Ulladulla-born and Sunshine Coast-based, Taylor Moss is a country-pop princess with a sound reminiscent of early Taylor Swift. Her latest track “Take It From Me” has stormed up the iTunes country singles charts and has what it takes to garner some mainstream attention.
It’s a relatable number about a guy who thinks the grass is greener. However, once he learns the truth, sassy Taylor won’t have a bar of him! The song’s empowering lyrics seek to remind the listener to never settle for someone who ever thinks you’re not enough. Right on!
Image used with permission from Social Family Records
It might be Thursday, but after a few days away celebrating my wedding anniversary this one is feeling like a Monday to me. If you’re dragging your feet as well, allow Janey to put some pep in your step. Their irresistible new pop banger “L.A.” has got all the good vibes you need to get through the day.
Janey are Central Coast-based sibling duo Billy and Sarah Otto. Just like other cool sibling acts like HAIM and Echosmith, there’s a real chemistry about what they do that just makes sense. These guys don’t even need to be in the same place to make it work. This track came about during a FaceTime conversation, when Billy was driving around downtown L.A. drumming on his steering wheel. Sarah sang the hook and the song started to take shape. It paints an honest picture of the City of Angels, a place that’s full of possibilities, yet somewhere where artists face rejection and abject poverty as they attempt to make their dreams come true.
“L.A.” is the first single from Janey’s forthcoming EP, due out later this year.
Break-ups are never easy, but at least they provide creative fuel for some fantastic songs. The latest to capture my heart is “Start Again,” a deeply personal track from Victorian country-pop darling Jade Gibson.
She penned the track with good friend Taylor Foley which she was living in Nashville and nursing a broken heart. It’s a moving track about the heartache that lingers after a break-up when you’re not quite ready to move on.
Jade is playing plenty of regional dates in the coming weeks. Catch her at the following venues soon.
18 May 2019 – Batlow RSL, Batlow
25 May 2019 – Henty Football Club, Henty
1 June 2019 – Precinct Bar & Restaurant, Wangaratta
8 June 2019 – Hay BnS Ball, Hay
15 June 2019 – 1895 The Royal, Echuca
22 June 2019 – Bright Football Club, Bright
13 July 2019 – Star Hotel, Rutherglen
Gold Coast singer-songwriter Jacob Leecaught my attention last year with his track “With You,” but like so many indie musicians he seemed to fade from view. However, if like me you’ve wondered what happened to him, wonder no more.
It seems Jacob caught the ears of a global audience and he’s kicking major goals abroad. He currently has more than 320,000 YouTube subscribers and his EPs have amassed more than 60 million streams on Spotify. He just headlined his first tour of Europe and the United Kingdom and sold out venues in minutes, inspiring organisers to move him to larger spaces to meet the demand. Best of all, he’s done it all without the support of a major label or mainstream press.
So here’s more raving about Jacob from press on the fringes: his new single “Conscience” is amazing. It’s the first of 11 tracks from the album of the same name Jacob will release this year. He’s playing shows locally all over the country supporting Dennis Lloyd. If you’ve got tickets, don’t just dismiss him as a support act and skip his set, because he’s getting to be quite the big deal and he won’t be playing support slots here for too much longer. After he wraps that up he’ll play North America, followed by some yet-to-be-announced dates in South America, Asia, and the UK and Europe again. Needless to say, the future looks very bright for Jacob Lee.
10 May 2019 – 256 Wickham, Brisbane (supporting Dennis Lloyd)
11 May 2019 – Metropolis, Fremantle (supporting Dennis Lloyd)
13 July 2019 – Aisle 5, Atlanta
17 July 2019 – Mercury Lounge, New York
20 July 2019 – The Drake, Toronto
24 July 2019 – Space, Chicago
27 July 2019 – Cambridge Room, Dallas
31 July 2019 – Hotel Café, Los Angeles
1 August 2019 – Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco
Image used with permission from Chugg Music
Adelaide hip hop act Stefan Rossi has teamed up with Elsy Wameyo for his brand new single “Long Road.” I love the way his rhymes interplay with Elsy’s angelic voice on this one. Those lyrics are also so insightful.
“It’s based on those anxious feelings of who I am and how I’m finding myself as I go through emotions of grief, love, my mental health and not rushing through life’s moments to get to your end result,” Stefan explained.
I think we can all take something from that. “Long Road” is streaming on all your favourite digital platforms now.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
Some artists have voices that stop you in your tracks. From the moment you hear them you know, you just know, they’re special. Jackson Carroll has one of those voices.
It’s showcased beautifully in his new single “Holy Hell.” It’s hard to believe this haunting track is actually his debut, because it sounds so accomplished. It’s polished yet raw, emotional yet just restrained enough. I can’t help thinking of the late great Jeff Buckley as I listen to it. It’s more than just that falsetto, which is flawless by the way. It’s something about the connection Jackson forges with the listener, despite seemingly being in his own world.
“It never really feels finished until you’re hearing [it] in a studio or with a band, with all the instruments in. I have an idea of what I want it to sound like, or some references I can point at and show to people and say, ‘I want it to sound like this,’” he explained. “It’s tricky to temper expectations when you’re comparing your stuff to stuff that already exists, but we did a good job of it!”
This song has me excited. I can’t wait to hear more from Jackson really soon.
Often city dwellers like me struggle to relate to country music. I don’t know what it’s like to love a truck or feel the beat-your-chest patriotism of American acts. I don’t drink whisky or live in a wide open space. So it’s refreshing to hear a country song like Josh Setterfield’s new track “Broke,” an all-too-relatable tale of not having enough cash to do what you want to do. We’ve all been there!
Josh is kicking some serious goals with his music, playing major country events like the Gympie Muster and Rockin Rocky. This song actually went to number one on Australian Country Radio, but I think it deserves a little mainstream love.
Josh has a couple of gigs coming up. See him at Eaton’s Hill Hotel in Brisbane tomorrow night, May 3 or a Sydney Harbour Cruise on September 21 and help him earn a little extra coin!
Merpire is back with a brand new single and a whole bunch of shows. The Sydney chanteuse’ brand new track is called “Lately,” and it’s a tune that showcases her rich voice and songwriting prowess beautifully.
Merpire has already started 2019 with a bang, playing A Festival Called Panama, Brunswick Music Festival, and By the Meadow. There’s more where that came from though. See her at the following gigs in the coming months.
4 May 2019 – The Northern Republic, Euroa
18 May 2019 – Howler, Melbourne (supporting City Calm Down)
13 June 2019 – School Night @ Noisy Ritual, East Brunswick
11-14 July 2019 – Bello Winter Music Festival, Bellingen
Sydney singer-songwriter Max C Bud wears his influences on his sleeve with his new song “Relevance.” Max says he grew up listening to acts like Neil Finn, Alex Lloyd, and Bernard Fanning, and I can certainly hear elements of their sound and approach to songwriting creeping through. It’s that songwriting that really speaks to me.
“I wanted to capture the sense of gratitude I was feeling after looking back at the person I had become after going through some difficult times,” Max explained. “I’d love it if this song could connect with someone who has been down and out, but persevered through the hardships of what life can throw at you”.
It’s not always the songs that scream the loudest that make the most impact. “Relevance” is one of those tracks that stays with you long after its final note.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
Frustrated with meaningless pop music, Elisa Kate proves the genre still has plenty to say with her new single “Now or Never.” It’s an optimistic ditty which lifts you up and charms you with smoky vocals and honest lyrics. Not bad for a performer once told she couldn’t sing!
The Newcastle singer-songwriter really proves her critics wrong here. Her voice is beautiful and the essence of the song is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It’s the kind of track you want to slip on in the moments you need a little extra confidence to step outside your comfort zone.
