Naarm/Melbourne post-punk act TILE have really impressed me with their latest single “Cloud.” I’m not always a fan of this genre, as all too often its music just sounds like a discordant bunch of noise. But this quartet get things right, embracing catchy hooks and serving up plenty of angst and energy.
Queer frontman James Morris says that “Cloud” explores the inner conflict that arises when it feels like you’re out of step with society’s expectations. “It feels like you’re constantly having to justify your choices, explain why you’re not conforming to a set path,” he explained.
TILE will headline a single launch show for hometown fans at The Cactus Room on March 14. Tickets are on sale now from Oztix.
It’s a controversial take, but I honestly think The Superjesus are making some of the best music of their careers. If you don’t believe me, take a listen to their gorgeous new single “Diamonds.” This beautiful ballad is the latest cut from The Superjesus’ new self-titled album, which drops on March 21.
The Superjesus will take the new songs and plenty of old favourites on the road with a national tour this June and July. The shows will open with some up-and-coming acts handpicked by the band. If you want to join the bill, click this link to submit your details and demos.
The album is still a few weeks away, but you can pre-order your vinyl copy now. The Superjesus will press just 200 copies, so make sure you don’t miss out. Then you’ve got a few months to learn all the new songs for the band’s upcoming shows.
Maybe it’s the stormy weather making me angsty, but I’m finding plenty of rock music to get me excited this week. My latest discovery is Cardboard Cutouts, a Toowoom/Toowoomba-raised act who’ve just dropped their powerful new single “My Best Friend.” Hit that volume button, because this one sounds best loud.
“‘My Best Friend’ is about a friend who was involved in a toxic relationship with someone and had substance abuse issues,” the band revealed. “They lost sight of who they were and what their purpose was. This song tells the story of that battle from an observer who is struggling to cope with what is happening, but has lost any bit of leverage to help and support the person.”
After sharing stages with Phil Jamieson, Greta Stanley, and Vera Blue, Cardboard Cutouts are stepping up as headliners with a quick tour celebrating the single release later this month. Check them out at these intimate venues before they inevitably graduate to the big gigs.
Boorloo/Perth indie quartet Daisy Park have got me rocking out with their latest single “Always” this morning. It’s got a quintessentially Aussie sound that feels effortless. Make no mistake, these guys are the real deal.
“At its core, ‘Always’ is about the sudden loss of a relationship and trying to cope with not knowing what went wrong,” explained Daisy Park’s frontman Fyn Slarke. “It covers the feelings I showed externally to my friends and family as opposed to how I really felt on the inside. The contrast of my outward projection and my interior dialogue was a really big part of the writing process.”
Daisy Park shot the video for “Always” along the coast of Walyalup/Fremantle, a place that holds a special nostalgia for the band.
“This was the first music video we’d ever done as a band,” Fyn said. “That green lighthouse is an iconic part of Fremantle, the place where most of us grew up in our teenage years. We’re all just young adults that met in high school and are creating art together and the fact that we do this because we love it is really special to me. I’m super proud that we were able to do this on our own.”
Daisy Park are set to have a stellar year with a debut EP on the horizon and plenty of shows already locked in. Western Australians can catch them at the following upcoming gigs:
Zanna Black has really impressed me with her latest single “This Town.” It’s such a unique tune that refuses to sit neatly in any box.
Zanna’s sweet voice has a definite folk feel, but the guitars bring a bit more of a rock edge to it. And then there’s that extra something that’s so hard to define.
Zanna said this song has a dual meaning for her, noting she was inspired by the residents of Queensland who had to flee their homes during flooding and her grandfather who had to leave his homeland. Whatever you take from “This Town,” I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
Fresh from his first headlining show at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Nathan Lamont shows he’s a star on the rise with “Bigger Things.” It’s a fabulous country-rock crossover track which reminds me of music from industry icons like Dan + Shay, Rascal Flatts, and our own Keith Urban. Nathan’s not imitating these artists though. Instead he shows he just might be their natural successor. The single saw Nathan working with MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), who’ve previously written and produced hits with Aloe Blacc, Tina Arena, and Casey Barnes.
“This was my first time working with the MSquared fellas! We had so much fun working on this track together,” Nathan said. “I have been a big fan of their work for a long time so to have the opportunity to get in the studio with them, I knew we would cook up something amazing, and I feel like we achieved just that.”
