Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emma Donovan Goes Solo With “Blak Nation”

It seems like Emma Donovan has been a force forever, so it’s surprising to see that she’s only just released her first solo single. It’s worth the wait though, with her latest track “Blak Nation” making a really strong statement. This soulful single, in every sense of the word, celebrates the contributions of emerging First Nations voices in the music biz and the strides that have already been made to bring all Australians together, even as there’s so much yet to do.

“Lyrically Blak Nation is about a cultural practice called back burning, we make a cool fire to promote regrowth. The ‘cool fire’ is reference to the new generation,” she explained. “Bringing the Blak Nation to front of this nation, new artists continuing to tell their powerful stories. That ‘cool fire’ is new generation of Blak voice in Music industry today. I’m proud of the progress we have made as a nation. Seeing Aboriginal names of Country & People shared. To see all kinds of people acknowledging traditional places where they live and work. This didn’t happen for my old people and even me growing up, it’s good to see it more now.”

Emma will play Brunswick Ballroom in Naarm/Melbourne on December 3 as part of the Always Live Ballroom Mixtape Series. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix.

Photo credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

SOULSLEEP Impress on Debut With “Glass Heart”

Eora/Sydney-based alt-rockers SOULSLEEP have just dropped their debut track “Glass Heart,” and I can’t stop listening. It’s so innovative, blending elements of alternative metal, emo, pop-punk, and dance together for a really fresh sound.

SOULSLEEP guitarist Jayden Zago got raw when explaining the inspiration and meaning behind “Glass Heart.” “When the COVID pandemic began, my mental health deteriorated. I was depressed and angry and felt like I had no quality of life. I was encouraged to see a psychologist and was lucky to get an appointment. I ended up on medication, and for someone who always thought things like that were ‘all in your head’, it was a huge reality check, and I am now aware of how naive I was,” he said. “Music is how I express myself. With all of the lockdowns and restrictions, my outlet was taken away. Like glass, we are breakable, not indestructible, and speaking up and getting help is not weak.”

The music video, directed by Colin Jeffs, was filmed at a warehouse and SOULSLEEP keyboardist Jimi Fischer’s home studio.

“We built a stage out of an MDF board, which we found quite challenging, as we had to design it in a way that it could be put together and dismantled in a time efficient way and still be able to hold the weight of all of us and our equipment,” Jayden recalled.

If the release of “Glass Heart” is any indication, SOULSLEEP will be a band to watch.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Concrete Gold Rock Out With “Over the Edge”

Concrete Gold are ushering in a new era with the release of their latest single “Over the Edge.” It sounds good on them.

““Over The Edge” is the first song that we wrote with our current band lineup, and is the mark of a new era of exploration for us,” they explained. “This song was an idea that Cameron brought into our rehearsal (conjured by watching videos of Nirvana as inspiration) and was then fleshed out by the band together in our first rehearsal with Will [Bainbridge] as our drummer – the result was a more alive and nuanced sound than our previous creative efforts.”

The track was also self-produced by the band at SSL Studio at Cavanbah/Byron Bay. Frontman Cameron Lockwood engineered all but the vocals, which Sam Harris of Elaborate Productions handled. Cameron also took care of the mix before Sam mastered it.

Concrete Gold will take their new lineup on the road next week when they play a string of East Coast shows supporting the release of “Over the Edge.”

2 November 2023 – Australian Hotel, Bundjalung Country/Ballina
3 November 2023 – Greaser Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
4 November 2023 – Vinnie’s Dive Bar, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast (FREE SHOW; Doors open 1 pm)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Night Terrors Release Spooky Single, “Levitation”

As Halloween approaches, it seems like the perfect time to introduce you to “Levitation,” the latest release from The Night Terrors. I can guarantee it’s like nothing you’ll hear today.

Firstly, The Night Terrors are one of the only bands in the world making original music featuring theremin up front and centre. Miles Brown’s theremin takes the spotlight, but it’s complemented so beautifully by Sarah Lim’s synthesizer. This track is so unique, but it’s got a fantastic cinematic quality that I’m really digging.

“Levitation” comes from The Night Terrors’ forthcoming album HYPNOTICA – Composition For Theremin And Electronic Music Synthesizer, which drops on November 3.

Image credit: Nicole Reed

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lara Villani Makes Powerful Debut With “STOP”

Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Lara Villani has just dropped her debut single, “STOP,” and it’s really something special. Through its deeply personal lyrics, Lara shares the physical and mental challenges she’s overcome to emerge the artist she is today. While it deals with darkness, it’s ultimately so uplifting.

“‘STOP’ is a very important track for me,” Lara shared. “Not only is it my first single, but it is a deeply personal song which is drawn from a really difficult and personal experience I had in my life. When I was 19-20 years old, I was in a really bad place. I had just been through an extremely awful experience and found myself severely lonely and left badly hurt. ‘STOP’ is about this journey and the mental and physical battles that I was overcoming.”

That journey is brought to life in the music video for “STOP”, directed by Mertcan Damoglu and produced by Tier One Productions’ Caleb Keyte. In it we see scenes of Lara at her piano juxtaposed with a car crash victim, a physical representation of her pain and hurt.

Lara plans to release several more songs through 2024, so make sure you keep an eye on her socials to learn about them first.

Image used with permission from Lara Villani

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

SPACE&AGES Drop New Bop “Trial & Error”

Meeanjin/Brisbane band SPACE&AGES has just dropped their new single “Trial & Error,” and it’s an absolute banger. Bursting with energy and youthful enthusiasm, you’ll want to crank this one up.

“‘Trial & Error’ explores the uncertain journey of finding love and the challenges that come with self-discovery,” said SPACE&AGES lead singer Phin Spence. “It’s about embracing the imperfections and growth that accompanies the process, even when it’s messy and uncertain.”

SPACE&AGES will play the following local shows in the coming weeks, so get out and support them when you can:

29 October 2023 – Lefty’s, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Sunsoli)
4 November 2023 – Vinnie’s Dive Bar, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast (Free show supporting Concrete Gold; doors open at 1 pm)
17 November 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Fat Picnic)
25 November 2023 – Greaser Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane (“Trial & Error” launch)

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Imogen Clark Drops Brilliant New Single, “If I Want In”

“If I Want In”, the latest song from indie-pop act Imogen Clark, is one of those rare songs that is every bit as brilliant as it sounds on paper. When I heard she’d recorded her latest single at Abbey Road Studios with Georgia Maq from Camp Cope and members of Gang of Youths, my expectations were raised pretty high. However, it’s every bit as good as its credentials suggest.

“‘If I Want In’ is about making the choice to go your own way and become the person you have to become, even though everything and everyone around you is trying to pull you back onto the expected path,” Imogen explained. “It’s about acknowledging where I come from and how it shaped me, but I won’t let it define me. It’s about a little girl who spent her days at Penrith High School and her nights playing covers at Western Sydney pubs, dreaming of the big world out there and finding her place in it.”

Imogen shot the music video in Gandangara and Darug Country/Western Sydney, where Imogen played her first gigs as a teenager, and in other iconic locations that her music’s taken her, including Nashville, Los Angeles, and Venice Beach. It finished up at the Oxford Art Factory in Eora/Sydney, where we see Imogen rocking out with her band.

“If I Want In” comes from Imogen’s upcoming solo album, which she’ll release early next year. Before then, Imogen will bring her Holiday Hootenanny shows to Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne. These annual festive events, which started in 2020, feature a whole bunch of brilliant special guests who’ll perform their songs, songs from the other artists present, and some surprising covers. They should like they’ll be a lot of fun, so make sure you grab some tickets!

23 November 2023 – Holiday Hootenanny @ The Vanguard, Eora/Sydney (with The Buckleys, Clews, Lindsay McDougall, Sarah Belkner, and Timothy James Bowden)
9 December 2023 – Holiday Hootenanny @ The Gasometer, Naarm/Melbourne (with Alex Lahey, Darcy Fox, Demi Louise, Eilish Gilligan, Jess Hitchcock, Shannen James, and Katie Wighton)

Image used with permission from Chinwag PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“SOAK” Up Olivia de Melo and Wesley Black’s Summery New Single

Olivia de Melo and Wesley Black have teamed up to release “SOAK,” a breezy new track that’s bound to find its way onto your summer playlist this year.

I love the way that Olivia’s sweet vocals contrast with Wesley’s hip hop edge. The lyrics which celebrate living large on a shoestring are also bound to resonate with many listeners.

We should be hearing a lot more from Olivia soon as she readies her debut EP and prepares to tour Australia and overseas.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stormy-Lou Embraces Difference With “Impulsitivity”

Kaurna/Adelaide indie act Stormy-Lou has just dropped “Impulsitivity,” an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt different. Lead vocalist Mikaeli Stoker wrote this track about their experiences of living with ADHD and neurodivergence, hoping it might encourage others to celebrate the beauty of their own uniqueness.

“I started writing this song when I was feeling like I was stuck in a bit of a rut, on the verge of losing a job that I adored at the time, but which I grew to resent,” they recalled. “I found myself constantly forgetting important things and making mistakes because my body was moving too fast for my brain. Hearing ‘this isn’t good enough, you can’t keep fucking up like this’ pained me because there was never bad intentions behind these mistakes – in fact it was always the opposite.”

And no, the single’s title doesn’t have a typo. It was a deliberate choice for the band, as vocalist Mik explained.

“It just rolled off the tongue when singing it, and I just assumed that was the correct spelling and pronunciation, but after playing it live a few times and a few Google search debates later, I was proven wrong,” they added. “We chose to keep the spelling I’d come up with because it felt comfier, and let’s face it, making up words is kind of fun! I hope ‘Impulsitivity’ finds a place of relatability in our neurodivergent listeners, and shows that they are nowhere near as alone, or as unworthy, as they’ve been made to feel.”

Make sure you take a moment to really tap into the lyrics of this song. Whether you can relate to them personally or they simply encourage you to be a bit more accepting of differences in other people, they’re pretty powerful.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Chris Lucas

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Swift Farewell Release Latest Emo Banger, “Like This (I Don’t Wanna Die)”

The lads from Eora/Sydney pop-punk trio A Swift Farewell are back doing what they do best with the release of “Like This (I Don’t Wanna Die)”. This is their fourth release of the year and the music’s still sounding fresh.

“’Like this (I Don’t Wanna Die)’ is a song about being deeply unhappy and unsatisfied with where you are in life and letting it ruin your mental health,” explained A Swift Farewell’s vocalist, Ryo Andi. “We wrote it last year when the band wasn’t really doing anything or playing shows. Because of that I felt like my life was just wake up – work at my boring job – sleep – repeat … And it made me feel so depressed that I started withdrawing from things and people … I guess this song was a way to say ‘Hey, sorry I’m not replying to texts but I feel so stuck in a hole right now and I just hope I won’t feel like this forever.’”

A Swift Farewell headed to Metronome Studio to film the single’s music video, which they also produced.

“We love focusing on angles and aesthetic and trying to re-create these old school/’90s emo vibes with the blue wash effect and the fish eye looks was a fun challenge,” Ryo added.

Thankfully A Swift Farewell should be out of that rut because they’ve played plenty of shows in 2023, and they’re not slowing down. They’ll support Bellweather on their “Bloodline” release show at The Vanguard in Eora/Sydney on November 18.

Photo credit: Gabrielle Michael