I am a sucker for a great duet. And “28,” by Ethiopian-Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth B. featuring our own Dean Lewis is right up there. At its heart, this is just a really well written pop-ballad. But then you add Ruth and Dean’s voices onto it and it just takes it to another level.
“This song means so much to me. I wrote it during a time when I didn’t think I could write … but as always, songwriting proved to be my safety net. Amidst what felt like an inescapable grey cloud, I fell into this comforting blanket of a song that I can now look back on and say was the genesis of my favourite journey thus far. Finding me,” Ruth said. “Dean – you’re the best and I love our song, thank you.”
Dean Lewis has recently wrapped up an American tour, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him back on home soil.
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
Usually when I find music I love, I know exactly why it’s up my alley. Very occasionally I find myself scratching my head, but that’s exactly what Plastiq’s new single “demons” has me doing. It’s an absolute trip, totally bonkers, yet strangely irresistible.
The duo, made up of Quartz Pistol and Moses, says “the song explores a dream-like state where the subject explores moving through a world without fear, feeling connected to and held tightly in the bosom of all biological life. The verses are playful and speak of a character hop-scotching across a mossy rainforest floor, facing inner ‘demons’ and accepting them as lessons all whilst letting intuition and child-like wonder guide them. Quartz wanted to capture the serendipitous connection of dots that happens in an altered state of mind or in a dream.”
The release of “demons” caps off an impressive year for Plastiq, who performed at the NGV, exhibited with CAPITAL WASTE in Tartanya/Adelaide, and were nominated for the people’s choice pop title at the SA Music Awards. They collaborated with CAPITAL WASTE again on the video for “demons.” 2024 looks just as bright, with the duo planning to release their debut EP.
The dying art of Rock ‘n’ Roll according to some is a lost cause … something that is unsalvageable. However, this is not the stance that Brisbane’s resident coastal misfits Reckless Coast take, as they release their latest east coast highway tune ‘Bad Habits’. Tired of the clichés donned by modern rock revivalists, Reckless Coast’s salted pub rock vibe finally forms a bond between Indie and Retro-Rock listeners. A sonic lovechild of Foo Fighters adrenaline and The Rolling Stones swagger. Sitting down with India, Jaeden and Jono, we discuss why their ’70s spiced single ‘Bad Habits’ stands out in the crowd with its surf-esque energy and pub-mosh potential.
‘Bad Habits’ immediately makes people think of alcohol or drug abuse, gambling, or social dysfunctions. However, that is not the case with this song. Can you elaborate on the song’s story? Jaeden: Whilst there are micro-narratives within the song, the main ‘Bad Habits’ storyline is based on toxic relationships. It’s telling the story of someone comfortable in a relationship diminishing their wellbeing; but being so numb to the situation they don’t do anything to change it … almost touching on a sense of Stockholm Syndrome but in the context of romantic relationships.
There’s a retro-70s persona in this track, but yet it’s refreshingly modern. Can you talk about influences on this track? Jono: Listening back to it I’d probably say it has old school surf influences in the guitars and the drums are ’90s – 2000s alt rock sort of vibes. Production-wise when I was doing the mix I wanted it to sound modern but still have an old school vibe to it. Making the drums big and room heavy combined with making the guitars and vocals bright and saturated was the approach I thought would achieve that.
Jaeden: The song came together when I fused three separately created ideas … the main riff I wrote by imagining what a “psychedelic surf song” would sound like. The verse riff is a reworking of a classic blues rock shuffle, and the chorus was a riff inspired by retro pub rock. Combining all three, it becomes a refreshingly modern indie-rock tune with retro charm.
What’s the highlight of this song? It can be a lyric or riff. What part of this song makes people hook in? India: The 70’s rock-inspired breakdown hooks people into the song after the initial hook, and it’s a cool contrast from the rest of the track. Lyrically, a highlight for me is “I don’t want to see you go, but I think it’s best for me to find my own way home”. You come to a realisation when you have to remove yourself from a toxic person or situation, that it’s either step away, or hurt yourself even more. Jaeden hit the nail on the head with that lyric.
