Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Siren Lines Soar with “Always the Same”

Sydney outfit Siren Lines have me tapping my feet today to their brilliant new single “Always the Same.” It’s got just the right amount of reverb, driving drums, and sublime vocals that remind me a little of Boy George’s honeyed voice. Is it just me?

I’m told Siren Lines are working at a cracking pace on their debut album, but they’ll take a little time out from the studio to celebrate the single’s release. Their East Coast tour kicks off tomorrow night in their home town.

17 January 2015 – Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar, Sydney
31 January 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
7 February 2015 – The Worker’s Club, Fitzroy
8 February 2015 – The Espy, St Kilda
15 February 2015 – Bondi Open Air Cinema, Bondi

Image used with permission from Collision Course PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Smith Street Band Sticks it to Tony Abbott

I generally have a bit of an aversion to songs with title containing profanity. Call me old-fashioned, but I generally feel like it’s unwarranted and uncreative, just there to shock rather than really making any clever point. So any song with bad language in the title has a hard time convincing me it deserves a place on this blog. The Smith Street Band’s latest single “Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face” did just that.

This is just the sort of thought-provoking music I love to hear. The true spirit of punk music runs through the lyrics which criticise Tony Abbott and his policies on asylum seekers. It all needed to be said. And it’s not just paying lip service to the issue either. All of the digital sales until the end of February and a large part of the physical sales will benefit the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the country’s leading organisation for asylum seekers.

Digital copies are available now, and you can pre-order the 7” single through the Poison City Records store. This is one song worth supporting.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leanne Tennant Gets Dark with “Black Snake Calls”

Cairns songstress Leanne Tennant has really impressed me with her sultry, bluesy new single “Black Snake Calls.” The dark video is the perfect accompaniment for this moody folk number. The track comes from Leanne’s debut album Pull Up Your Britches, which is in stores now.

Leanne will showcase songs from that record when she takes her “Black Snake” tour around the country. It kicks off in Brisbane tomorrow night before stopping by the Tamworth Country Music Festival and a string of top venues across New South Wales.

16 January 2015 – Habitat, West End, Brisbane
22 January 2015 – Addami Espresso, Tamworth
22 January 2015 – Fanzone Stage, Tamworth
23 January 2015 – The Pub, Tamworth (with Bill Chambers)
23 January 2015 – “Footstomp Music Party” @ Jakes Place, Tamworth
24 January 2015 – RB Sellers HQ Stage, Tamworth
25 January 2015 – The Dag, Nundle
26 January 2015 – Petersham Bowls Club, Petersham
27 January 2015 – The Record Crate, Glebe

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Young Lions Back and Better with Blue Isla

Young Lions burst out of the gate with their debut album Burn in early 2013. Now two years later, with a bit more experience under their belt, the Brisbane five-piece are set to do it all again with the release of their sophomore effort Blue Isla.

“Burn was a record full of anger,” says bassist Morgan Castle. “‘Blue Isla’ is a huge step up for us. The record is one of beauty and maturity. Everything you’ve come to love about Young Lions – Passion. Truth. Relevancy. It’s in this record. We’ve matured a lot and so has our music.”

It’s a big call, but the lads seem to be delivering with the release of the album’s lead single “When Will We Be Free?” It’s a soaring, epic number about breaking out of the nine-to-five grind and exploring the possibilities.

Blue Isla hits stores on January 27. Young Lions will support its release with the following shows.

14 February 2015 – The Brightside, Brisbane (18+)
15 February 2015 – Acoustic Session @ Sabotage, Brisbane (18+)
19 February 2015 – Hot Damn @ The Exchange Hotel, Sydney (18+)
20 February 2015 – Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith (18+)
28 February 2015 – Bang @ The Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
5 March 2015 – Last Night, Perth (18+)
6 March 2015 – YMCA HQ, Leederville (ALL AGES)
7 March 2015 – Babushka, Perth (18+)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eleanor Dunlop Gets me “Rollin’ On”

I love the Christmas holiday break, but I hate the things that I miss while everything shuts down. I’ve resorted to asking my husband random questions to make up for the lack of pub trivia in our lives, and I’ve had to take to the streets while I’m waiting for my Tuesday RollerFit classes to resume. My bruised and battered knees are not impressed with the change, and I’m yet to find an area large enough for me to practice my tricks, but it will have to do.

One advantage that street skating does have is that I can program my own playlist. One that’s definitely made the cut is “Rollin’ On” by Sydney songstress Eleanor Dunlop. While I’m sure she didn’t write the song with roller skating in mind, it’s working for me!

“Rollin’ On is about not wanting a good thing to end. Similar to when you’re at a party or out with someone really great and you don’t ever want that moment to end,” Eleanor explained. “When I was writing it I was in need of some motivation and this song was a kind of kick up the butt for me. Dancing and moving helps motivate me so I was half writing half dancing – it got the song-writing ball rolling again for me.”

This is our first taste of Eleanor’s sophomore EP, which will be released sometime next year. It’s much rockier and more danceable than the piano-driven numbers we used to hear from her. What do you think of the change?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard Make me “Smile” with New Single Release

Sheppard has made us all smile this year, so it’s only fitting that their final single release of 2014 is called “Smile.” It’s a summery, frothy, poppy little number that should warm even the hardest heart. Its simple romantic lyrics aren’t going to set the world on fire, but the song’s so endearing that you’d have to be a real misery guts to hate it.

Does this song make you smile?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Horns Release Sizzling Single “Play with Fire”

The Horns don’t have the brassy sound I expected given their name, but the Melbourne dup have really impressed me with their debut single “Play with Fire.”

All the right elements are there: beautiful harmonies, a singalong chorus, and inventive layered instrumentation. It’s a really great track. No wonder they drew a big crowd to the Railway Hotel for the recent launch!

Hopefully we’ll hear more from this talented act really soon!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas One and All!

It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! I hope you all have an amazing day filled with fun, family, food, and other festive goodness. To set the mood I figured I’d share with you Gurrumul and Delta Goodrem’s twist on “Silent Night.”

I really love this. I thought their voices blended so beautifully when they recorded “Bayini” together in 2013, and it’s wonderful to hear that magic breathing new life into the Christmas classic.

You can find the track on this year’s Myer Spirit of Christmas or the So Fresh Songs for Christmas album. It’s worth buying a copy of both, as the Myer release raises money for the Salvos while So Fresh is helping out the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Davey Lane Disses Christmas

I know that not everyone loves Christmas as much as me. Some folks out there are just gritting their teeth trying to wait it all out. So this song is for them. The bah-humbuggers as my mum likes to call them. Davey Lane’s spoken for you all with his new single “Wake Me Up When Christmas Ends.” The song might be a bit grinchy, but Davey’s showing he’s got some Christmas spirit by giving it away!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Former Eagle and the Worm Drummer Jim Lawrie Gives Away Singles


To celebrate the forthcoming release of his sophomore album EONS, Jim Lawrie is getting into the Christmas spirit and giving away two singles for free.

They’re both excellent, but “Just Like Normal’s” really bowled me over. What an amazing song that is. With songwriting skills like this, he was really wasted behind the drums of Eagle and the Worm. I’m so glad that he’s gone solo so we can hear songs like that.

If you’ve got tickets for Falls or the Southbound Festival in Busselton, make sure you don’t miss the talented Mr Lawrie’s sets!

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records