Prolific Eora/Sydney-based pop-punk artist Somber Hills is back with his latest anthem, “Some Say.” It takes me right back to the early ‘00s with its infectious riff and angsty but uplifting lyrics about picking yourself up and moving forward after being knocked down for the umpteenth time.
“When I wrote this record, the producer and I were playing a lot of Tony Hawks Underground 2. We got to the studio and I said something along the lines of ‘Let’s make a soundtrack for Tony Hawks’, Somber Hills said. “The song came together in a few hours and instantly felt reminiscent of Sum41, The Pixies, and Nirvana.”
“Some Say” comes from Somber Hills’ second project for the year, where’s my guitar?, which drops on November 24. That night Somber Hills will play the Nu Wave event at Bad Decisions Bar in Ngár-go/Fitzroy. Tickets are on sale now from Eventbrite.
Naarm/Melbourne metal act Future Static have blown me away with their latest single “Chemical Lobotomy.” It hits hard, with big thrashing drums and furious guitar riffs, and lead singer Amariah Cook has never sounded better. At times powerful, at times angelic, her voice can do absolutely anything.
“It’s no mystery that this song is about getting a little too excited with substances during lockdown. It was a boring time and, apart from writing music, there really wasn’t much else to do,” Amariah said. “I had a massive bout of inspiration and decided to start writing the vocals to the instrumental (written by Ryan) when I was suffering from a massive hangover. I got up out of bed and decided to write about my lack of control in the hopes it would help me understand why I was putting myself through this and how to get out of it. As the song developed, I realised that if I just sang the chorus a third time at the end, it would allude to nothing changing, whereas I wanted to write something ending on the positive side of these experiences: the connection with my friends and how we were all in this situation together.”
“Chemical Lobotomy” comes from Future Static’s upcoming debut album Liminality, which drops on November 24. It’ll be an exciting time for Future Static, who will kick off their sold-out national tour with Electric Callboy the next day. Here are all Future Static’s upcoming shows.
25 November 2023 – Metropolis Fremantle, Boorloo/Perth (supporting Electric Callboy)
27 November 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tarndanya/Adelaide (supporting Electric Callboy)
29 November 2023 – PICA, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Electric Callboy)
30 November 2023 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney (supporting Electric Callboy)
1 December 2023 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Electric Callboy)
5 April 2024 – 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting CLOWNS)
26 July 2024 – Radar Festival @ O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Nyikina Jarndoo artist Stellar Moon’s new single “Still Tea” brings us soul with a message. With its big horns and Stellar Moon’s incredible voice, the lessons go down easy. But make sure you don’t miss those powerful lyrics.
“’Still Tea’ is my funky feisty response to a lifetime of people questioning my Aboriginality due to the colour of my skin,” she confirmed. “The song is based on a well-known saying among First Nations people; “No matter how much milk you pour in the tea, it’s still tea.”
“Still Tea” comes from Stellar Moon’s debut album Phases, which drops on March 7. You can hear more material from it when Stellar Moon plays the ECU Stage at Museum Street in Boorloo/Perth for WAMFEST. She’ll play from 5:40 at this free, all ages event.
Australia has a proud tradition of Aussie pub rock acts. You know the type: big crunchy guitar riffs, bold drums, singers with powerful vocals and an “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. It’s a classic recipe, but one that always worked. And we don’t have enough of it these days. That’s why I’m so excited to hear “Tear it Down,” the latest track from Palace of the King.
I saw these guys supporting the Screaming Jets a few years back, and if this song is any indication, they’re making even better music today. I appreciated their artistry back then, but this track is much more accessible than the psychedelic numbers they performed in 2018. Keen music fans might recognise those vocals, as singer Tim Henwood fronted The Androids back in the day. You might also know him as The Superjesus’ guitarist back in the 2000s or Jon Stevens’ current axe man.
If you love this song, there’s more where that came from Palace of the King will release their new album in December. They’re also wasting no time heading out on the road to promote it. Here are all the dates you need:
Mulubinba/Newcastle singer-songwriter Javier is giving me warm weather vibes with his latest single “Love the Summer Time.” This catchy country-rock tune is the perfect soundtrack for that summer road trip you’ve been planning.
“Just imagine driving ‘round with the windows down, feeling the wind in your hair and having a great time with your friends, because this song is bringing all the freedom of that feeling” Javier said.
Javier plays plenty of local gigs at the pubs and clubs around Mulubinba/Newcastle and surrounds. Here’s his stacked schedule for the rest of November. Keep an eye on his Facebook to see when he’s visiting your area:
10 November 2023 – Cessnock Bowling Club, Wonnarua Country/Cessnock (8 pm)
11 November 2023 – Warners Bar Sports Club, Biddabah/Warners Bay (5:30 pm)
12 November 2023 – Neath Hotel, Wonnarua Country/Neath (midday)
17 November 2023 – Gunyah Hotel, Awabakal Country/Belmont (8 pm)
18 November 2023 – Saddler’s Creek Wines, Wonnarua Country/Pokolbin (12:30 pm)
18 November 2023 – The Australian Hotel, Wonnarua Country/Cessnock (7 pm)
24 November 2023 – Adamstown Bowling Club, Awabakal Country/Adamstown (5:30 pm)
25 November 2023 – The Stack Shack, Awabakal Country/Mayfield (10 am)
25 November 2023 – Northern Star Hotel, Awabakal Country/Hamilton (6:30 pm)
26 November 2023 – Swansea Belmont Surf Life Saving Club, Awabakal Country/Blacksmiths (2 pm)
Boo Seeka has just released his hypnotic new single “Come With Me,” and I just know you’re going to love it. It’s such a cool slow burner, the kind of song that sneaks up on you as it builds so beautifully. It’s got a great chill vibe that makes me think of kicking back with drinks and friends by a pool or on some happening rooftop bar.
“Come With Me” will feature on Boo Seeka’s new album Midnight Highlight, which drops on January 19.
“Midnight Highlight means a new chapter has been written for me personally, and I can’t wait to go share it with people who want to be part of it,” Boo Seeka said. “I’m not saying we are reinventing the wheel here, but I don’t think anyone can say we sound exactly like any other artist, which is what I think any creative person should strive for. Each album (and each track to be honest) will change, and we are not going to put ourselves in a box for the years to come. What sounds good to us in that moment is what we write and record!”
After playing a bunch of summer festivals and supporting Boy and Bear around Europe and the United Kingdom, Boo Seeka will head out on a massive Aussie tour. I know that sounds like ages away, but the shows are in such small venues I’d probably grab my tickets now while you still can.
I am swooning over “Peter,” the first single from Grace Sanders and Ezekiel Padmanabham’s new creative project Scratching. In the past few years we’ve seen this duo release a couple of EPs and support diverse artists including Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Winston Surfshirt, Katy Steele, and Boo Seeka. Their experience shows in this release, which was inspired by the story of Peter Pan, but the new direction for their music adds some real excitement. It’s cinematic, a little folky, a little orchestral, and just downright beautiful.
“This song was initially written as a poem and was inspired by old soundtracks from musicals such as The Sound of Music and the woeful crooning of singers such as Doris Day, Skeeter Davis and the Mellowmen,” Grace explained. “We wanted to create something floaty and dreamlike that referenced that feeling of dissociation within the naive optimism of music from the 50s/60s. The song later became much more influenced by artists such as Lana del Rey and beach house as we put our own modern spin to those initial references and discovered how the story wanted to be told.”
After one release, I’m hooked. I can’t wait to hear more from Scratching.
Image used with permission from Kick Push PR
Gomeroi man Kobie Dee channels the frustrations and lessons learnt from his childhood into his powerful new single “Father’s Eyes.” Featuring former Australian Idol champ Stan Walker, the lyrics touch on breaking familiar cycles, creating generational change, and beating the system. It’s hard-hitting, but ultimately so uplifting.
Kobie and Stan traveled to unceded Bidjigal Lane for the video, directed by Kieran Satour of GARUWA, who is a Gurindji, Pertame Arrernte, and Worimi man.
“Working with Kobie and Stan on this clip was such a blessing,” Keiran said. “This special song, deeply grounded in their own experiences as Indigenous fathers and sons, is about highlighting the strength and resilience of all the families out there striving to break cycles.”
“It was really important to me to work with someone I trust and have a Creative Director like Kieran lead this project and help apply a cultural lens and make sure both our Aboriginal and Māori cultures were represented appropriately and in a strong, beautiful way,” Kobie added. “It was a great collaboration and I feel everyone that was involved really resonated with what the track was about and really captured the vision for the video clip.”
“Father’s Eyes” is Kobie’s first solo release since he dropped “Basics” in 2022. Way to come back to the game!
Boorloo/Perth-based indie-rock act King Ibis are poised for the big time after winning Coldplay’s recent competition for a local support act. These guys have been playing local pubs and clubs supporting local legends like Spacey Jane, Jebediah, and Dulcie, but those stages are much smaller than the one at Optus Stadium that awaits them. Listening to their new single “Watch My Mind Bend” though, I know they’ve got the goods. Controversial opinion, but I like them a lot better than Coldplay!
“‘Watch My Mind Bend’ is about trying to quit a bad habit,” the band explained. “In this case, the habit is a friends-with-benefits situation that you know will end in tears, but the allure of that physical connection is still too powerful to resist.”
Along with that Coldplay support, King Ibis are supporting Green Pools and playing slots at the Balmy Nights Festival later this month. Catch them anywhere you can:
SANNIA is serving up a serious dose of nostalgia with her latest single “august.” It’s a beautiful track about how first love often lingers no matter how many years pass. If you still think about the one that got away, you’re going to connect with this song.
“‘August’ is the quintessential love letter to your teenage flame. It’s a song about the one that got away; the high school boyfriend that deserved better; the one you thought you’d spend forever with; you never forget your first,” said SANNIA. “I wrote ‘august’ in the middle of that Melbourne lockdown during August itself when I was looking back to better times perhaps with rose tinted glasses on. It’s a windows down, driving down the coast, wind in your hair, jasmine in the air sort of song. As a self-appointed sad girl, it’s been liberating and exciting to write my first ever love song.”
This is the third song released from SANNIA’s forthcoming debut album, James, which I’m anticipating more and more with every single I hear. We’ll get to listen when it drops on November 17.
