Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Talk Heavy Get Real With “The Song That Plays (When Marissa Shoots Trey)”

After making a splash on the scene in 2022 with the release of their debut EP Jump Into Nothing and gigs supporting The Smith Streets Band, Sly Withers, and Press Club, Meeanjin/Brisbane band Talk Heavy are back with their first release for the year. “The Song That Plays (When Marissa Shoots Trey)” is worth the wait, with its high-energy chords and nostalgic pop-punk feel. And a seemingly random reference to The O.C. is always welcome too!

“To put it simply, ‘The Song That Plays (When Marissa Shoots Trey)’ is about recognising the bad space you’re in, what trauma or response pushed you into that position and making the statement of ‘fuck it, I’m done with this and need to move forward,’” explained Talk Heavy’s lead singer Matt Cochran. “For me personally, I’ve always struggled with weight and comfort eating. I was so physically exhausted touring with Press Club that I couldn’t ignore it anymore, which pushed me to that point where I realised ‘if I don’t change something soon, I’m going to die in the next 5 to 10 years.’”

If you’re in Meeanjin/Brisbane, make sure you catch Talk Heavy at The Brightside on August 15 as part of the epic SIDEFEST lineup.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Will Johnstone

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Howlite Back to Their Best With “Still I Find”

After the pandemic halted their creative flow, Naarm/Melbourne act Howlite are back with a beautiful new single “Still I Find.” This is their first release in two years, and it’s definitely worth the wait. If you love the hauntingly beautiful tunes of acts like London Grammar and Sylvan Esso, I know this will be right up your alley. The vocals from Alison Thom draw you into an epic electronic soundscape.

“The refrain line was originally ‘Still I find, I can’t cry’. It was about going past the threshold of emotion and just feeling numb to everything,” explained Alison, who wrote the song during her hometown’s lockdowns. “But while workshopping the demo, I had a realisation that this darkness wasn’t really helping me anymore, it wasn’t making me feel any better. So, instead, we shifted the lyrics to: ‘Still I find, hope inside’. The song represents itself in that way: our human ability to choose to be optimistic and reorient ourselves to see the best in the situation.”

The cinematic feel of “Still I Find” is reflected in the stunning music video, the first in a trilogy of interconnecting clips for the band. Filmed in Melbourne’s inner north and directed by Guy Perkins and Mike Ridley (Fractures, Gordi, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever), the video pays homage to retro science fiction TV programs. Through its depiction of an alien who crashes into Earth, Howlite explores themes of connection, acceptance and the belief in the capacity for good.

After recently launching the single for hometown fans, Howlite are planning a string of dates to reconnect with their fans. Follow their socials for news of those shows when it breaks. Until then, you can catch Howlite supporting Tia Gostelow at Naarm/Melbourne venue The Night Cat on October 7.

Image used with permission from Canteen Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Setterfield Drops “Life Ain’t So Bad” Ahead of Canadian Show

Josh Setterfield may be one of the most consistent artists in the country scene right now. He has an uncanny knack for releasing banger after banger, and his nostalgic new track “Life Ain’t So Bad” is no exception.

“This song has been a turning point for a lot of things in music for me so far,” Josh said. “Sure, it’s about going through the dark and finding the light, and writing this song has led to some of my proudest moments with other tracks.”

Not content with conquering the Australian country scene, Josh is set for world domination. He’s just played his first shows in the United Kingdom and in September he heads to Canada for the Live Laugh Love Festival in Barrie, Ontario. Before that, he’ll play the Gympie Muster on August 26.

Image: Josh Setterfield EPK

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Australia’s Newest Pop Sensation, Heleina Zara

If you caught Peach PRC’s recent shows, you probably already know how fabulous Heleina Zara is. For everyone else, let me get you up to speed. This Aussie-Filipina artist is pure pop perfection. Her new single “Alphabet Soup” is so catchy, I can’t stop listening.

“I wrote ‘Alphabet Soup’ during a time when I felt out of place and when I was at a loss truly believing that my generation was incapable of actual emotional intimacy and nurturing relationships,” she admitted. “It’s brutally honest – which makes it a bit jarring to think about now but it’s also the reason I love it so much. It marks a point in my life where I was confused and rolling with the punches with an unapologetic mindset.”

She might seem like an overnight sensation, but Heleina has been writing music since she was 14 years old. That commitment to her craft and her knack for creating crowd-pleasing pop should see her go far.

Image used with permission from Island Records; credit: Allegra Messina

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna O Wows Me With “Set It On Fire”

Becoming a mother can be a wonderful time for many women, but it’s not always butterflies and rainbows. Anna O reveals her truth in her powerful new single “Set It On Fire.”