What would you like people to take away from the moral/story of this song? Jaeden: You’re in control of your happiness and don’t be afraid to make changes to improve your well-being.
You’re supporting Delta Riggs and Press Club at Crusher Fest for the release of this new single. How are you feeling about that? Is this your first festival? India: We’re so keen! This is the band’s first festival, and it’s cool to share it alongside heaps of great local acts and two killer headliners.
No tour this time? I know there’s a story behind that one regarding broken bones. Jaeden: Yeah honestly not my best work. I was being silly with some mates of mine … Long story short I tried to pick two of them up, and adding 150kg to my body weight pretty much broke my entire left foot. I had to have surgery, and with Crusher Fest coming up, the overall safety risks of doing a tour without any sort of team or entourage were too high, and I didn’t want to further injure myself. It’s the first time we had to cancel anything like this … We didn’t want to, but the surgeon’s words were “it was like jelly in there”, and we weren’t risking further injury before the festival.
Is this just a single? Or something more on the way? Jaeden: So this is the first single off a 5 track EP. It’s our first major EP release as Reckless Coast, and we’re keen to put out a release that’s reflective of our current live catalogue. It’ll be released mid 2024.
What’s your thoughts on bands only releasing singles rather than EPs/LPs? Is there anything worthwhile in them, or are singles the only interest from fans now? Jono: I mean, I personally love bigger bodies of work like albums and EPS. I can see why PR agencies and marketing teams push artists to stick to singles. It’s much easier to build a fanbase by marketing different songs to a fanbase every couple months as opposed to marketing the same album to fans for a year. The general trend I have noticed with artists is they stagger release a bunch of singles to try and build a fanbase and when they feel like they have a solid amount of listeners they release an album. But who knows, rules are meant to be broken. Maybe in like four years there will be a new formula.
First release versus this release … How do you feel when you look back at the older catalogue? India: Each release we get more and more confident in ourselves. I love playing our (only four years) “old” tracks – same amount of enthusiasm and passion, now with a stronger sound and a big step in progress. I’m really proud of the natural growth we’ve had from our first release. Our genre has become more refined and we now really know who we are and what we sound like.
If you could choose one song to re-record, which would it be and why? Jaeden: “Got That Feelin’” … would love to improve guitar layers and shorten some sections … but that said, I like seeing an artist’s progression from release to release … going back to see where they’ve come from compared to where they’ve ended up both in songwriting and production terms is really interesting. It’s an organic part of an artist’s career.
Reckless Coast are appearing at ‘Crusher Fest’ at The Brightside in Meeanjin/Brisbane on December 2 alongside The Delta Riggs and Press Club. Their latest single ‘Bad Habits’ is now available on all platforms.
You can stream ‘Bad Habits’ here.
Tickets for Crusher Fest can be found here.
Worm Girlz have come out swinging with their fierce debut single “Dirt.” If you’ve ever been harassed at a live show and felt frustrated because you just came to see the band, I know this track will resonate with you.
“I am so sick of feeling uncomfortable at gigs, I am sick of hearing that other people are feeling uncomfortable at gigs,” stressed proud Worm Girl, Jade Montgomery. “’Dirt’ is a big eff off to anyone that thinks it is okay to ignore boundaries and touch people without their consent.”
“When Jade shared the chorus of ‘Dirt’ with me for the first time I fell instantly in love with the world I saw for Worm Girlz,” added her band mate Lauren Rowe. “The rest of the song came together really quickly after that. It was electrifying.”
Apparently this song marks the start of worm domination, and I’m here for it. This band say they’re committed to the message of the song and want to work hard to promote safe habits at gigs to ensure women and members of the LGBTIA+ community feel safe at their shows. They’re also imploring other bands on the scene to do the same. Worm Girlz also hope that their queer voices can help others in the community known they’re not alone.
