Loser prove they’re not one-trick ponies with the release of new single “Phase Me,” the follow-up to their self-titled debut.
“Phase Me” is not quite as aggressive as “Loser” but it’s every bit as addictive. Just try to get that riff out of your head. It’s a real alt-rock gem with a nostalgic ‘90s feel.
“Phase Me” is the latest cut from Loser’s forthcoming debut EP Restless Noise, which will be released on October 26.
Image used with permission from Deathproof PR
Gold Coast producer M-Phazes has teamed up with Daniel Johns and Hopium’s Josh Hardy for two new songs, released as a double A-side called II.
These two tracks couldn’t be more different. “Bad Behaviour,” featuring Daniel Johns, is emotionally intense, hard-hitting and full of aggressive yearning. “Heavy,” featuring Josh Hardy, has a much more chilled sound, with swooning vocals and laidback synths wrapped around powerful lyrics. They show the diversity of the ARIA Award nominated producer and hint at good things to come.
M-Phazes recently wrote on his Instagram, “After 8 years of co-writes, re-writes, label politics, building studios and relocating to LA, I’m finally ready to release a collection of new music that almost never saw the light of day. I’m constantly producing music for other artists but always found it hard to really “finish” my own songs. Those feelings of “is this good enough?” created a weight of expectation that dragged me down, feeling like the music I put out defined my worth as a person. I know I’m not the only one who goes through this and I feel like it’s a big problem throughout the artistic community.”
The release of these strong tracks is definitely a step in the right direction.
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
Sydney electro-pop trio Glades has just dropped a killer new cut from their forthcoming debut album, their banging new single “Eyes Wide Shut.” The track comes with an awesome video shot in Los Angeles and directed by Grey Ghost.
“Eyes Wide Shut” is the fourth track lifted from Glades’ debut album To Love You, which will be released on November 2. Glades will celebrate its release with shows around the country at the following venues. Get your tickets while you can; I don’t think these guys will be playing venues as small as these forever!
24 November 2018 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 November 2018 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
1 December 2018 – Jive, Adelaide
6 December 2018 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
7 December 2018 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
Cyrus has been a little quiet since taking the X Factor crown in 2015. Ordinarily that might be a sign that a reality TV winner will drop out of the industry, but in Cyrus’s case I think we can rest easy. He’s spent the last couple of years honing his craft and surrounding himself with some really cool local talents like Ned Philpot, Feki, Simba, and M2. Listening to his new single “Blah,” it seems time out of the spotlight has done him good.
This is such a cool, fresh track, co-written by Cyrus and his producer Amastro. The delivery is so soulful and the lyrics are authentic, if perhaps a little edgy for X Factor viewers.
“‘Blah’ is about dismissing the social norms and pressures that society places on us. I think everyone has or will experience this sort of pressure at some point in their lives, and can identify with the lyrics of this song,” Cyrus explained. “Walking into this session, I told Angus (Amastro) I wanted to work on something heavy. It’s the most experimental session I’ve been in, and the concept for the song was literally inspired by how honest and free our time was together.”
If you have preconceptions about who the people who win reality TV shows are, I encourage you to leave them behind when you listen to this. It’s a sign that Cyrus is capable of much more than the karaoke covers that thrust him into the limelight.
Shag Rock have got your Saturday soundtrack sorted with their feel-good new single “Fuzzy Connection.” It’s a return to form for the band, with its jangly guitar riffs and cool indie pop groove. Like so many great tracks, it came to the band in a dream.
“Believe it or not, this song was actually written in a dream where the whole band were at some sick party. In the dream our bass player wrote it, so technically all credit goes to him,” explained lead guitarist Jacob Reed. “Basically I woke up at 1.30am one night, somehow remembered the chorus from the song in that dream, grabbed the out-of-tune acoustic sitting next to my bed, worked out the basic chords and croakily sung the chorus. Then when I woke up the next morning, I realised I recorded something that night on my phone and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world”
The release of “Fuzzy Connection” caps off a big year for Shag Rock, who played BIGSOUND, gigged along the East Coast with the release of their last single “Double Life,” and found themselves supporting The Rubens and Tia Gostelow. With tracks like these under their belt, expect more big things from this Brisbane band.
Image used with permission from GYRO PR
Central Coast rockers IVY pull no punches with their electric new single “Sinners Grin.” It’s a sexy, bluesy number with a raw garage band sound that fans of classic rock will eat up.
This kind of rough and ready music is best experienced in the flesh, so IVY are packing up the van and heading out on the road for shows along the East Coast, including an appearance at the Hunter’s FKA Festival. Catch them at the following shows.
12 October 2018 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
13 October 2018 – FKA Festival, Hunter Valley
14 October 2018 – The Lord Gladstone, Sydney
27 October 2018 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney
16 November 2018 – Last Chance Rock N Roll Bar, Melbourne
23 November 2018 – Netherworld, Brisbane
Image used with permission from Good Intent
Reach for your hairbrush, because Laurina Sue will make you want to sing into it by the time the chorus of her debut single “Dark Side” kicks in.
Laurina Sue is multi-talented, writing and producing her own tracks, playing guitar, piano, synth, and drums. Oh, and did I mention she sings too? She says “Dark Side” is about wanting to escape the mundanities of the real world and explore a fantasy life.
“The lyrics represent an existential awakening for me,” she notes. “The dark side isn’t necessarily dark or weird, its more exciting, uplifting and a touch mysterious … It’s all about constant momentum and that feeling of liberation when you take the bull by the horns.”
If this high-energy track doesn’t have you bouncing around your lounge room, I’d check for a pulse.
Image used with permission from A&R Records
Melbourne singer-songwriter-rapper Dylan Joel is wowing crowds with his sets supporting Ruel all around the country. Listening to his banging new single “Hollering Love,” it’s not hard to see why. The track reminds me of what Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake might release if they ever collaborated. It’s got such a great groove and positive vibe about it, you can’t help but like it.
“I’ve been told by people in the music industry, that it’s not cool to talk about positive things. That it’s cooler to act like you don’t care and instead, talk about the dark shit in our lives,” he admitted. “I feel sorry for the people who feel that way. I believe that in a world full of so much hate, loving is the biggest act of rebellion. This song is inspired by the incredibly talented, kind, loving and fly AF friends that I have, making this movement of love real.”
If you’ve got tickets to one of Ruel’s remaining shows, make sure you arrive early enough to catch Dylan’s set. Here are all the remaining gigs.
4 October 2018 – The Gov, Hindmarsh (Licensed ALL AGES)
5 October 2018 – 256 Wickham, Fortitude Valley (Licensed ALL AGES)
10 October 2018 – Enmore Theatre, Newtown (Licensed ALL AGES)
13 October 2018 – Meow, Wellington
14 October 2018 – Tuning Fork, Auckland
Brisbane singer-songwriter Clea has released a fantastic new single “Dreaming,” the latest cut from her forthcoming debut album Vermillion.
On the surface this song seems like an ear-pleasing pop ditty. Clea’s voice is so angelic and it’s got a gorgeous melody. But tune in to those lyrics and you’ll discover this song is an anthem for the Me Too movement.
For more pop with purpose, listen out for Vermillion on November 23.
Brisbane band Shorelines haven’t released new music since December last year, but they’re rewarding the patience of their fans with a brand new track, “Worry About Yourself,” the first track lifted from their sophomore EP, Blank Pages & Broken Records.
“Worry About Yourself” sounds like an instant pop-punk classic, with its big chunky riffs and singalong chorus. The band describes it as “our rock anthem from our side of negative and unnecessary conflict, explaining that we will keep creating our own path the way we feel is right for us, and that others should just focus on themselves.”
Shorelines generated major buzz for their debut EP New Heights, scoring a support slot with Real Friends, more than a million Spotify streams, and a declaration from Alternative Press that they would “soon be rising to the top of this generation’s pop-punk offerings.” Not bad for a self-managed, self-released act from Brissie! Surely even bigger things are in store once the new EP reaches our ears.
We don’t have too long to wait, with Blank Pages & Broken Records slated for an October 5 release. Hopefully a tour announcement won’t be too far behind!