Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kaylens Rain Release Nostalgic Comeback Single, “One Song Brings You Back”

I’ve been doing this #lifeasasoundtrack thing on Facebook lately, highlighting a song a day for every year I’ve been on this planet. It’s been fantastic looking back at all the songs that shaped me. So I’m really vibing with Kaylens Rain’s new single, “One Song Brings You Back.” This release has been a long time coming, with Nashville songwriters Brett Rutledge and Jessica Campbell Waterman bringing the song to the band way back in 2018.

“We instantly fell in love with the ideals and meanings these words had for each of us at the time. In collaboration with Brett and Jessica, we were able to rework the lyrics to tell our own story and added it to our live set,” explained founding member Kaylee. “After spending the last few years raising our young families, it was a matter of finding the right time to release music again. After a long break, this song has brought us back to what we love doing and made us remember why we love music so much. It’s a powerful thing that can spark memories and evoke all kinds of feelings in everyone!”

The film clip turned out to be an emotional one for the band, who decided to feature Garry, the owner of a vintage Ford F-150 truck they secured, in the video.

“The storyboard idea was for Garry and his granddaughter to spend the day together, reminiscing on a fictional wife who had passed away. When we told them the idea, they could not believe it. Sadly, Garry’s beautiful wife Sharyn had passed four weeks earlier and the storyboard idea actually became their real-life story,” Kaylee said. “Everyone had goosebumps and the meaning of this song took on a whole new life – it became Garry and Darcy’s song and it felt like Sharyn was watching over them all day.”

Kaylens Rain will play The Beer Shed Brewing Co in Dharawal Country/Leumeah on October 13.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hugo Stranger and the Rattlers’ Tom Harrison Releases Solo Single, “How Long”

Former Hugo Stranger and the Rattlers frontman Tom Harrison has just dropped his debut solo single “How Long,” and it’s an absolute charmer. If you’re into folk-pop acts acts like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, I know you’re going to dig this.

Tom isn’t just the singer and songwriter here. He recorded all the instruments except for the bass at his home studio. “How Long” was inspired by the time Tom spend exploring the west coast of Canada and the United States in a Chevy G10 with his wife Angela, who lends backing vocals on this track.

“I wrote some of these songs within the first few months of travelling, there was so much inspiring me at the time. However I had also just written the debut album for Hugo Stranger just before the trip, so upon returning to Australia I wasn’t confident enough to be a solo musician and wanted to put my first band together (Hugo Stranger),” Tom explained. “I’ve had these songs ready to go for years, however I finally feel like I can give them justice and tell their story properly.”

I’m really looking forward to hearing more stories from the road when Tom releases his EP Old Growth.

Image used with permission from Tom Harrison

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

WĪLMA LĀ Releases Upbeat Break-Up Gem, “Free Happy”

“Free Happy,” the latest single from WĪLMA LĀ, is a different kind of break-up song. Instead of mourning the loss, she celebrates the relationship that was and the lessons learned. And can we talk about the delicious symphony of sound? It’s an audacious move to combine piano, Moog synths, big drums, tap dancing, juggling balls, and stacks more on one recording, but it works!

“Free Happy is about bringing his musical world into mine in a bid to understand because understanding helps in the journey of forgiving and moving on,” WĪLMA LĀ explained. “The song genre is a blend of my love for jazz, and the influence my ex brought with the music he liked.”

“Free Happy” is an anthem of strength that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Take a listen!

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angie McMahon Wows Me With “Letting Go”

I am so in love with Angie McMahon’s new single “Letting Go.” If your day needs a dose of truth and wisdom (and quite frankly, who’s doesn’t?), you’ll want to wrap your ears around this. It’s so good!

“‘Letting Go’ is a place to keep the lessons that I’ll keep on needing. Reminders to go easy and gentle, be imperfect, let things leave,” Angie explained. “The learning is never-ending. I’m always in the process of remembering to release what my brain clings to – thoughts, people, comfort zones – and land in the present moment. It’s so hard for me to do, and then such a euphoric relief when it happens, so that’s what we tried to capture in the recording. I hope someone screams ‘Letting Go’ in the car on an open road somewhere.”

