Category: Film Clips

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Casey Barnes Releases Provocative Country-Pop Single, “Come Turn Me On”

Country darling Casey Barnes is dabbling in pop with his latest single “Come Turn Me On.” The country influence in the violin and steel guitar is unmistakable, but those catchy hooks and upbeat energy should give this track plenty of crossover appeal.

“I’d like to think that we’re trying to shape our own unique sound at the moment. I don’t really want to sound like anyone else,” Casey explained. “With this single, it has that blend of modern country meets commercial pop which I’ve really connected with over the last few years. The song is about a guy who’s basically travelled around the world, seen his fair share of girls but nothing compares to coming home to the one he loves.”

The clip is also Casey’s most ambitious.

“We’ve gone all out with this video and I think it’s easily the most expensive clip I’ve shot to date – but we wanted to make sure this one was pretty special,” he enthused. “My wife Michelle is a creative genius and the whole concept for this video has been her baby. Colin Jeffs from Ten of Swords Media has brought it to life. We found this incredible venue in Brisbane called Smoked Garage which is a multi-level event space where each floor has a completely different look to it, so it was the perfect place to shoot. The concept is that it’s one big party and everything has been made to look like it was shot in one take within the venue, culminating in a big high energy finale out in the side street at the end.”

Casey hasn’t let the global pandemic slow him down. His latest album Town Of a Million Dreams topped the country charts and earned him an ARIA nomination. This track’s already clocked up more than 100,000 Spotify streams just a couple of weeks after its release and been featured on the platform’s Fresh Country and New Music Fridays playlists. He’s also just announced a bunch of festival and headlining dates.

“I can’t wait to add ‘Come Turn Me On’ into the set for all our upcoming shows!” he said. “We’ve actually created a brand-new live show for 2021, and it’s great to finally see some major festivals and events coming back after the pandemic, which we’re thrilled to be playing at in the weeks and months to come.”

Check him Casey’s brand-new set at the following venues.

25 March 2021 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne (18+)
27 March 2021 – Mathinna Country Club, Mathinna (18+)
10 April 2021 – Winton’s Way Out West Fest, Winton (ALL AGES)
24 April 2021 – Gippsland Country Music Festival, Mossvale Park (ALL AGES)
30 April 2021 – Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba (18+)
26 & 27 August 2021 – Gympie Music Muster (ALL AGES)
1 October 2021 – Savannah in the Round, Mareeba (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Luke Marsden

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saint Lane Drops Vibrant Video for “The Water”

Saint Lane has reminded me why I fell in love with his music earlier this year with the release of a video for his current single “The Water.” The clip’s Somerset Dam setting is the ideal backdrop for this laidback but insightful cut from his brilliant debut EP If I Leave You In the Fire.

“I was going for a Chance the Rapper meets Harry Styles things both sonically and with the outfit,” Saint Lane said of the video. “We wanted the location of the track to feel as big as the song. Massive mountains, huge river, full of life. Lots of brightness.”

Saint Lane will support Bootleg Rascal at their upcoming April 9 show at Sunshine Coast’s Sol Bar.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Parker Blows Me Away With “Lie Low”

Parker dropped her new single “Lie Low” a couple of days ago, just in time for International Women’s Day, but there’s never a bad time for female empowerment, right? So if you didn’t catch it then, make sure you listen now.

When you do, really listen to those lyrics. It’s so easy to get swept up in her angelic, ethereal voice, but those lyrics are what really sold me on this song. They’re so strong and wise. While I think they’ll really hit a chord with female listeners, I can imagine plenty of men will take something from them as well. If you’ve ever tried to shrink yourself down and or present a front that’s more palatable for the world than your authentic self, this one’s for you.