“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of … post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared,” she admitted. “One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”

I can’t stop listening to this one. The lyrics are incredible, but I’m also really digging those layered vocals and unique electro soundscape Anna O’s created. Coming hot on the heels of “We’ve Got Time,” Anna O is delivering some of the best music of her career.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Nostalgic New Anthem, “Cool Kid”

Boorloo/Perth alt-pop act Joan & The Giants have just dropped their fabulous new single “Cool Kid,” and I know you’ll want to listen. The fabulous nostalgic ‘90s sound grabbed me from the get-go, but it’s the powerful lyrics exploring frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s feelings about coming out that have really stayed with me.

“Coming out as bisexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality,” she explained.

“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”

Joan & The Giants are touring all over the country next month to support the release of “Cool Kid.” Check them out at a venue near you:

5 July 2023 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
6 July 2023 – Royal Hotel, Gadigal Country/Bondi (FREE)
7 July 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
8 July 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewery, Garigal Country/Brookvale (FREE)
9 July 2023 – Yulli’s Brews, Gadigal Country/Alexandria (FREE)
12th July 2023 – The Retreat, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE)
14th July 2023 – The Espy Basement, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15th July 2023 – Gods Bandroom, Boon Wurrung Country/Mornington
16th July 2023 – Post Office Hotel, Arrarrkbi Country/Coburg (FREE)
21 July 2023 – Froth Brewery, Noongar Country/Bunbury
22 July 2023 – Hally’s Bar, Undalup/Busselton (FREE)
23 July 2023 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Quedjinup/Dunsborough (FREE)
5 August 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chill Out With Salt Tree’s Dreamy New Single, “Coming Home to You”

Salt Tree’s latest single “Coming Home to You” sounds like summer, but I don’t mind that one bit. If you’re longing for days by the beach in the sunshine, I think you’ll appreciate this heart-warming slice of indie-folk music too.

“We both grew up close to the ocean and around nature, which has always been a huge part of our lives,” Salt Tree members Tom Boerema and Nathan Parsons said of the song’s inspiration. “As a kid, Nath would take any chance he got to surf, even if it meant skipping school. Tom spent a lot of time sailing, with his whole family living on a boat for months at a time.”

After touring all over New Zealand and Australia, Salt Tree should be in fine form when they play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Whadjuk/Fremantle on June 24.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: @holiiandash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MOZË Gets the Party Started With “Albert St”

Add a little funk to your Friday with “Albert St,” the latest single from Yorta Yorta Wagaratta-based artist MOZË. With a groove that just won’t quit, it shows off a fun new side of MOZË’s soulful voice. The song recalls an epic party in the suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne.

“In 2022, my friends hosted the iconic ‘Albert St. Affair’ house party in Brunswick. They asked some friends to perform, and even built a stage. Hours before the event, I felt inspired to create a song called ‘Albert St.’,” MOZË said. “Its lyrics capture the essence of that unforgettable night, celebrating friendship and a montage of moments. The great thing about that time in Melbourne was how positive it was, people were so grateful to be out of lockdown, and we weren’t bitter about the years lost. At the end of the song is a very special live sample from the actual party, it was the first time Albert St. had been played and you can even hear everyone singing along.”

MOZË recreated that night, with the help of Sam Higham, for the single’s music video.

“Drawing inspiration from Betty Boop and the early aesthetic of Kimbra, the concept behind the video was to encapsulate a vibrant display of friendship, quirkiness, and celebration,” explained MOZË, who directed and edited the video. “In addition to capturing the essence of north-side Melbourne, the support and involvement of my friends were invaluable in bringing forth another version of an Albert St. Affair.”

With good vibes a-plenty, “Albert St” should give you the lift you need to make it to the weekend. Add it to your party soundtrack stat!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

GRXCE Drops Angsty New Single, “Wasted On You”

Originally a solo project for frontwoman Jamila Grace, GRXCE has evolved into one of the most exciting up-and-coming rock acts on the scene. Now a four-piece, they’ve just dropped their new single “Wasted On You.” This track builds to an epic crescendo, so it’s perfect for releasing any frustration you’re feeling this Friday.

“‘Wasted on You’ is about unconsciously waiting for someone to come back for you and how isolating that feeling is,” Jamila explained. “I was seeing someone who kept swearing the timing wasn’t right and I told myself that I wouldn’t wait for him and I would move on, but then I was kinda paralysed. Without even trying I was turning down advances from other people, isolating myself, staying in his peripheral in case he changed his mind. It put me in this weird stalemate where I didn’t really know who I was if I didn’t want him.”

GRXCE will support Eagle Eye Jones on the Central Coast tonight before heading to Queensland and back to New South Wales. Catch them wherever you can.

16 June 2023 – Wamberal Ocean View, Darkinjung Country/Wamberal (supporting Eagle Eye Jones)
6 July 2023 – Tom Cat, Meeanjin/Brisbane
7 July 2023 – Burleigh Town Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
16 July 2023 – North Wollongong Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE – supporting Squid the Kid)

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Sammy Lee