Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hazlett Wows Me With “First World Problems”

Brisbane talent Hazlett recently made a pilgrimage to Sweden. He locked himself in a Stockholm studio where he poured his heart out for three months. “First World Problems” is one of the products of that intense recording session.

Once a touring musician and ghostwriter for hire, “First World Problems” makes the sort of strong musical statement that should see Hazlett stepping into the spotlight. I love everything about this powerful indie folk track.

Hazlett says “First World Problems” is about disconnection, tolerance and human behaviour.

“I was on the train and realised everyone just sits there, looks at their phone and doesn’t communicate. They get nervous around or put off by other people. We get scared of what we don’t understand, and it wouldn’t happen if we talked to each other more,” he explained. “It was a very small snapshot of a bigger problem.”

This track sets the bar so high. I can’t wait to hear what Hazlett releases next.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Lee-Richards Charms Me With Amazing New Single “Out of the Oddness”

Aussies have a habit of claiming any talented Kiwi as our own. And when they base themselves here and they’re as amazing as Tom Lee-Richards, I think it’s totally justified. I’ve raved about his previous releases “Madness” and “What Could Otherwise,” and I’m every bit as enamoured with his latest effort, “Out of the Oddness.”

I love Tom’s uniqueness. He has such an original, haunting sound. “Out of the Oddness” is a mesmerising song. I’m well and truly under its spell.

This is the title track from Tom’s first mini LP, which drops on February 23. He’ll kick off an Australian tour on the same day before heading to New Zealand and Europe.

23 February 2018 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
1 March 2018 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
3 March 2018 – Sheoak Shack, Fingal Head
4 March 2018 – Milk Factory, Brisbane
10 March 2018 – Smiths alt, Canberra
11 March 2018 – Birdhouse, Wagga Wagga
16 March 2018 – The Exeter, Adelaide
21 March 2018 – The Gasometer, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Busby Marou Inspires Island Envy With “Got Your Back” Clip

After being back on dry land for more than a month now, I’m already itching to go on my next holiday. Watching the beautiful new video for Busby Marou’s single “Got Your Back,” I think Great Keppel Island would be the ideal destination. Knowing this talented twosome live in this island paradise has got me jealous!

Busby Marou will leave behind their island home next month to tour the wineries with James Blunt and Pete Murray. What a hard life they lead! Catch their A Day on the Green show at the following vineyards.

10 March – Bimbagden Estate, Pokolbin
11 March – Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton
17 March – All Saints Estate, Wahgunyah
20 March – Kings Park, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Helena Pop Speak to the Broken Hearted With New Single

If you’ve ever suffered a broken heart (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?) you’re going to find yourself clapping along to the chorus of “How to do a FOLEY break and repair yourself,” the brilliantly raw new single from Canberra-based folk-punk band Helena Pop.

I love the unpolished, gut-wrenching emotion of this one. The band balances things beautifully, with tear-your-heart-out lyrics tempered by an upbeat, stomp-along melody.

“The song is a lot about repairing, so I think the ideas came from reflecting on a period of my life where things were changing and I had to reset and redo my life,” explained the band’s singer-songwriter Jack Livingstone. “I was 21 years old and I’d ended a long-term relationship and I had to figure out what life was after that.”

“How to do a FOLEY break and repair yourself” comes from Helena Pop’s forthcoming EP, You Said You Loved Them, due out next month.

Image credit: Dave McCarthy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rapaport Lays Down Cool Grooves With “Don’t Sweat It” Single

Rapaport offers words to live by with the release of his catchy new single, “Don’t Sweat It.” While the track could be a mantra for life, it was inspired by a chance encounter with an ex.

“I wrote ‘Don’t Sweat It’ after running into an ex-girlfriend, thinking it might cheer me up,” Rapaport said. “It didn’t. But now it’s fun to annoy my new girlfriend by playing it.”

“Don’t Sweat It” is the latest single from Rapaport’s sophomore album Village Idiot, set to drop on March 2. Rapaport will join Butterfingers on their Bullet to the Head tour, an opportunity that he calls “an honour.” Make sure you arrive early enough for his set at the following shows:

29 March 2018 – Club 54, Launceston
30 March 2018 – Republic Bar, North Hobart
31 March 2018 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
1 April 2018 – Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
5 April 2018 – The Basement, Belconnen
6 April 2018 – Gearin Hotel, Katoomba
7 April 2018 – Factory Floor, Marrickville
13 April 2018 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
14 April 2018 – The Brightside, Fortitude Valley
19 April 2018 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
20 April 2018 – The Sewing Room, Perth
21 April 2018 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
4 May 2018 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heights
5 May 2018 – Miami Tavern, Miami

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thomas Keating Flies Solo With “Begin Again”

Sydney singer-songwriter Thomas Keating honed his craft with the bands Thieves and Good Counsel. Now we get the chance to hear what he can do solo with the release of his first single, “Begin Again.” It’s a beautiful modern folk-rock track which hints at a promising solo career ahead.