While headlining a Tamworth Country Music Festival show is likely to remain one of the year’s highlights, Nathan’s got plenty of other exciting shows in store. Catch him promoting “Bigger Things” at the following gigs:
Ruby Gill has absolutely floored me with their latest single, “Touch Me There.” This intimate exploration of sensual awakening and coming out is a real revelation. Take a few moments just to listen to this one. It’s subtle, but if you give it your full attention I know you’ll fall as deeply in love with it as I have.
“During the longest dry spell of my life, I came out to myself,” Ruby recalled of the song’s inspiration. “The first time I said it out loud was in this song – all that sitting by a river waiting for the truth to come out led to me being honest for the first time about who I was attracted to and what kind of sex I wanted in my life. It took almost two years of zero kissing to get to that point of self-knowledge. Not intentionally – everything just felt so wrong and scary after being touched in really unsafe ways before that. I was numb for years, but I finally felt sensation in my body again after writing ‘Touch Me There.’ It broke me open. I hope it breaks other people open too, whether it’s about queerness or otherwise. You have a say over your love and pleasure.”
“Touch Me There” comes from Ruby’s sophomore album Some Kind of Control, set for release on March 28. They’ll play the following shows through March and April to celebrate the new music:
For someone who doesn’t consider themselves a country music fan, I’m sure enjoying a lot of it lately. Or maybe there’s just a glut of outstanding country music coming out of this country. The latest track to delight my ears is Andrew Swift’s new feelgood single, “Nothing Better.” Andrew drew from his own experiences of a life that couldn’t be panning out any better!
“It feels like not long ago I was mentally preparing to be fixing caravans and living life as a single man until the end of my days,” he admitted. “I didn’t think that being a full-time musician, homeowner, having a loving partner and a baby on the way would be on the cards, but here we are. Sometimes life blindsides you in the best way possible.”
Recording “Nothing Better” saw Andrew reunite with his long-time collaborator, the multi-award-winning Matt Fell.
“Having previously worked together on the last three albums, I feel like we’re on the same page now more than ever,” Andrew said. I love being able to get down to his new studio, Wilder Studios, in remote Tasmania. It feels like you’re a million miles away from the real world and you can really focus on the recording process.”
You can hear Andrew’s authenticity in his lyrics and vocals, so it’s only right that the music video features the real people and places that shaped him rather than actors and fancy locations. Jeremy Minnett of Eyes and Ears Creative captured footage of Andrew’s childhood home and real-life partner Simone.
Country artists are some of the hardest working musicians in the nation, and Andrew is no exception. Even though he’s got a baby on the way, it’s on the road and playing shows all over this wide brown land. Make sure you catch him anywhere you can.
After a pretty stressful few months dealing with the aftermath of my car accident, Lucy Korts latest single “Stronger” is exactly what I needed to hear. This authentic girl power anthem sees the Meeanjin/Brisbane artist reclaiming her own power, and hopefully inspiring a few listeners to do the same. I know she’s got me fired up!
“I hope that ‘Stronger’ can give you the same strength that I found writing it,” she confirmed. “I hope that it can pick you up when you don’t know how to get up. And I hope that it can help to push you forward when you don’t know which way forward is. I hope that ‘Stronger’ can remind you to be stronger than whatever it is that hurt you.”
For more pop goodness, check out my Spotify playlist, Sounds of Oz Loves Pop. It features plenty of fabulous new pop music from local artists including Lucy. I’m always adding new music so make sure you follow me to stay up-to-date!
Harry Carman’s new single “It’s All Good” is the musical equivalent of a warm hug. Whether you need a little sonic support or just want to chill out today, you’ve got to hear this sweet indie-folk song.
“This song was originally written when my ex was going through pregnancy with our youngest son,” Harry recalled. “I wanted to make a song that was reassuring and comforting in the hardest of times. It’s now become a song I play for my two boys (they already know all the words) whenever we’re in the car or before bed. Myself and my producer, Josh Richens, made the production of the song evolutionary to capture how the song evolved from a simple phone recording, to a demo for SoundCloud, all the way to what it is now.”
If you want to hear more from Harry and you’re around Ngambri/Canberra, treat yourself to lunch at Ballyhoo today. He’s playing from midday to 4 pm, so get out and show your support.
