Sweden is a fertile breeding ground for cool electro-pop acts. The Scandinavian nation gave us Robyn, The Knife, Lykke Li, and Mila Nile. Mila might not be a household name, yet, but this Swedish-born, now Sydney-based talent is one to watch. Her debut EP Do You Remember That? dropped today, and you’re going to want to take a listen.
In the darkest times, music can lift us up. Today was supposed to be the last day of the Greater Sydney lockdown, but as that date approached I think most of us knew we were headed for more of the same. For me, knowing that Adelaide band Pinkish Blu were dropping their sophomore EP people just do good things sometimes, was the silver lining. I’ve been listening to an advance copy for the last couple of weeks and I’m thrilled that now everyone gets the opportunity, perhaps when they need it most.
It’s easy for the pace of modern life to get to us at times. I know I personally work too late, miss far too many weekends, and burn the candle at both ends trying to fit everything in. Sometimes you just need a moment to yourself to reset, recharge, and get moving again. Listening to Blessings, the new EP from Brisbane act Hollow Coves is the perfect soundtrack for those moments.
You might not know the music of Grace Farriss yet, but her musical pedigree is sure to raise expectations. The daughter of INXS legend Andrew Farriss has stepped into the spotlight with the release of her debut album, Grace.
As I shiver through this unseasonably chilly May weather, it’s hard to believe I was basking in the sunshine at Bimbadgen Estate’s first (and hopefully not last) Cellar Door Series concert less than two weeks ago. There was so much to like about this event. The weather was glorious, warm without being sweltering as it is so often during the Day on the Green series. With a reduced COVID-safe capacity, we had plenty of space to spread out in our allocated squares. As an added bonus, the queues for lunch, booze, and the toilets were blissfully short. With just two acts on the bill, we were heading home by 6. How very civilised! And of course, those two acts were a big reason to love this show.
The best albums are deeply personal. They don’t reflect current trends or follow a formula designed to move units. Instead, they provide an insight into the artist who created them. Chris Tamwoy’s debut album Reality Is sounds very different from the music that charts today, but its intimate nature provides a listening experience that’s so much richer.
I’ve been thrilled there are more gigs on the concert calendar lately, but I’m also pretty selective about what I’m seeing. Rising hotel quarantine cases mean I can’t quite breathe easy, and the cooler weather makes hermitting so easy. However, I found myself venturing out on Saturday night, and I’m so glad I did. Chant du Vin is a new concert series, but hopefully it’ll be around for some time.
Mardi Wilson came on my radar last April, with the release of “Runaway.” I’ve covered numerous singles since then, so I was thrilled to dive deep into her album, Get Lost. What I found was a collection of songs that were personal, yet so relatable from one of the country’s most promising singer-songwriters.
I must admit, I haven’t known quite what to make of Melbourne’s Vaudeville Smash when their singles hit my inbox. I appreciated their funky grooves and catchy melodies, but their off-the-wall lyrics left me scratching my head. However, after spending time with their new album The Neverending Glory I’m firmly on board the Vaudeville Smash train.
Like so many Australians I spent my 2020 birthday in total lockdown. The cruise I’d booked was cancelled. My best friend who insisted she’d be happy to sit in my place and drink wine couldn’t cross the border. For the first time ever there was no special meal out, just me and my husband It was sucky, like so much of 2020, but one of the things that made the year brighter was the release of Hamilton on Disney+. As I watched and rewatched, unpacking and analysing it as I hadn’t done with a piece of work since high school English, it became my favourite musical. So when I heard it would make its Australian debut around my 2021 birthday, I knew how I wanted to celebrate my latest turn around the sun.