Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dereb the Ambassador Brings Retro Ethiopian Soul to Oz

From Ethiopia to Sydney, soul singer Dereb Desalegn has come a long way. After moving to our shores he took up with the band Lion of Judah, but now he’s striking out on his own with the self-titled project, Dereb the Ambassador.

The first cut from this endeavor is “Etu Gela,” a dance floor filler taken from Dereb’s forthcoming self-titled album. This long-player, scheduled for a March 4 release, covers soul tracks made famous by Ethiopian artists in the 60s and 70s. To stay true to Dereb’s creative vision the album was recorded using equipment made before 1970.

Dereb will launch the single “Etu Gela” backed by a seven-piece band at Sydney’s Gaelic Club on December 15. It sounds like it’s going to be a foot-stomping good night!

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Verses Duet with Dan Sultan

The Verses are one of my favorite new acts from 2010, and I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Dan Sultan, so when I heard they’d teamed up for a single I knew it’d be good.

If the song “Running Away” sounds familiar it’s because you’ve heard it on The Verses debut album Seasons. I loved the original, but I think it works even better as a duet. The chemistry between Ella Hooper and Dan Sultan is only natural as they’ve been close mates for years.

“As soon as we met we knew we had a really strong musical chemistry and incredibly similar taste, so we’ve been plotting and planning, waiting for the right moment to do something together and ‘Running Away’ was one of Dan’s favorite songs of mine,” Ella explained. “The song really came to life when Dan started singing along one day when we were demo-ing it, so we turned it into a duet. He often jumps up at our gigs and sings and I was very proud and excited to sing backing vocals and a duet on his record. It’s
a fantastic feeling to sing with one of my best friends who also happens to be one of the country’s best talents!”

This new version of “Running Away” is available as a digital download from iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

British India’s New Single and Website

British India may be swanning about the UK, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten their local fans. They’ve just released a brand new single, which ups Paul Simon’s efforts and offers “90 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and launched a brand new website to boot.

In conjunction with the website launch you can receive a free demo of a new song “It Happens All The Time” when you sign up to the new British India mailing list. The tune gives us a sneak peek at the band’s forthcoming album, which will hit stores in 2011.

Head to www.britishindia.com.au to check out everything else that’s brand spanking new, including the upcoming United Kingdom and New Zealand tour dates!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Butterfingers’ Singer Evil Eddie’s Ode to Queensland

Former Butterfingers’ front man Evil Eddie is paying tribute to his home state with his new single “Queensland.” Butterfingers enthusiasts should love this solo effort, as has that same hip hop/punk core and “brilliantly uncouth” lyrics that made the iconic band so successful.

The “Queensland” single offers real value for music fans, with the inclusion of a radio edit and Bewilderbeats remix. It comes from the forthcoming debut album, tentatively titled Welcome to Flavour Country. We may not know exactly what it’ll be called yet, but we do know that Eddie plays almost all the instruments himself, bar drums, which is pretty impressive.

No doubt we’ll get to hear “Queensland” and some more new tracks when Evil Eddie takes to the stage at the upcoming Peats Ridge Festival on the Central Coast on December 29, and the Woodford Folk Festival on December 30 and 31. He’ll be backed by an all star band boasting members of Butterfingers, Laneous and the Family Yah, Bang Boss Kelly, The Disables, and Spitfireliar. I hear they might also pop up and play a few secret shows, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground music fans!


Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Glenn Richards Releases “Torpor & Spleen” Video

Last month I was waxing lyrical about “Torpor & Spleen,” the first single from Glenn Richards’ first Augie Marchless-album Glimjack. Now with the release of the official music video, you all get a chance to hear it.

The video’s every bit as organic as the song, with live footage shot in a Melbourne warehouse. It’s not very flashy, but music this good doesn’t need bells and whistles.

This is a nice little taster of what’s to come when Glimjack hits record stores on October 29.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

You Am I’s “Trigger Finger”

You Am I’s self titled album has only been in stores for a week, but already the band is itching to release another single.

Following on from the album’s debut cut “Shuck” comes the cool grooves of “Trigger Finger.” This isn’t like the You Am I that we’ve come to know and love, but don’t let that scare you. The song, featuring guest vocals from Sydney’s Lanie Lane, has got a gorgeous sultry swagger about it that really revs me.

“Trigger Finger” gets a digital release on October 29. I do miss the old fashioned physical single, but at least You Am I is bundling the tune with a B-side: a punky cut called “Do It” which you can’t get anywhere else!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Ready for Summer with The Rooftops

Are you all getting excited about summer? It’s so close that I can feel it. I put on one of my favourite sun dresses last week, and was so thrilled to be able to step out with bare legs! If you’re not in a summery mood yet, Brisbane band The Rooftops should get you there with their new single “Something So Familiar.”

If you want to give it a listen just head to their website to download it for free from the main page. I love it when a band is so generous, particularly when they’re this good. That infectious groove and rich brassy sound are music to my ears, so to speak!

“Something So Familiar” comes from the band’s forthcoming third album, which only makes me wonder where they’ve been all my life! If you dig them, you can catch them doing their thing live at the following shows.

22 October 2010 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
23 October 2010 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
29 October 2010 –The Renaissance Festival, Melbourne
30 October 2010 – The Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne
5 November 2010 – The Queens Arms, Adelaide
6 November 2010 – The Jetty Bar, Glenelg
12 November 2010 – Front Gallery, Canberra
13 November 2010 – The Mac, Sydney
14 November 2010 – The Junkyard, Maitland
19 November 2010 – The Loft, Gold Coast
20 November 2010 – The Club House, Brisbane
4 December 2010 – Bump Nights, Noosa

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Paper Scissors Tour “Lung Sum” Single

Sydney indie rockers The Paper Scissors are busy travelling about the country in support of “Lung Sum,” the first single from their sophomore album In Loving Memory. This is great stuff; really original and melodic and quirky. Take a listen!

The lads will showcase tracks from their forthcoming album release, and of course a few old favourites, at the following shows. If you like what you hear make sure you get out there and support them!

15 October 2010 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
21 October 2010 – Lambda Lambda Lambda, Brisbane
22 October 2010 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
23 October 2010 – Clubhouse, Toowoomba
29 October 2010 – Hermann’s, Sydney
5 November 2010 – Curtin University, Perth

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hear Galleon “In Stereo”

My affinity for all things Adelaide doesn’t appear to be waning. Today I’m fawning over “In Stereo,” the new single from the city’s four-piece rockers Galleon.

You might remember the song “Kamikaze” which these lads released a few months ago. I liked that but I love this; it starts gently but builds to a lovely epic crescendo. The band’s front man Nick Deegan says the song “questions the conventional 9-5 lifestyle and attempts to somewhat justify and even glorify the lesser travelled path of being an artist, and in particular a musician.”

And isn’t that what we all need on a weekend?

“In Stereo” comes from Galleon’s forthcoming album which was engineered and mixed by Jimi Maroudas (Eskimo Joe, The Living End) and produced by Patrick ‘Patch’ Robertson of Motorace.

If you’re digging the song make sure you catch Galleon at one of their upcoming shows!

9 Oct 2010 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
22 Oct – Melt Bar, Kings Cross
Date TBA – Ding Dong, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash