Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Preatures Release Latest Single & Take on the World

Following up “Is This How you Feel?” was always going to be a big ask for The Preatures. That song was just so good. But I think they’ve made a good effort with their latest release “Better Than It Ever Could Be.”

This song’s got great energy and infectious hooks. I’m not sure if I like it quite as much as “Is This How You Feel?” but if you ask me again, after I’ve heard it as many times as that song, I might answer differently. Following up a track that’s done so well is always tough, and I think The Preatures have done a great job. It certainly sends the message that this band is no one-hit wonder.

They’ll cement their reputation as one of Australia’s hottest new acts with the following shows in Europe and the United States. If you’re living abroad, make sure you don’t miss them!

17 February 2014 – Water Rats, London
18 February 2014 – King Tuts, Glasgow
19 February 2014 – Bodega, Nottingham
22 February 2014 – Lido, Berlin
23 February 2014 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
24 February 2014 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
25 February 2014 – Boule Noir, Paris
28 February 2014 – Night and Day Café, Manchester
4 March 2014 – 100Club, London
6 March 2014 – The Mercury Lounge, NYC
11-16 March 2014 – SXSW, Austin
11 & 18 April 2014 – Coachella, Palm Springs

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tales in Space Announce Single Tour

Sydney’s Tales in Space have given us a taste of their forthcoming debut album with the release of their new electro-pop single “All Messed Up.” I love the energy of this number and its classic pop-driven melodies. Just see if you’re not humming this song for the rest of the day.

To celebrate the release, Tales in Space will tour the east coast this March. Make sure you arrive early to see sets from up and coming indie acts Stillwater Giants and the Pierce Brothers. Tickets are available from Oztix for the following shows.

7 March 2014 – Alhambra Lounge,  Brisbane
8 March 2014 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
9 March 2014 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
14 March 2014 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
15 March 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
27 March 2014 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
29 March 2014 – Beresford, Sydney (FREE)
30 March 2014 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Calling All Cars Releases “Standing in the Ocean” Clip

Calling All Cars have released a hot new video for their new single “Standing in the Ocean,” ahead of the release of their brand new album Raise the People. I think this energetic number might be my favourite Calling All Cars song yet, and the sexy video capturing a blossoming love affair matches it perfectly.

Bassist Adam Montgomery said handing creative control to Melbourne director Timothy Melville was “amazing.”

“Every previous video we’ve made, we have been the ones calling the shots, from the original idea to the filming and to sitting in with the editor. Basically we are control freaks, but this time around we relinquished all (most) control and left it in the hands of our amazing director Tim Melville. We had a couple of meetings and were on the same page from the start. Tim’s original vision is basically what you see is the video. He really nailed the mood of the song.”

This video should generate a bit more buzz about the band before their latest album hits stores on March 7. To celebrate that release, they’ll play a stack of shows all around the country.

20 March 2014 – Manning Bar, Sydney
21 March 2014 – Amplifier, Perth
22 March 2014 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
23 March 2014 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
27 March 2014 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
28 March 2014 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
29 March 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
30 March 2014 – Solbar, Maroochydore
4 April 2014 – The Jack, Cairns
11 April 2014 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
12 April 2014 – Waterfront, Geelong (FREE – ALL AGES)
17 April 2014 – Easter Festival, Bendigo (FREE – ALL AGES)
18 April 2014 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
19 April 2014 – The Loft, Warnambool
20 April 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
23 April 2014 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
24 April 2014 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
26 April 2014 – Republic Bar, Hobart
30 April 2014 – The Crowbar @ Charles Sturt Uni, Wagga Wagga (STUDENTS ONLY)
1 May 2014 – Transit Bar, Canberra
2 May 2014 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
3 May 2014 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
4 May 2014 – Studio Six, Sutherland

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

No Second Single Syndrome for Bree de Rome

What do you get if you cross sixties soul with country vibes? “I Expected More” the stellar second single from Bree de Rome’s debut EP Bag of Bones.

I remember enjoying Bree’s spirit with her first single “Better Luck,” but feeling her songwriting skills needed work. So it’s great to see her honing her craft with this number co-written by the incomparable Sally Seltmann. If Bree keeps learning from such talented industry folks, the sky’s the limit for this endearing songstress.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke, Sallie Campbell and Friends Raise Funds for Orangutans

Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttal, Sallie Campbell, and more talented local artists have joined forces to help save the orangutans through the power of music. The team have released the single “Nightingale Floor” alongside two short films to raise funds for the Orangutan Land Trust.

The project is the brainchild of Sallie Campbell, who composed the song as well as playing mandolin, five-string violin, nyckelharpa, hammered dulcimer, and baritone bowed psaltry on the recording. She enlisted a bunch of friends to join her to raise awareness of the impact of palm oil production on the world’s orangutans.

“Nightingale Floors were cleverly built in ancient Japanese castles to creak and sing when walked upon to warn of intruders. Similarly, we need be the ‘new nightingales’ who signal danger to our fragile ecology,” she explained. “The situation is urgent; the last wild orangutans on the earth live in Malaysia and Indonesia and their habitat is being threatened by the development of palm oil plantations. Unsustainable palm oil is in 50% of supermarket items and if people knew the food and products they were consuming everyday were wiping out forests and all the beautiful creatures there, they wouldn’t buy them.”

