Port Douglas muso Bobby Maguire has knocked my socks off with his new single “Breathe.”
The presser calls him an indie rocker, but there’s so much more going on here than that descriptor suggests. It’s as catchy as any pop song, but there’s a punky attitude in that heavy bassline that I really like. It’s that got that epic feel that a song by Kings of Leon or Naked and Famous might have, but it doesn’t feel derivative either.
I’m really looking forward to hearing more from this talented newcomer.
It’s been a long time since Australia had a girl group to call its own, but we just might have found one in Chasing Velvet. This fun act has just released their debut single “Vertigo.” Listen at your own risk, because you’re unlikely to get it out of your head for weeks.
These girls have the look, but we probably shouldn’t dump them into the same basket as Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. They’ve got a little more of a rock-edge than those British chartbusters, and they’re also much more than just voices. While all the ladies contribute their vocal talents to the single, Luci also plays guitar, Jaslyn is on bass, and Naomi has real chops behind a drum kit. Perhaps we should start thinking of them as the female equivalent of 5 Seconds of Summer rather than the next Girlfriend or Bardot.
They also weren’t put together by a money-hungry record exec or a TV talent show either. Instead they met through mutual friends; sharing their musical interests quickly led to jam sessions and Chasing Velvet was born.
With catchy tunes and real musical talent behind them, I predict we’re going to see a lot of Chasing Velvet this year.
Image used with permission from Spotlight Music Group
Even when winter seems to be prematurely setting in, I can always rely on San Cisco for summery vibes. The Fremantle band’s latest pop gem is “Hey, Did I Do You Wrong?” a new track lifted from LP number three, The Water.
Like everything San Cisco touches, this track is super infectious, in the best possible way. The lyrics, which explore the dissolution of a friendship, are also really relatable.
As I hear more from The Water, it’s clear it’s going to do great things when it’s released later this month.
When I first heard music from Sydney outfit Bad Pony in 2015, they quickly became one of my favourite Australian bands. They’ve been off my radar for a little while, but they’ve caught my attention with their latest single “Deficiency.”
Let me start by saying this isn’t the Bad Pony I remember. The song is a lot edgier, more aggressive and with more of an electronic influence, than the party tunes I’m used to from the band. At first I wasn’t sure about this new direction, but by the time I got to the chorus I was hooked. This is quality stuff that’s hooky enough to ensure it doesn’t alienate longtime fans like myself.
“Deficiency is about being absorbed by the greedy, selfish nature of Sydney,” front man Jarred Young explained in a press release. “We sat by my piano and arranged the tune from a bunch of voice memos recorded on Jarred’s phone,” adds guitarist and kick-drummer, Sam Thomlinson. “It started out as a bit of a mix and match, but came together in the end. We wrote the bridge in a rehearsal session, in one of our ‘let’s just play and see what happens’ moments. I produced the track at home, and recorded the drums with Jarred, then we sent it off to Cron (guitars and vocals) to be mixed and mastered.”
Bad Pony is currently touring the single in North America, but they’ll be back home to play for local crowds soon enough. Whether you’re in the U.S. or here in Australia, here are the dates you need.
15 April 2017 – Pianos, New York City
17 April 2017 – Sofar Sounds, Philadelphia
22 April 2017 – Canadian Music Week @ The Supermarket, Toronto
6 May 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
11 May 2017 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
12 May 2017 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne
19 May 2017 – Beach Hotel, Byron
20 May 2017 – Night Quarter, Gold Coast
21 May 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
25 May 2017 – Strawberry Boogie @ UOW, Wollongong
26 May 2017 – Moonshine, Manly
27 May 2017 – Chippendale Hotel, Sydney
There are few things I enjoy more than a strong female rock voice. So I’m all over “Someone,” the new single from Perth indie act Essie.
There’s a great earthy bluesiness about her brand of rock. And that voice, wow! Essie wrote the track while at university, and while it traverses familiar themes of the aftermath of a breakup, I find it so compelling.
Despite being a Perth girl, Essie has become a staple on the UK club scene. If you’re living in London, you can catch her at the Islington tonight or Vinyl Bar on May 19.
Matt Joe Gow’sSeven Years was one of my favourite albums released in 2016. So I’m thrilled to see he’s released one of the tracks from this impressive release, “Flowers in Your Hair.” Featuring guest vocals from Katya Harrop, a member of Matt Joe’s touring band, this song is a real charmer.