“Letting Go” comes from Angie McMahon’s new album Light, Dark, Light Again, which drops again. Fans will get the chance to hear new material before its release when Angie embarks on her Make Mistakes tour. There are just two Aussie dates, so get in quick:

11 September 2023 – The Moroccan Lounge, Tongva Land/Los Angeles
13 September 2023 – Sultan Room, Lenapehoking/Brooklyn
18 September 2023 – St. Pancras Old Church, London
27 September 2023 – Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 September 2023 – Northcote Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from Super Duper; credit: Bridgette Winten

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sweet Temper Calls Out Toxic Partners With “Two Face”

Cool Naarm/Melbourne-based neo-soul outfit Sweet Temper have just dropped their debut single “Two Face.” And as its name suggests, while it’s got a laidback groove, that sweet melody is paired with some pretty scathing lyrics. This song, which slams toxic behaviour in relationships, does not hold back.

“It puts manipulators and abusers in the spotlight, centering on situations where they may act charming and lovingly in one setting but behave harmfully in others,” the band added. “The overall message is developing the strength to directly expose abusers and walk away from such situations.”

The music video, directed by Greta Reginato, focuses on Sweet Temper’s lead vocalist Abbey Green seeing a show with the wrong guy.

“Throughout the show, Abbey’s boyfriend consistently neglects her and starts chatting up another girl. This eventually leads to the boyfriend cheating on Abbey with the other girl,” Sweet Temper explained. “Abbey, performing the song and having witnessed her boyfriend’s betrayal, uses the stage as a platform to call out his toxic behaviour and put him in the spotlight so the rest of the audience can see what he has done.”

Not content to rest on their laurels, Sweet Temper will drop another new single, “Better Than You,” in just 10 days. Click the link to pre-save it to make sure you hear it first.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paige Valentine Celebrates Life of Late Friend With “Cloud Dancing”

Songs dealing with grief are often sombre affairs, but Western Australian singer-songwriter Paige Valentine has flipped the script with her latest single, “Cloud Dancing.” Written after the loss of a close friend, this song celebrates moving through grief and reconnecting with the experiences that give you joy.

“The power of her friendship will never leave me,” Paige confirmed. “She loved swimming so much, living across the road from one of the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia…When she found out she couldn’t swim anymore it absolutely crushed her. She asked me to swim every day for her. We knew she had a few months left. So, rain, hail and shine I drove to the nearest beach daily. Often it was beautiful, but some days I had to laugh as I was trotting down into the freezing cold Southern Ocean cursing her name that she wanted me to swim. It turned out to be the best therapy and it was a way I could connect with her from afar.

“When I returned home after her funeral, I didn’t want to go to the beach, I didn’t want it to be real…After some time, I felt I should return. I was ready. When I walked over the hill to get to the ocean, I saw something I’d never seen before. From the furthest corner of the sky to the other, one amazing, beautiful cloud, with all the lights running through it, it took up the entire sky like a blanket. When I went to the sea I looked up from the water and it was the most incredible sight. I felt so held by the water and the sky. I thought to myself, I bet she’s dancing up there. Cloud Dancing.”

This is such a fun, optimistic song with real heart. It marks a bit of a sonic shift for Paige, whose music doesn’t normally have such a pop vibe, but I appreciate her evolution. She’ll play a stack of shows in the coming months. Check her out at all these venues:

8 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ Escape Reality – Escape Rooms Newcastle, Mulubinba/Newcastle
10 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds, Gadigal/Sydney
11 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ humii, Woolyungah/Wollongong
13 August 2023 – Sofar Sounds @ Sounds of Melbourne, Naarm/Melbourne
2 September 2023 – Beats in the Bay, Gutharraguda/Shark Bay
11 September 2023 – Wildflower Festival, Wudjari/Ravensthorpe
8 October 2023 – Out of the Woods Festival, Walyalup/Fremantle
25 November 2023 – Balmy Nights Festival, Kepa Kurl/Esperance

Image used with permission from Nettwerk Music Group; credit: Cedric Tang

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

bella amor Drops Tinder-Inspired Bop, “does it get boring”

I’ve often said to my husband that I’m so glad we’re happily coupled up, because I’d hate to go back to the dating pool. We met online, but long before it was mainstream. While we had our challenges living on opposite sides of the world, it almost seems easier than trying to find a real connection online today. “Does it get boring,” the latest single from bella amor, provides another reminder that I’m super lucky to have the relationship I’m in. But this indie-pop song with edge is one hell of a tune!