Nightingale Floor is dedicated to those beautiful creatures, and being released as a three minute single and a twenty-minute string orchestra opus written for an 11-piece string section, featuring three soloists and those exotic folk instruments Sallie loves.

Visit the Nightingale Floor website to learn more about palm oil, make a donation, and download the song and short films. All money raised with benefit Orangutan Land Trust.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Phoncurves Tug at “Heartstrings”

Sunday’s a funny day isn’t it? It’s still the weekend so you should be happy, but Monday’s looming like a raincloud bringing you down. What you need is some music to lighten your mood. Thankfully I have just the thing: “Heartstrings,” the latest single from Brisbane duo The Phoncurves.

This is the lead single from The Phoncurves second EP, and if it’s any indication the recording will be pretty enchanting. I love its angelic vocals and jazzy heart. The video, showing some happy music lovers growing away, is pretty fabulous too.

So, feel better about your Sunday? I thought so!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hayden Calnin Impresses with “Comatose”


Hayden Calnin wowed me with “Coward,” the first single from Oh, Hunter last November. Now after many long months we finally get to hear another cut, which is a good thing too because the EP’s release is still a couple of weeks away.

“Comatose” is a little more sombre than “Coward,” but it resonated with me a lot more quickly. Hayden’s tone is just so beautiful, and this song is so perfectly crafted. It was also the last song written for the EP. I guess when you create something so exquisite, you know that you’re done.

“Comatose” is the second single lifted from Oh, Hunter, which hits stores on February 21. If you love it there’s good news, because you get a free download when you preorder the EP through iTunes or the Create/Control store.

Image used with permission from Create/Control

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Dead Daisies Release New Single & Album

The self-titled debut album from The Dead Daisies, fronted by our own Jon Stevens (we can claim him at this point, can’t we Australia?), hits stores tomorrow!

The album’s already generated buzz with the release of its first two singles, “Lock ‘N’ Load” and “Washington,” and now there’s a third to remind people why this album needs to be part of their collection. Just like the others, “It’s Gonna Take Time” celebrates classic rock music without the frills and bullshit.

“It’s a personal view on the world we live in today,” explained Jon. “We’re all running around on this planet consuming everything in our path. There are so many distractions, that the simple things in life, we don’t seem to have time for anymore. Is it just me? Everyone seems to be in a rush nowadays. This song is about stopping for a minute and identifying what is really important in your life! Simple really, but hard to do in this day and age!”

So shut out the rest of the world and wrap your ears around this. Then get excited because The Dead Daisies tour kicks off tonight. Where else can you see musicians from Noiseworks, Guns N’ Roses, Psychedelic Furs, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and The Cult all on one stage? Nowhere, that’s where!

6 February 2014 – The Gov, Adelaide
7 February 2014 – The Old Mill, Hahndorf
8 February 2014 – Annie’s Lane Day On The Green, Clare Valley
15 February 2014 – Rochford Wines Day On The Green, Yarra Valley
16 February 2014 – Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne
21 February 2014 – Taronga Zoo, Sydney (with Jimmy Barnes)
22 February 2014 – Bateau Bay Hotel – Bateau Bay (with Jimmy Barnes)
23 February 2014 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
25 February 2014 – Country Club Casino, Launceston
26 February 2014 – Wrestpoint Casino Showroom, Hobart
28 February 2014 – Mulwala Water Ski Club, Mulwala
1 March 2014 – Albury SS&A Club, Albury

Image used with permission from Jaden Social

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Never Ever go to the Movies

There’ll be no sweaty punters or overpriced beers at launch shows for The Never Ever’s new single “In or Out.” The Sydney band’s turning their back on the pubs for a while and heading to the movies!

The quintet will play an intimate acoustic set in the movie theatres before their latest music video plays on the big screen. They’ll also show a behind the scenes documentary, which will never be seen again, before fielding audience questions in a Q&A session.

“These shows are going to be really special,” promised singer Dylan Nash.

If you want to be a part of these unique all-ages events, get your tickets now from The Never Ever’s website.

21 February 2014 – Event Cinemas @ Myer Centre, Brisbane
22 February 2014 – Dendy Cinemas, Newtown
23 February 2014 – Hoyts Melbourne Central, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Jezabels Own “Look of Love”

If the first single “The End” didn’t already convince you that you need to own The Jezabel’s new album The Brink, then let the “Look of Love” work its magic. This electro-pop gem showcases the depth of talent that this album offers. Don’t let its familiar name fool you either. This is a true Jezabels original.

“Essentially, it’s story is that of ‘Uptown Girl’, but sung from the perspective the girl, who acted ‘too good’ for the boy who loved her, afraid to become stigmatized by her own desire. Years later, when nothing has matched up to the young love she pushed away, the pretence crumbles into delusion,”explained Jezabels’ frontwoman Hayley Mary. “Though the song is sung in present tense, about wanting to give into this love right then and there, the opportunity she speaks of is dead, and all that is left is an unhealthy reliving of the past, and a desire for a love that’s gone.”

What do you think of this killer cut?

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water