The video is lovely too, with Matt Joe and Katya both starring as they sing about a relationship that’s broken down. It was shot in North Melbourne last year and directed by Joanna Strong.
I’ve been struggling with adulting this week. I always feel an inevitable “come down” after a cruising holiday. When I’m away I can be young again, drinking past midnight and not doing much of anything during the day. But then I arrive home and I’ve got deadlines and bills to pay. And money spent on new tyres, tax repayments, and vet visits just isn’t a lot of fun.
If you agree with me that adulting bites, you’re going to love “Jackets,” the debut single from independent Melbourne band Sandy Realms. The duo recorded this folky lo-fi pop song and others from their forthcoming EP in the back den of the house they share in Northcote. I just love how organic it sounds.
We’ll hear more from Sandy Realms when the EP Coming Together drops later this month. Image used with permission from Sandy Realms
Aussie-born, New Zealand-based muso Thomas Oliver has delivered a taste of his forthcoming new album Floating in the Darkness. The single “Losin’” is a poignant track about loss with an easy, relaxed groove and some of the most sublime vocals you’ll hear all year.
“‘Losin’ is a lonely song about feeling someone you love slip away,” Thomas explained in a press release. “But it’s intentionally juxtaposed with a bouncy rhythm and sweet melodies. This is meant to represent being so acquainted with hurt that you hardly feel it anymore.” Floating in the Darkness is scheduled for an April 28 release. Thomas will promote the album with the following shows here at home.
7 June – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
9 June – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
10 June – Wesley Anne, Melbourne
11 June – Leadbelly, Sydney
15 June – Babushka, Leederville
Image used with permission from This Much Talent; photo by Terry Longley and Michelle Davies
Amy Sharkis back with a brand new single, “Weekends,” the follow-up to her smash “Adore.” That earlier single went gangbusters, but personally I think “Weekends” is a stronger song.
“Weekends is an extremely personal song,” Amy said in a press release. “I actually wrote the guitar part about 5 years ago which sounds crazy, but I couldn’t think of any lyrics good enough to match the guitar so I let it go for so many years, until now!”
If you like “Weekends,” make sure you pre-order her EP Night Thinker, which is set to drop on April 21. The track is yours free with purchase to tide you over to the release date.
Amy has an exciting couple of months ahead, with appearances at the Groovin the Moo festival, support slots with Milky Chance, and a North American promotional tour all scheduled. Here are all the places you can see her play in the coming months.
28 April 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Wayville
29 April 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Maitland (SOLD OUT)
30 April 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Townsville
2 May 2017 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (with Milky Chance)
3 May 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (with Milky Chance)
4 May 2017 – Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne (with Milky Chance)
6 May 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Bendigo (SOLD OUT)
7 May 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Bruce (SOLD OUT)
10 May 2017 – Metro City, Perth (with Milky Chance)
13 May 2017 – Groovin the Moo, Bunbury
20 May 2017 – Bass in the Grass, Darwin City
31 May 2017 – Adelaide Hall, Toronto
1 June 2017 – DC 9, Washington D.C.
2 June 2017 – Boot & Saddle, Philadelphia
4 June 2017 – 3rd and Lindsley, Nashville
5 June 2017 – Babys All Right, Brooklyn
6 June 2017 – Mercury Lounge, New York
8 June 2017 – Great Scott, Allston
12 June 2017 – Bardot, Los Angeles
13 June 2017 – Echo, Los Angeles
16 June 2017 – Popscene @ Rickshaw, San Francisco
17 June 2017 – Doug Fir Lounge, Portland
19 June 2017 – Barboza, Seattle
20 June 2017 – The Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver
23 July 2017 – North Byron Parklands, Yelgun
With a classic rock sound that hearkens back to INXS and Powderfinger comes MDRN LOVE. The Geelong quintet has just released the debut single “Bring Me Down” and it’s a cracker. Instantly accessible with a melody you’ll be humming for days, it’s the first taste of the band’s forthcoming EP.
If you like what you hear, make sure you get out and support these guys as they travel around Victoria in the coming months.
8th April 2017 – The Courthouse, Geelong
19th April 2017 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
22nd April 2017 – The Barwon Club, Geelong
5th May 2017 – The Loft, Warrnambool
9th May 2017 – UMSU, Melbourne
20th May 2017 – The Torquay Hotel, Torquay
7th June 2017 – The Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave
