Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Zoot Release Best Of Album With Brand New Song

Zoot might have been one of Australia’s greatest reverse supergroups. Beeb Birtles became a founding member of Little River Band, Rick Brewer joined The Ferrets, Darryl Cotton had a smash hit “Same Old Girl” and an illustrious stage and TV career, and Rick Springfield was responsible for a little ditty called “Jessie’s Girl.” But before all that, they were a force in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Fifty years after releasing their debut single, the remaining members of Zoot have signed a brand new deal with EMI and released a career defining best-of album, Zoot Archaeology. It includes all the hits you love and a brand new cover of The Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town.”

The album is dedicated to Darryl Cotton, who succumbed to liver cancer in 2012, just one year after rejoining his bandmates on the Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise in the Caribbean. After he passed away, Rick discovered both he and Darryl had recorded versions of “Life in a Northern Town.”

“Sitting in the studio listening to Darryl’s solo vocal gave us all goosebumps,” Rick recalled. Producers combined the two versions and Beeb added a third verse. “Fifty-four years after I met Darryl, we have a new Zoot song,” Beeb said. “Thanks to Rick, I got to sing one more time with my best friend.”

Zoot Archaeology is out now.

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chitra Moves Me With “Better Than Before”

Prepare to feel all the feels when you press play on “Better Than Before,” the latest single from Melbourne-based chanteuse Chitra. This song has such heart and vulnerability, it made an instant impression on me.

There’s more where that came from, with Chitra releasing an EP early next year. Hear a sneak peek of the new material when Chitra plays the Our Golden Friend’s 3rd Birthday & Christmas Celebration at North Fitzroy’s Tramway Hotel on December 15.

Image used with permission from Our Golden Friend

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Hots Do It Old School With “Before You”

Sydney band The Hots are giving me retro vibes with their scorching new single “Before You,” lifted from their recently released self-titled EP.

This is the kind of straight-up rock you don’t hear anymore, delivered with power and a lack of pretension. Frontwoman Foxie Kelly is a real force, a singer in the tradition of Chrissy Amphlett or Ann Wilson. She’s aided beautifully by Ronnie Simmons on guitar, a demon with an axe who’s playing with Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, and Richie Ramone of The Ramones.

If you love you rock old school, you’ll love The Hots.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Zolton Celebrates NYC With “When The Lights Come Up on New York City”

I fell hard and fast for New York City when I visited around 15 years ago. My now-husband lived a couple of hours away, and we bounced around from one mind-blowing museum, restaurant, and music venue to the next. It was a whirlwind that made such an impression on me. It seems the Big Apple got its hooks into Sydney artist Zolton too. His latest single “When the Lights Come Up on New York City” is a synth-soaked love letter to the City That Never Sleeps.

“I wrote it about my first year living in New York when I met my now wife and we explored the city together fascinated by the whole energy of the place. I ended up living in New York for eight years, and they were the best years of my life,” he explained.

I love the optimistic retro feel and delicate vibe of this song. New York can be painted as an aggressive beast with honking car horns and busy residents. But this track reveals another more magical side with its gentle electric guitars and bright, neon synths.

If you’ve never been to New York City or it’s been too long since your last adventure, let Zolton’s new single take you there.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Enjoy a Wild Ride With Donnarumma’s “Rollercoaster”

Strap yourself in for “Rollercoaster,” the latest single from Adelaide rockers Donnarumma.

Just like any good rollercoaster, this track starts small, with delicate vocals and guitar work. However, before too long it kicks in, launching the listener full throttle into its bold guitar riff and strong vocals. Once you’re in it you’ve got no choice but to just hold on and enjoy the ride.

“I based the narrative around the idea of being self-critical, almost like a person arguing with themselves in a mirror,” explained Louis Donnarumma, the man behind those amazing vocals. “At the beginning, I started with a lyric-less hook and developed the song from there over roughly a year. It took heaps of trial and error, loads of demos and fleshing out ideas with the band to get to the final product. We put heaps of ourselves into this track and it’s definitely the proudest we’ve been with our work.”

This song sounds awesome at home, but I imagine it’s going to be even better experienced live. You’ll get your chance when Donnarumma takes the single on tour in the New Year.

