Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Rescue Ships Tour “City Life” Single

Sydney folk-pop duo The Rescue Ships have well and truly charmed me with their new single “City Life.”

The track speaks of the ironic isolation so many city dwellers feel. They’re surrounded by crowds, yet they’re still searching for real connection. Despite the dark subject matter the song is a so catchy and sweet that you can’t help but smile in spite of it!

“City Life” comes from The Rescue Ships forthcoming debut album, which they’re currently recording with friends in their Newtown studio. They’ll treat fans to the single and other new tunes at the following “City Life” launch shows:

5 July 2012 – Beavs Bar, Geelong (Free)
6 July 2012 – The Grace Darling, Collingwood
13 July 2012 – The Red Rattler, Marrickville
18 July 2012 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Wickham
20 July 2012 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
26 July 2012 – The Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
3 August 2012 – The Front Bar, Lyneham
11 August 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out with Honey Badgers

I love getting in to bands on the ground floor. Of course it’s great to hear music that’s had the spit and polish of the music industry, but there’s nothing like the exhilaration of discovering a diamond in the rough. So when Melbourne band Honey Badgers sent me their new single “Fifteen,” I could look past its rawness and see something pretty special.

The production values are pretty low. It sounds like it was recorded in someone’s garage on a tape deck. But there’s an infectious energy that cuts through all that. The Honey Badgers just played their first show, and if they can inject a set with the same spirit I hear on the recording it’s not likely to be their last.

Look out for the Honey Badgers in your local gig guide; they might just be the next big thing.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fun Machine Make Me Smile

With a name like Fun Machine, I knew the Canberra trio behind the new single “Ready for the Fight” would serve up good vibes. But I wasn’t quite prepared for how much I’d love the song.

This cheerful ditty is the perfect remedy for the winter blues. It’s got delicious harmonies and the sort of sparse instrumentation that really allows the song to sing. I love a band that understands that often less is more. The resourceful act created beats using car hubcaps and metal handles, and laid down the piano track after sneaking their recording equipment into their local university’s concert hall! “Ready for the Fight” has pop leanings, but it’s much more unique than anything they’re playing on commercial radio.

Fun Machine will spread some sunshine along the East Coast this winter at the following shows:

29 June 2012 –Burdekin Bar, Darlinghurst (Free)
6 July 2012 –The Polish White Eagle Club, Canberra
7 July 2012 – SYDNEY: De Ja Vu, Marrickville (Free)
13 July 2012 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle (Free)
14 July 2012 – Good Jelly, Wollongong
20 July 2012 – Bar Open, Melbourne (Free)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Georgia Fair Release “Blind”

Fresh from touring the country’s best churches with Lisa Mitchell, Georgia Fair are hitting the road again as the headlining act. The Sydney duo will play the major capitals to support the release of their new single “Blind.”

“Blind” has long been one of the highlights of the band’s set, so I’m thrilled to see it’ll hit a wider audience. I love the way the track builds to a dramatic crescendo. That’s helped in no small part by the appearance of Band of Horses’ Bill Reynolds on the recording.

“It’s once in a blue moon that I come across a group with such great harmonies and great songs,” he explained. “When my manager sent me the demos for the LP I knew I had to find a way to work with them.”

Georgia Fair will launch “Blind” with a hometown show on July 6 at The Standard before playing Melbourne’s Toff in Town on July 12.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Peep Tempel Releases Scary New Single

The Peep Tempel have gotten underneath my skin with their gritty new single “Mister Lester Moore.”

This is a really big song, frenetic, wailing, and delightfully dark. It’s a bit more chaotic than the tracks I usually go for, but there’s just something about it that’s charmed me in spite of myself.

What do you think of the song?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cyber Duo Collarbones Launch “Missing” Single

As someone who’s happily married to a man I met online, I know all too well the power of a cyber-connection. So I was thrilled to discover Collarbones, an electronic duo featuring online pals Travis Cook from Adelaide and Marcus Whale from Sydney. Though dividing by some 1150 kays the lads began to create beautiful music together.

Their latest offering is the haunting “Missing,” a track from their forthcoming second album scheduled for release later this year. This is a really powerful tune, with a heartbreaking falsetto, lush orchestration, and some of the most plaintively simple lyrics I’ve heard in some time.

Collarbones are bridging the distance and touring “Missing” this month. The run of dates kicks off tomorrow in Melbourne before taking in capital cities and regional towns along the East Coast.

16 June 2012 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
23 June 2012 – The Gate at Pablos, Epping (All Ages)
24 June 2012 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
28 June 2012 – Terrace Bar, Newcastle
29 June 2012 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
5 July 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Deer Republic Give Us “The Score”

DeerRepublic have put a smile on my face with their anthemic new single “The Score.”

The infectiously catchy single gives us a taste of what’s to come from the band’s forthcoming debut EP The Sweet Resistance. Click here to listen to it on deerRepublic’s Facebook page!

It’s surprising to hear this is deerRepublic’s first single, as they’ve enjoyed plenty of airplay on FBi radio over the years with their demo tracks. They also generated plenty of buzz when they beat out thousands of other local acts to take out the uncharted National Band Competition.

If you like what you hear make sure you get down to Upstairs Beresford next month. The band has a residency that will see them making regular appearances at the Surry Hills club during July.

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Penny Hewson Comes Home

After spending the last decade soaking up the Los Angeles sun and thriving music scene, Melbourne singer-songwriter Penny Hewson has returned home.

She’s wasted no time since touching down. She signed a deal with Popboomerang Records, and released this sweet single “This One’s For You,” which gives us our first taste of her forthcoming album It’s An Endless Desire.

Don’t mistake Penny’s sweetness for saccharine. While she sings like an angel there’s a real truth and vulnerability to her lyrics that ensure she’s not just another pop princess. It’s catchy, but it’s not throw-away music.

Hometown fans can catch Penny playing at the Grace Darling in support of Kellie Lloyd’s album launch on June 15. She promises more shows will come as that disc drops this winter.

Image used with permission from Penny Hewson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Stanleys Rock the Globe, Retro Style

The Stanleys are set for world domination with their feel-good retro power pop anthem “Always.”

The irresistible single is the handiwork of Aussie’s Mark De Renzo and Jamie Horsburgh and their Norwegian buddy Norway. Fittingly the trio visited studios in Oslo, Paris, Perth, and Sydney to lay down the EP which features the title track.

The Stanleys laid a solid foundation last year with shows in Europe, North America, Japan, and Australia. This summer they’ll cement their reputation as a band to watch with shows in China, North America, and Australia.

Has this song put a smile on your dial?

Image credit: Lisa Businovski

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Elephant Eyes Wow with “Mother Said” Single

I’m not sure what it is about Australian songstresses naming themselves after the peepers of our animal friends, but following Owl Eyes comes new Melbourne band Elephant Eyes.

The moniker’s a bit left of centre but you’ll soon forget all that on listening to the outfit’s dark new piano pop single “Mother Said.” The track comes from the Elephant Eye’s forthcoming debut album, which should be killer if this song’s any indication.

Elephant Eyes will celebrate the digital release of “Mother Said” with a hometown show at The Grace Darling on Friday, June 8. Be there or be square!