“This song is about someone I met on Tinder and was seeing casually on and off,” bella explained. “They always complained about being single and never finding love but they were very self-destructive. They had people lining up at their feet and it made me question if it was boring doing the same old thing but longing for something else. And that’s how ‘does it get boring’ was created, out of a genuine curiosity.”

Bella amor will play The Lansdowne Hotel in Eora/Sydney on August 24. It’s a free gig, but you can RSVP via Moshtix.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bronte Alva Lays Past Bare With “Taylor Swift”

Dharawal/Wollongong-based indie-rock artist Bronte Alva has wowed me with her new single “Taylor Swift.” It’s a deeply personal song that recounts Bronte’s own experiences dating someone ten years her senior as a teenager.

She says the song captures “Heartbreak and growing pains within the power imbalance of dating an older man in my teens. I was 17. He was 27. He was my gym instructor. A week before my 18th birthday he ghosted me. I felt angry, sad, betrayed, played, manipulated and pretty damn stupid. It wasn’t until later with a lot of reflection that I realised it wasn’t my fault. One song in particular that connected to me was ‘All Too Well’ by Taylor Swift. It follows her reminiscing on her experiences dating an older man and all that comes with it. I wrote the song when I was 18, ruminating and reminiscing on the experience. It taught me my worth and ultimately those were growing pains that got me to where I am.”

Bronte has a stack of gigs coming up. Catch her at the following venues:

11 August 2023 – Botany View Hotel, Gadigal/Sydney
18 August 2023 – The Basement, Ngunnawal/Canberra
19 August 2023 – The Alley Band Room, Gadigal/Sydney
20 August 2023 – Icebreaker Festival, Gadigal/Sydney
26 August 2023 – Stag and Hunter, Mulubinba/Newcastle
1 September 2023 – Klok Fest @ La La La’s, Dharawal/Wollongong
14-15 October 2023 – Yours & Owls Festival, Dharawal/Wollongong

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Impress With “Sleep Alone” Single

I think Joan & The Giants are one of the best bands on the local music scene. I seem to fall a little more in love with them with every release. “Sleep Alone” is no exception. If you’re yet to discover how brilliant this band is, let yourself get swept up in this dreamy rock ballad. Vocalist and songwriter Grace Newton-Wordsworth said the song was inspired by the repression she felt growing up.

“I loved most of my childhood, but there were definitely some difficult times where I felt quite trapped in my body – I grew up in a loving but intense Christian home and while I still hold onto a lot of the core kind values, there were some parts of my childhood experience that were incredibly suffocating,” she admitted. “I spent years hiding my sexuality, and parts of myself that I still struggle to be open with. The line ‘You take me back to when I was a kid, begging for someone to save me. It leaves me frozen, trapped in the morgue again’ – I feel like sometimes relationships can bring a lot of sadness to the surface of things you’ve been holding onto your whole life. When you finally meet someone who you open up to, a lot of wounds can be opened with that.”

Joan & The Giants are just about the wrap up their first headlining tour, but you can catch the at their final show tomorrow night at The Bird in Boorloo/Perth.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Ashlyn Burley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kee’ahn & Emma Donovan Team Up For First Archie Roach Foundation Single

Australia lost one of its brightest stars when it lost Archie Roach last year. But his legacy lives on through the Archie Roach Foundation Singing Our Futures program, which pairs emerging First Nations artists with Indigenous mentors. The first release from the program is “Take No More,” a powerful collaboration by up-and-coming North Queensland talent Kee’ahn and acclaimed Indigenous singer Emma Donovan. It’s a true First Nations anthem celebrating how elders across time have stood strong in the face of ongoing challenges so that hopefully the path will be easier for future generations.

“We started writing ‘Take No More’ around Invasion Day Jan 26th. Both of us were feeling a lot of emotions that come with the date and feeling inspired by grassroots mob who organise to educate and liberate our peoples,” Kee’ahn recalled. “We spoke about how our leaders across generations stand strong and staunch against ongoing challenges, the act of carrying the torch forward passed down from your elders so our future generations can do the same or ideally won’t have to at all. We spoke about solidarity and how liberation is a joint fight with many hands needed. It also feels like this song has grown over the year, during which time beautiful Black leaders and changemakers have passed on into dreaming – this song feels dedicated to them. To Uncle Archie Roach and Aunty Ruby Hunter and to Uncle Jack Charles. They inspire me/us to sing our truth for our past, present and futures.”

“Take No More” is the first track lifted from the Singing Our Futures EP, which will drop later this year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Jacinta Keefe