11 January 2019 – Crown & Anchor Hotel, Adelaide
17 January 2019 – Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne
19 January 2019 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney
20 January 2019 – Hamilton Station, Newcastle
22 February 2019 – Heya Bar, Brisbane
23 February 2019 – Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from GD FRNDS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruby Gill Releases Moving New Single “Your Mum”

She might sell out shows in her native South Africa, but Australia is taking a little longer to discover the brilliant talents of Melbourne-based muso Ruby Gill. Hopefully her new single “Your Mum” changes that, because it’s seriously one of the best songs I’ve heard.

It’s a melancholic indie pop ballad that’s given me tingles with its poignant lyrics and gut-wrenching delivery. If you’ve ever struggled with feelings of inadequacy (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?), this track will really hit home for you.

“We fall in love with people who remind us a little bit of our parents, but then, in a burst of 2am Freudian clarity and angst, we realise that those are pretty stifling expectations,” Ruby mused. “So this is about being not good enough. About trying to be yourself in someone else’s kitchen. About admitting that you’re not fucking fine. And it’s about your mum.”

Ruby is currently supporting Lime Cordiale on their local shows. Once that tour wraps, she’ll play Woodford. If you’re going to any of those gigs, make sure you catch Ruby’s set.

13 December 2018 – Tap House, Bendigo (with Lime Cordiale)
14 December 2018 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (with Lime Cordiale)
15 December 2018 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne (with Lime Cordiale – Under 18s)
15 December 2018 – The Barwon Club, Geelong (with Lime Cordiale)
27 December 2018 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover That Gold Street Sound

Add some soul to your mid-week with That Gold Street Sound’s new single, “Rain.” Originally conceived as a folk-country song, the Melbourne outfit have given this stunning song a great, laidback groove and emotional gravitas. That epic 15-piece choir doesn’t hurt the sound either!

“I came up with a new chord progression, but I was struggling to write lyrics for it so I thought I would go through some old lyric books and see if I could find some inspiration,” explained guitarist Jim Griffiths. “The lyrics just worked. When I put them together I was imaging how Shaanika would sing it and when we played it as a band, it felt like it had finally become what it was supposed to be. Then, when we were in the studio, we kept adding layer after layer. The Hammond – played by Sam Cope (Blue King Brown, Dynamo, Buttered Loaf) – glued the whole track together and we went crazy on the outro with the multiple percussion, guitar and horn parts, wails, backing vocals and the choir. It just kept developing musically and it ended up sounding epic and joyful.”

“Rain” comes from That Gold Street Sound’s forthcoming album Trick of the Light, due for release on February 16. If you’re in Victoria, check out their forthcoming shows.

7 December 2018 – Major Tom’s, Kyneton
16 February 2019 – Geddes Lane Ballroom, Melbourne (album launch)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Northern Folk Impress With “Cold”

Melbourne 10-piece The Northern Folk blend genres to dazzling effect in their latest single “Cold.” It’s a little folky, a little jazzy, with pop hooks to spare. It starts small but builds beautifully with brassy horns and a full-out stomping chorus.

It sounds brilliant in the studio, but I think this song will take on a life of its own on stage. See The Northern Folk doing their thing at the following festivals and headlining shows.

27 December 2018 – 1 January 2019 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford
3 January 2019 – Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall, Upper Lansdowne
25 – 28 January 2019 – Newstead Live Music Festival, Newstead
15 – 17 March 2019 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba
29 – 31 March 2019 – The Hills are Alive, South Gippsland

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Benn Gunn Salutes Our Nation With “Only in Australia”

I’m not sure anyone has ever written a song more patriotic than “Only in Australia,” from Kiama’s Benn Gunn. It’s crammed with references to Aussie icons, from the Ettamogah Pub to the MCG. The film clip, shot somewhere in the middle of the Outback is also perfectly on point. Just see if you’re not charmed by this dinky-di country-rock track.

Benn will launch his Only in Australia album at Culburra Bowling and Recreation Club on Australia Day. Of course.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daniel March Has the “Magic” Musical Touch

I’m getting serious Prince vibes from “Magic,” the latest single from Daniel March. It’s irresistibly catchy, a soulful track with a pop heart that will have you tapping your toes along with the beat before too long.

This track is the first single lifted from Daniel’s recently released EP Stoneflower. This multi-instrumentalist currently divides his time between Sydney and London. Is it selfish to hope he starts spending more time Down Under? We need more music like this on the local scene!

Image used with permission from Square One Entertainment