Brisbane soul-rock outfit The Urban Sea has just released its cooler than cool new single “Underground Love.” It’s a slick offering from the six-piece which explores the seemingly limitless relationships options we have available at a swipe of our thumbs.
“Underground Love” has been a favourite among fans at The Urban Sea’s live shows, and it’s not hard to hear why. It’s got me really excited to hear what the band has in store on their next EP.
Wangaratta country artist Jade Gibson is making me want to pack my bags and take a road trip with her latest single “The Great Unknown.” It’s a classic country track with a distinctly Australian flavour which should see her graduate from playing local BnS balls to big stages.
“The Great Unknown” is the title track from Jade’s five-song EP, which drops on April 12. She’s playing plenty of regional gigs in the near future. Catch her at the following shows.
23 March 2019 – Euroa Rodeo, Euroa
6 April 2019 – Heyfield BnS Ball, Heyfield
13 April 2019 – ‘The Great Unknown’ EP Launch Party, Rutherglen
20 April 2019 – Omeo Rodeo, Omeo
27 April 2019 – Lava Blast BnS Ball, Dundonnell
4 May 2019 – Collie Hotel, Collie
11 May 2019 – Edward River Hotel, Deniliquin
18 May 2019 – Batlow RSL Club, Batlow
25 May 2019 – Henty Football Club, Henty
1 June 2019 – Precinct Bar & Restaurant, Wangaratta
22 June 2019 – Bright Football Club, Bright
She shares her name with an ‘80s pop icon, but Melbourne artist Martika is a whole different musician. Just take one listen to her debut single “How Did I Get Here” and you’ll realise our own Martika is much darker and more soulful.
“This song explores the emotional journey of an artist; that lost feeling of being at a crossroads in life,” she explained. “I was unsure of which way to go. I found myself reflecting on my life and where I was, thinking that music should have brought me success at this point – and was it all worth it? It was then the decision of whether to keep on walking down the hard road, striving to make my passion a career or to take the easy road and find stability. This song has helped me vent the frustration of what a struggling artist goes through, and has helped me find the strength to carry on.”
Martika will launch the single for hometown fans at The Toff on April 11.
Tasmanian alt-pop act Baltimöre Charlót is pushing the boundaries with her exciting new EP Metamorphosis. In just four tracks, Baltimöre Charlót shows she’s not afraid to do music differently.
I encourage you to track down the whole thing on your favourite digital platform, but if you just listen to one track make it the opener “Serpents.” It’s such a cool track with intelligent production and sultry vocals from Ms. Charlót.
Listening to the EP, it’s incredible to think Baltimöre Charlót wrote, recorded, and mixed it herself over just two weeks in her bedroom studio. That’s some serious talent.
The production is so important to the sound of this EP that I can’t help wondering how she sounds on stage. Hobart locals get their chance to find out when Baltimöre Charlót plays Republic Bar & Café on April 6.
Image used with permission from Pompadour PR
Brisbane’s June Low have just dropped their new single “The Letter,” the title track from their forthcoming EP. It’s a beautiful song with poetic lyrics and slide guitar, which wins me over every time. If you love Americana, you’ll eat this song up.
If you want to hear more, make sure you get yourself to The Junk Bar tomorrow night, March 22, for the official EP launch. Melbourne gets its chance to see June Low at Merri Creek Tavern on April 20.
“Hard Luck,” by Western Australian singer-songwriter Scott Riley, is the sort of song we don’t hear enough in the modern world. Honest, authentic, sincere storytelling without bells and whistles. Scott wrote the track about the adversities he faced growing up on a farm and the drive he felt to save up enough money to buy that same property. It’s a proper Australian story told beautifully by this exciting musician.
It might be his first single, but Scott is no overnight success story. He’s been writing and performing for the last 17 years, so this is long overdue.
Scott has a full album underway, so look forward to hearing much more from this talented Western Australian.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
Thando continues her winning run with “Gag Order,” a stunning, soulful piece of social commentary. In this track the Zimbabwe-born and Melbourn-based Thando artist shares her unique perspectives on cultural assimilation and ostracism.
“I come in giving a nod to the current race relations in the media at the moment,” she explained. “It creates a powerful statement about how perceived ‘sameness’ (the result of assimilation) comes undone when it really matters, so what’s the point of doing it [assimilating] anyway?”
Listen out for a special guest appearance from local MC, Francoistunes.
“Gag Order” comes from Thando’s forthcoming EP Life in Colour, which is slated for an October release. That’s some time to wait, but before then we’ll see Thando at several festivals and her own headlining show. Catch her at the following events.
29 March 2019 – By The Meadow, Bambra
12 April 2019 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
21-22 April 2019 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay Byron Bay
26-28 April 2019 – Bendigo Autumn Music Festival, Bendigo
Image used with permission from Heapsaflash
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
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
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