Melbourne chanteuse Tanzer gives classic 60s soul music a modern twist with her delightful new single “Johnny.”
The track tells the story of a performer whose larger than life persona is at odds with the man behind the image. I love its big brassy orchestration and Tanzer’s sultry vocals.
“Johnny” comes from Tanzer’s debut EP Four Love Songs, which will drop on May 16. She’ll launch it for hometown fans at the Toff in Town on May 28.
Lazy Sundays are ideal for listening to the laidback groove of a tune like “Karma My Life,” the new single from Melbourne band The Hiding.
I just love this song’s carefree, roadtrippy vibe. It makes sense that it reminds me of travel, because the folky percussive guitar sound was influenced by the acoustic performances the lads saw in Central Park whilst living in New York.
The lyrics are also full of positivity and wisdom.
“Life can throw so many speed bumps and The Hiding has experienced its fair share of these,” explained lyricist and guitarist Anthony Salce in the press release. “It can be deflating and soul damaging, however, these are life lessons we all experience and Karma my life is about accepting these journeys, appreciating the turning point and celebrating the ‘positive experience’ that changed your life.”
And can I just take a moment to talk about the mesmerising music video? It features the work of renowned sand artist Fatmir Mura. “As Karma My Life is an honest and emotive piece, we wanted the video to represent the changing nature of the band and the need to adapt to your surroundings, which Fatmir delivers very well in his sand art,” Anthony explained. I couldn’t take my eyes off this video. It’s truly stunning.
If you’re digging what The Hiding do too, and you live in their home state, you can catch them at the following upcoming shows. Hopefully they won’t leave the rest of Australia waiting too long to see them!
29 April 2016 – Rifle Brigade Hotel, Bendigo
6 May 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
21 May 2016 – Revolver, Melbourne
Listening to “Dallas,” the debut single from Perth one-man electronic project WULFE was an interesting experience for me. I’m used to thinking of electronic music as the stuff they play in the clubs that gets people up on the floor and dancing until dawn. However, “Dallas” shows a different side of electronica, something more subtle, delicate, and really quite beautiful.
Even though I didn’t have lyrics to cling onto, I found myself going on a real emotional journey with “Dallas.” I love how the piano anchors it, an organic heart supporting the shimmery synths.
I was already impressed by this track, but when I noticed WULFE is just 18 I became even moreso. This is one young artist with a big future ahead.
This might be the rantings of a child of the ‘80s looking back at the decade she was born with rose-coloured glasses, but I’m convinced the women of the music world we looked up to were so much cooler than young ladies that serve as musical role models today. We had Pat Benatar, the Wilson sisters of Heart, the Bangles … I was almost feeling like they’d broken the mould until I heard “Miles Away,” the title track of Tully on Tully’s EP.
It seems I’m not the only one digging this 80s-inspired power pop anthem. Rage recently chose the video as its indie clip of the week.
Tully on Tully are currently on tour to support the Miles Away EP’s recent release. You can still catch them at the following venues.
15 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 April 2016 – Workers Club, Melbourne
22 April 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
26 May 2016 – Bar On The Hill @ University of Newcastle, Newcastle (lunchtime gig)
26 May 2016 – Gallery Bar @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 May 2016 – Transit Bar, Canberra
Greg Chiapello has certainly taken his time to release a follow-up to his debut single “Hot Coffee.” The Queensland singer-songwriter has kept us waiting since last February to hear something new, but it’s worth the wait.
“Around the World” showcases the same stellar falsetto and quirky pop sensibility that drew me to Greg’s music all those months ago. I love its retro 70s vibe and easy groove.
Hopefully Greg won’t leave us waiting so long for the follow up to this one!
Hump Days are never easy, but when you’re battling a cold as I am pushing through a work day is that much harder. If you’re struggling today, take a moment to press play and let the feel-good power-pop vibes of “Ghosts of 1999.”
The track comes from Sunshine Coast indie-rock act Selahphonic, who’ve spend the better part of 2015 touring Australia and the United States. All that experience is paying off, because they’re sounding like they’ve got years of experience under their belt. It’s polished without feeling bland. At this relatively early stage in their career I can already imagine them selling out stadiums.
See Selahphonic before they blow up at the following single launch shows.
15 April 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
30 April 2016 – Moonshine, Manly
6 May 2016 – The Helm, Sunshine Coast
11 June 2016 – Sea N’ Sound Festival, Mooloolaba
Image used with permission from Rare Finds
With seven members, you’re probably expecting a big sound from Melbourne’s LAMA. But you’re probably not expecting something as excitingly original as their new single “Wolf.”
I’ve heard this act described as a psychedelic folk band, but that’s only just scratching the surface. There’s a lot of rock in their sound, and a real theatricality that you don’t often hear in modern music. With a flute, violin, and trumpet all competing for airtime, the result is surprisingly coherent, and just downright surprising.
LAMA shows are fast becoming recognised as some of the most vivacious on the local scene. You can see the band do their thing to celebrate “Wolf’s” release at the following shows.
15 April 2016 – The B.East, Brunswick
13 May 2016 – Bar Open, Fitzroy
Image used with permission from the A & R Department
It’s been a little while since we heard new material from Melbourne electro-pop act Gypsy & the Cat but it’s been worth the wait. Their new single “I Just Wanna Be Somebody Else” is perfectly poised to drum up hype about their new album Virtual Islands ahead of its July release.
Summer might be behind us, but the saturated synths of this track bring the season back for me. I love its driving anthemic chorus and the oh-so-casual chorus. This is fun stuff.
Gypsy & the Cat only just wrapped up a national tour, but I have no doubt we’ll see them back on the road soon to support the album’s release.
After a tumultuous period, Melbourne act Buchanan are back with a brand new single ahead of the release of their second LP Pressure In an Empty Space.
The single “Learn to Love Again” is an upbeat dance-pop track about bouncing back and moving forward, two things this act knows about all too well. Not only was frontman Josh Simon dealing with the breakdown of a long-term relationship last year, he was also battling an obscure, but fortunately treatable, form of cancer. From these kind of setbacks comes greatness, and Josh with good buddy Simon Duffy produced their most prolific body of work to date.
Buchanan’s album Pressure in an Empty Space will be released around the world on April 29.
With a new album scheduled to drop on April 1, it’s the perfect time to remember why Kirsty Lee Akers is one of the darlings of the country music scene. She’s the only person to win the Australian country industry’s three biggest honours: Toyota Star Maker, Telstra Road to Discovery, and a Golden Guitar. Her fun new single “When I Miss You Most” proves why. It’s such a bubbly little song, with an upbeat feel that helps mask the pain of its lyrics.
“When I Miss You Most” comes from the new album Burn Baby Burn. Most of it was recorded in Nashville to give it that classic country feel. This is the first album Kirsty’s released through Maven/Sony Music Australian, and critics are already buzzing that it may be her best yet!