s headspace and seeing how they tackle the creative process.”

Tesse is working on album number two while Georgia will release her debut album Mirror in April. But before all that, they’ll team up for a blink-and-you’ll-miss it tour celebrating the release of “Over Now.” Both shows are free to attend, so there’s really no excuse for missing them!

21 March 2019 – Golden Age Cinema, Sydney
23 March 2019 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Tesse