“There’s a saying in the asexual community, ‘I’d rather have cake’ and I love the connection in our chorus,” Lauren added.
According to the press release, “Worm Girlz is an energy; a way of life; a mantra. Why be anything else when you can be a worm girl?” Why indeed? Residents of Meeanjin/Brisbane can get on board when Worm Girlz play The Bright Before Christmas at The Brightside on December 15.
I’m really digging “Porcelain,” the brand new single from North Queensland singer-songwriter Will Blume. Produced by Holy Holy’s Oscar Dawson, it’s got an infectious dance beat married with some really powerful lyrics.
“People that I’m close to have been through some hardships and I wanted to write a song, something that they can listen to and find comfort in when I’m not around,” Will said. “‘Porcelain’ is about renewal and was deeply inspired by the important women in my life. It’s for anyone who has ever been made to feel less than and is dedicated to all the survivors, fighters and children at heart. Horrible things may happen, but you can always come back to that pureness of yourself; the beautiful soul you were born to be.”
Will said he wrote “Porcelain” on a writing trip where he isolated himself in a beach cabin for two weeks with no internet, no phone reception, and no conversations or contact with the outside world except for a single “beach buddy”. Through this process he learned to connect more to himself and his music. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty keen to hear what else he came up with on that trip!
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
We’ve all got our go-to songs that help us through hard times, but have you ever wondered what music your favourite bands listen to when life gets on top of them? I caught up with Naarm/Melbourne emo quintet This Space is Ours to learn about the top 10 sad songs they love to sing along to:
1. “Drink to Drown” – Stand Atlantic
It’s so ingrained in Aussie culture to just drink when things are going wrong and even though it’s not the main point of the lyrics, “I drink to drown,” encapsulates how many of us feel when we do that.
2. “My Side of the Bed” – Noah Cyrus
If you’ve got a terrible fear of abandonment, this is the sad song for you. Noah Cyrus manages to intentionally sound like she’s on the verge of crying throughout this song and it’s beautiful.
3. “Let’s Talk About Your Hair” – Have Mercy
Just like ‘All The Things I’ve Been Avoiding’, this song rises in intensity throughout, starting solemnly sad then ending passionately angry.
4. “Dear Inner Child” – Peach PRC
‘Heavy’ by Peach PRC could have just as easily made it to this list as well. I find this one just that little bit more tear jerking as Peach makes peace with her inner child.
5. “Can’t.Lie.Around.Remembering.Everything” – Capstan
As it says in the song, “it’s just another classic case of the right person at the wrong time.” This song presents true pain to a situation most people can relate to.
6. “Asleep” – The Smiths
The god of all sad songs. A classic that has to be in this list as a legal requirement. I find most people you meet who have been through some dark times will have a connection with it.
7. “One More Time” – Blink 182
This song is especially heartbreaking when you know the history of the friendships within Blink 182. All about realizing how the small stuff isn’t worth fighting over, our friends could be taken from us at any time.
8. “Smother” – Daughter
As someone who has felt like they’ve been “too much” for other people, this is a song that I have turned to many times. Incredibly melancholic with the lyrics to match.
9. “Cardinals” – The Wonder Years
Cardinals perfectly describes the guilt that comes along with loss, especially under tough circumstances such as mental health and drug problems.
10. “Kick” – Spanish Love Songs
Kick is an incredibly well-written song about the life of an addict through the eyes of an old friend.
If you want to add one more to your own sad songs playlist, I suggest checking out “All the Things I’ve Been Avoiding,” the latest single from This Space is Ours. It’s out now.
Naarm/Melbourne alt-rock act Catholic Guilt have just released their fantastic new song “Can You See Me?” It’s brand new, but there’s a beautiful nostalgia about it. It feels instantly familiar and accessible, the sort of song you immediately like and want to turn right up. The lyrics, which deal with feeling like you’ve lost your identity, are also so relatable.