If you like what you hear, there’s plenty more where that came from. Thomas Keating will hit the road this autumn with a full band and a backlog of great new tunes. Catch him at the following shows this March.

23 March 2018 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
24 March 2018 – The Factory Marrickville Floor, Sydney
31 March 2018 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Abbe May on Tour With “Seventeen” Single and “Fruit” Album

Abbe May isn’t afraid to lay her heart and life bare in her new single “Seventeen,” an intimate reflection on her formative years and the experiences that shaped her.

I love this track’s dark brooding grittiness. Its sultry groove and Abbe’s vocals are also right on point. “Seventeen” was the first song written for Abbe’s new album Fruit, which is in stores now. It sets the theme for her first release since coming out last year.

“It took 30 years to be in a position to write this song. It’s intended as a letter for my niece to read when she turns 17, 21 and 28. It’s a love letter detailing all the stupid and wonderful things I’ve done in my life,” Abbe explained. “If she ever doubts herself, she’ll have this song to remind her everyone struggles but that it is finding purpose, not pleasure or happiness that makes life worth living.” said Abbe.

Abbe is currently touring Fruit around the country. Here are all the remaining dates.

16 February 2018 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
17 February 2018 – Clancy’s, Dunsborough
23 February 2018 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne
24 February 2018 – Hobart Brewing Co, Hobart
8 March 2018 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
10 March 2018 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

Image used with permission from Minor Major

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merpire Shines With “Hauntways” Single

Sydney songstress Merpire has followed up her excellent 2017 release “Holding Breath” with “Hauntways,” another perfect slice of synth-pop that will get under your skin from the first listen. It’s the sort of track that will have you dancing around you bedroom, reminiscing over all those romantic encounters that didn’t pan out.

“’Hauntways’ is about a fleeting kiss. I tried writing about it now and then but it wasn’t until I stood in the very spot where it happened in my hallway that this song finally came out,” Merpire said.

Merpire will launch “Hauntways” with her new all-female band this March. The single launches will happen at Melbourne’s Grace Darling Hotel on March 1 and Sydney’s Waywards on March 3. If you can’t wait that long, you can see Merpire supporting Feelds (who will return the favour at her Sydney launch) at The Catfish in Fitzroy on February 23.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aurelia Releases Long-Awaited Second Single

I really respect artists who take the time to ensure their musical output is quality. Aurelia hasn’t released anything since “Are We Losing” last May, but she’s finally ready to unleash her follow-up, “Chest.” And boy is it worth the wait.

This is such a strong track, an emotional, lush, powerful piece of indie-pop, with smoky vocals and poetic lyrics.

“I got to produce this track with one of my fave partners in crime ‘Thrones’. We had some of the most unbelievable musicians, Matt Laug (Drums – Jagged Little Pill), Paul Bushnell (Bass – The Commitments), Dave Levita (Guitar – Lana Del Rey) come in and lay down their parts, and got to work in a few really incredible studios with the most amazing engineer Tom Weir (Blondie, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin),” Aurelia says of recording the track in Los Angeles. “The process was really quite humbling and magical, and the whole thing came together seamlessly to create a sonic fabric that I’m so proud of and super excited to set free”.

Aurelia is home to launch the single at Melbourne’s Wesley Anne on February 17.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gang of Youths’ Finally Releases “Let Me Down Easy”

I was surprised to receive an email recently telling me Gang of Youths‘ song “Let Me Down Easy” was being released as a single. After it secured the second spot on Triple J’s Hottest 100, I’d just assumed it was already a single! But it appears I was wrong. No matter. It gives us a great opportunity to take another listen to this amazing track.

I will admit, when I saw this song polled so highly with Triple J listeners, I was a little surprise. I’d only ever heard it in the context of the album, and I felt it got a little lost there. That’s probably a testament to just how good Go Father In Lightness is. But after going back to “Let Me Down Easy,” I’m starting to hear it in a whole new light.

Let’s face it, Gang of Youths can do no wrong. Take another listen.