“I’ve always held myself with a belief that I should exist in the world with quiet grace. Not be too loud or stand out too much … Even though my friends, parents and partners have encouraged me to follow my dreams I always felt this responsibility to not be too loud or abrasive, to look pretty, to sound pretty, to not challenge people too much, make music and art that is beautiful and easy to listen to and look at,” she admitted. “Hans and I were working remotely on the track and we had the ‘be less, be less’ section looping at the end. I felt this rage inside me in response to that idea. This feeling of frustration at all the times I’ve controlled my emotions so that I didn’t make others feel uncomfortable. I set up my mic in my bedroom and just started screaming and yelling until finally it felt like my heart cracked open. The floodgates opened up and I wept loudly for about 10 mins.”

The emotions kept flowing for the music video. Parker explained the artistic choices she made in this beautifully surreal clip.

“We talked about the courage it takes as a woman to put yourself first in a world where there are still so many expectations for women to play support roles in both career and domestic spaces. Thinking about the concept of sacrificing time and energy for another we found a way to represent this with the metaphor of colour being drained from one character to another. I like that it is not explicit that the colour is being taken or given. When the character drops to her knees she could be crying or she could be praying. When we worship our loved ones we can fall into our own pattern of giving too much of ourselves to them.”

This isn’t the first time Parker’s impressed me, but I think “Lie Low” might be her best single yet. What do you think readers?

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pinkish Blu Release Great New Bop, “Backward”

Adelaide quartet Pinkish Blu has won me over with their latest single “Backward.” With a clap-along chorus, relatable angsty lyrics, and a heavy sense of bittersweet nostalgia, this track ticks all the boxes. It’s the sort of song that you just want to keep listening to, but it almost didn’t see the light of day.

“During COVID we felt nostalgic and were looking back on our old demos and found ‘Backward’, actually, four different versions of ‘Backward’. From what it was back then to what it is now is vastly different, but the core idea of the song has remained prevalent throughout,” explained frontman Brice Young. “Sonically we’ve evolved to a sound we’re really comfortable with, which has given us the opportunity to be more open and wear our hearts on our sleeve.”

The nostalgia continues with the music video, which was filmed at Gawler Cinemas.

“Reflecting on something you may have just gone through or went through a long time ago … when you reflect on things that hold strong emotional value, these moments can play out in your head like scenes from a movie. We hit up our local small-town cinema and managed to convince them to let us film a music video there for a whole day,” added bassist Ricky Liddell.

If you’ve missed Pinkish Blu on the live circuit, the way is almost over. They’ll hit the road with Odette this May. Catch them at the following venues:

14 May 2021 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
21 May 2021 – The Triffid, Brisbane
22 May 2021 – The Northern, Byron Bay
23 May 2021 – HOTA, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Noah Sutherland

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Keith Urban Guests on Tender New Amy Shark Single, “Love Songs Ain’t For Us”

Amy Shark has just dropped her new single “Love Songs Ain’t For Us,” featuring vocals from Keith Urban and cowritten by Ed Sheeran. With so much star power, it should come as no surprise that it’s pretty brilliant. Prepare to hear this one all over radio in the coming weeks.

This is a real change of pace for Amy, a tender song without the angst we usually hear. It seems we can credit Ed for that change in direction.

“Ed asked me if I wrote songs about my man. I told him I do, but love songs aren’t really for us. He then smiled and said, “OK that’s what we’ll do then.” This song is as loved up as you’ll get from me and I love it,” she explained.

“The song is so classy and timeless I needed to find a class act to join me,” she added. “Keith is so professional and well respected around the world, so it was a no-brainer.”

“Love Songs Ain’t For Us” gives us our first taste of Amy’s upcoming album Cry Forever, which hits stores on April 30. She’ll celebrate its release with one of the biggest tours we’ve seen in this country for a while. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

12 June 2021 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
18 June 2021 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
19 June 2021 – Wrest Point Lawns, Hobart
25 June 2021 – HOTA, Gold Coast
26 June 2021 – Riverstage, Brisbane
1 July 2021 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
3 July 2021 – RAC Arena, Perth

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Say Goodbye to Yuma X With Final Single Release, “We Could Be So Good”

Sydney duo Yuma X have decided to go their separate ways, but they’re leaving us with a parting gift. What delicious irony that their final release together, “We Could Be So Good” is one of their best.

Lucy Washington and Jake Smith have been releasing music together since 2015, but I guess all good things must eventually come to an end. Knowing this is their final single together certainly makes listening to this song a bittersweet experience.

“WCBSG is a real feel-good song, and the visuals in the music video capture that perfectly. I think this song is my favourite we’ve written and it feels like the perfect high note to end on. I’m so grateful for the last 5 years we’ve had and the music we’ve released and everyone who has supported us along the journey. I’m really proud of this one because it’s something so positive and happy that came out of the hardest and strangest year. I hope it puts a smile on people’s faces and is the background song to many fun memories people make in the future.”

“We Could Be So Good” was born out of a period of musical experimentation inspired by acts like Lana Del Rey and Frank Ocean. As Jake explained, they were “moving towards a sound that’s more fun and dancefloor-centric,” Jake explained.
It’s all a bit sad to think what might have been. In that spirit, get nostalgic about Yuma X with this lyric video, which documents the act’s creative process and their personal lives outside the music world.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Liz Stringer Drops Title Track Ahead of “First Time Really Feeling” Album Release

There’s something special about listening to new music from a seasoned pro like Liz Stringer. The Melbourne-born musician is prepared to release her sixth studio album, First Time Really Feeling, and she’s giving us a little taste with the release of the title track.

“It’s about experiencing the world with a clear and present heart for the first time after beginning a process of intense personal change, precipitated by getting sober at 36,” she explained. “It was initially very frightening but ultimately liberating and necessary for me to face everything that I hadn’t been able to look at, for a lot of different reasons, for many years. There’s real fear in real feeling. But I believe now that, for me, it’s the only place from which real love can grow and thrive.”

The music video, directed by Dyllan Corbett, is a powerful exploration of the world around us right now.

“Exploring the outskirts of Melbourne just out of lockdown, we wanted the camera to feel the energy of life on the road while capturing a nostalgia and simple beauty of home,” Dyllan explained. “With a small crew, we convoyed around to find these almost forgotten about places; which now inspired a deeper gratitude in us all. In some ways the message of the track reinforced the team’s creativity; helping us to find inspiration in the seemingly mundane.”

The album First Time Really Feeling drops on April 30. Liz will perform at Castlemaine State Festival on April 2, with more shows to come.

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records; credit: Kristoffer Paulsen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Mungovan Drops Tasty New Single, “Lemon + Lime”

Summer might be fizzling out, but Joe Mungovan is helping us hold on to its laidback vibes a little longer with his ultra-chill new single “Lemon + Lime.” Hit play, close your eyes, and you’ll be instantly transported to the beach, mojito in hand.

Like so many great tracks, “Lemon + Lime” was inspired by a chance encounter with a girl. Joe met the mystery woman after a show in Germany. Their time might have been short-lived, but it lives on in this cracking single.

“We had a magical time together and I tried to encapsulate the feeling of that night in the sonic elements of the song,” he explained. “Lemon + Lime’ is a track I’ve been working on for about six months. During the Covid lockdown, I was living on a property in Kangaroo Valley. The space provided me with a lot of time to write music and look back on the memories made over the past years of touring and making music. The song came together a lot easier than most of my songs; it sort of just fell out. I got my mate Tim Carr down to my little studio set up I was using and we finished off the song together. The cicadas were so loud at that time of year that we had to build a soundproof booth out of blankets and cushions to record the vocals in.”

This gentle groove is just what I needed to get me through the rest of Humpday. What do you think readers?

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Ruby Boland (@rubyboland)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pierce Brothers Drop Gorgeous New Single “Brother” Ahead of Album Release and Victorian Tour

I was already excited about the release of Pierce Brothers’ sophomore album Into the Great Unknown next month, but the release of a new single “Brother” has my anticipation at a fever pitch. It’s a gorgeous slow burner that explores the themes of being away from family. You can bet it’s hitting extra hard with the current Victorian lockdown in force.