“For me personally, that feeling was brought on by a period of intense emotional and physical upheaval caused by a variety of interpersonal issues and a few serious life and career setbacks,” explained Catholic Guilt frontman Brenton Harris. “All of these issues coalesced around the time of the lockdowns and ended up impacting life on the other side of it, resulting in me living life as a version of myself that felt so unfamiliar, so unconfident, so shaken, so entirely unlike ‘me’. Writing the song allowed me to process and heal and move onto the next evolution of ‘myself’. It’s our ‘feel sad hit of the summer’.”
Catholic Guilt will launch “Can You See Me?” tomorrow night at The Tote. There are still some tickets remaining, so grab them while you can! If you miss out, don’t stress. You can catch them supporting Guttermouth next year.
Mulubinba/Newcastle alt-folk artist Dane Tutty has teamed up with fellow Novacastrian Jen Buxton for a fantastic new single “church.” I love the way Dane’s textured vocals contrast with Jen’s sweeter ones. You can hear the emotion in their voices as they sing this powerful duet. It’s really good stuff.
“church” gives us our first taste of Dane’s upcoming EP. If this song is any indication, it’s going to be pretty special!
We’re used to hard-hitting songs from Naarm/Melbourne emo act This Space is Ours, but they’re showing us a softer side with their latest single “All the Things I’ve Been Avoiding.” Frontwoman Gemma Dunsmore’s delicate vocals draw you in before the song shifts gears and those trademark drums and guitars kick in. This one’s given me chills.
“The lyrics are written about mental health struggles and the gruelling path to getting better; when you’ve come to terms with there being something wrong but only just begun the journey to fix it,” Gemma explained. “Over time, the personal meaning of this song has transformed for me. When I first wrote it, it was almost an apology, as if to say, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m trying.’ I’ve since been diagnosed with being on the Autism spectrum, and now when I sing it, it feels more like I’m saying something along the lines of, ‘There is nothing wrong with me, this is who I am and I’m still learning about myself.’”
“All the Things I’ve Been Avoiding” is the fourth single from This Space is Ours’ collaborative efforts with producer Beau Mckee. There’s one more left from their time with Beau, so keep an ear out for that in the near future.
Naarm/Melbourne metal act Future Static have blown me away with their latest single “Chemical Lobotomy.” It hits hard, with big thrashing drums and furious guitar riffs, and lead singer Amariah Cook has never sounded better. At times powerful, at times angelic, her voice can do absolutely anything.
“It’s no mystery that this song is about getting a little too excited with substances during lockdown. It was a boring time and, apart from writing music, there really wasn’t much else to do,” Amariah said. “I had a massive bout of inspiration and decided to start writing the vocals to the instrumental (written by Ryan) when I was suffering from a massive hangover. I got up out of bed and decided to write about my lack of control in the hopes it would help me understand why I was putting myself through this and how to get out of it. As the song developed, I realised that if I just sang the chorus a third time at the end, it would allude to nothing changing, whereas I wanted to write something ending on the positive side of these experiences: the connection with my friends and how we were all in this situation together.”
“Chemical Lobotomy” comes from Future Static’s upcoming debut album Liminality, which drops on November 24. It’ll be an exciting time for Future Static, who will kick off their sold-out national tour with Electric Callboy the next day. Here are all Future Static’s upcoming shows.
25 November 2023 – Metropolis Fremantle, Boorloo/Perth (supporting Electric Callboy)
27 November 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tarndanya/Adelaide (supporting Electric Callboy)
29 November 2023 – PICA, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Electric Callboy)
30 November 2023 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney (supporting Electric Callboy)
1 December 2023 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Electric Callboy)
5 April 2024 – 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting CLOWNS)
26 July 2024 – Radar Festival @ O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