The video adds some lightness to this powerful track, as Pat Pierce explains.

“We wanted to juxtapose the earnestness of the song with a bit of a piss-take,“ he said, “We went in there with the intention of playing the whole thing straight, but then when Justin (our older brother) said he could drop in, we thought it would just be way funnier if we tried to do an honest-to-God straight performance, and he just walks through and messes it up for us. We couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of it so we figured, why not?”

Pierce Brothers’ new album Into the Great Unknown drops on March 5. To celebrate its release, they’ve announced a string of shows around Victoria. With limited COVID-safe capacities, gigs are already selling out so get onto those tickets ASAP. If you’re in another state, don’t despair. The lads are planning on getting to you soon.

“In 2021 we’re planning on an entire regional Australia run!” Pat explained, “but the problem is that if we announce tickets too far in advance, there’s risk of border closures between the announce and the date of the gig. We want to avoid all postponing/cancellations of shows so this year it’s announce and GO!”

20 March 2021 – The Old Coal Mine “The Shed,” Wonthaggi (SOLD OUT)
21 March 2021 – Halls Gap Hotel, Halls Gap
27 March 2021 – Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran
4 April 2021 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay
9 April 2021 – Volta Arts & Culture, Ballarat
10 April 2021 – Pier Bandroom, Frankston
22 April 2021 – Barwon Club, Geelong
23 April 2021 – The Espy, St Kilda
30 April 2021 – Corner Hotel, Richmond
7 May 2021 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
21 May 2021 – Sandy Point Music Club, Sandy Point
22 May 2021 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Blake O’Connor Drops “Willin’ and Ready” Single, Touring Eastern States

Blake O’Connor has dropped his first new music since winning the Golden Guitar for Best New Talent last year. His new song “Willin’ and Ready” is a feel-good slice of country-rock. It instantly won me over with its infectious energy.

The single came out of songwriting sessions with Aussie country power couple, Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont. Superstar producer Nick DiDia (Powderfinger, Bruce Springsteen) and Adam Eckersley then produced the track at Nick’s Byron Bay studio. The song’s video clip features footage from that studio session.

“It has been an awesome journey to bring this song to life,” Blake said. “From writing to recording it has been a high-energy process that really comes out in the song.” Reflecting on the lyrics he explained, “This is where I am at right now. I’m young, ambitious and I’m always on the move with my music.”

Despite COVID restrictions, Blake has been busy touring as far as he can. He’ll soon wrap up the Silver Linings tour with Sinead Burgess before heading on the road with Diesel, then playing his own solo shows. Catch him wherever you can at the following gigs.

13 February 2021 – Laurieton United Services Club, Laurieton (with Sinead Burgess)
5 March 2021 – Centro CBD, Wollongong (with Sinead Burgess)
23 April 2021 – Coffs Golf Club, Coffs Harbour (with Diesel)
24 April 2021 – Maclean Bowls, Maclean (with Diesel)
13 May 2021 – Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba
14 May 2021 – Fitzys Loganholme, Loganholme (with Diesel)
16 May 2021 – The Royal, Nundah (with Diesel)
21 May 2021 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave (with Diesel)
22 May 2021 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote (with Diesel)
28 May 2021 – Spring Lakes Hotel, Springfield Lakes (with Diesel)
29 May 2021 – Bribie Island Hotel, Bribie Island
11 June 2021 – Mt Pleasant Tavern, Mackay (with Diesel)
12 June 2021 – Kirwan Tavern, Townsville (with Diesel)
13 June 2021 – Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns (with Diesel)
16 June 2021 – Allenstown Hotel, Rockhampton (with Diesel)
17 June 2021 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone (with Diesel)
18 June 2021 – Bay Central Tavern, Harvey Bay (with Diesel)
25 June 2021 – Moonshiners, Tamworth
26 June 2021 – Wauchope RSL, Wauchope
1 July 2021 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
2 July 2021 – Windsor RSL, Windsor
3 July 2021 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute