Kids at Midnight, the alter ego of Melbourne’s Jane Elizabeth Hanley, is giving me serious nostalgia with her latest single “By Your Side.” It’s an unashamed ‘80s throwback with lush synths, a killer pop sensibility, and ethereal vocals that would make Kate Bush jealous.
“I’ve spent a long time toiling on producing the sound that I want. It’s been years trying to get there. I think I’m finally at the place that I can faithfully reproduce the sound I hear in my head. It’s really exciting for me to know that what I’m releasing to the world is what I wanted the song to sound like,” Jane enthused. “ ‘By Your Side’ is a very special song to me; it’s the first single from my debut album and I’ve written, recorded, engineered, produced and mixed it myself. So it’s all Kids At Midnight, it’s really my heart out there for everyone.”
Listen out for that Kids of Midnight debut album, scheduled to drop early next year.
2018 may be remembered most for the visibility women gave to their issues and their strides towards equality. With so much media buzz about the plight of women and the way they’re seen, we often forget that it can run both ways. Sydney artist Timi Temple tells the other side with his single “Pretty Boy,” lifted from his recently released EP Phuzz Boy.
Timi says the track was “inspired by the dichotomy between gender representation in the music industry. The impetus to this song was a male musician friend of mine, complaining that everyone ignores his music because he’s arguably very attractive. This struck me as horribly ironic, because it’s an exact reflection of the day-to-day struggle women in the music industry are exposed to.”
You’ll find “Pretty Boy” and the rest of the songs from Phuzz Boy on your favourite digital music outlets now.
Betty Who burst onto the music scene with her cover of “I Love You Always Forever” in 2016. However, it’s been a little quiet from the Betty Who camp for a while. Since parting with RCA she’s released a few independent singles, but none of them have really made a splash. “Between You and Me” might be the song to put this Sydney-born artist back on your radar.
The lead single from her forthcoming album Betty, she says “I wanted ‘Between You & Me’ to come first because it felt so reminiscent of my early singer-songwriter days. When I listen to it, I imagine that 15-year-old me would love this song. Especially since it’s about not being able to put into words how you feel when you’re around the person you’re singing to. It’s not a confession of love, it’s a voice in your head narrating your time with them.”
It’s that return to a singer-songwriter vibe that makes this song really resonate with me. Yes there’s a catchy poppiness about it, but it’s backed up with a real message that ensures it makes a more lasting impression than most chart toppers.
Betty Who will start 2019 with a bang, supporting Panic! At the Disco on their North American tour. It wraps up on February 14 in Anaheim, the day before her new album Betty drops. Then a few days later, Betty will cruise the Bahamas as part of the Kesha’s Weird & Wonderful Rainbow Ride cruise.
Brothers Stefan and Daniel Fedele and cousin Mathew Fedele have spent most of their lives making music together. They had an average age of just 11 when they burst onto the Adelaide scene as Forbidden Envy. Now they’re back with a new grown-up moniker and sound. Meet Red Morning Light.
Inspired by the likes of the Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon, the lads have just released their brand new single “Over and Confused.” It’s got a super catchy rock sound with chunky guitar riffs and killer harmonies. The track explores heavy thematic content of betrayal and regret, but there’s an optimism to its sound that lets you know better times are ahead.
Red Morning Light say they have plenty of new material ready for release in the coming months. I’ll be waiting for it.
Prepare to fall in love with Alana Wilkinson’s newest ditty “Closer.” This laidback pop-folk track is a real charmer which perfectly captures the giddiness of falling in love.
“It’s equal part terrifying and exhilarating and for me ‘Closer’ is about the sunshiny pockets of just enjoying those moments as they come,” she explained.
The music video is the perfect accompaniment, with Alana dancing her way through the streets of Melbourne like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
Festival goers take note. With an EP on the way in early 2019, Alana will roadtest some new material with just her guitar and uke for accompaniment at some of the country’s hottest events soon. Catch her at Woodford Music Festival, which runs from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day, and Nannup Music Festival from March 1 to 4.
Sydney band The Hots are giving me retro vibes with their scorching new single “Before You,” lifted from their recently released self-titled EP.
This is the kind of straight-up rock you don’t hear anymore, delivered with power and a lack of pretension. Frontwoman Foxie Kelly is a real force, a singer in the tradition of Chrissy Amphlett or Ann Wilson. She’s aided beautifully by Ronnie Simmons on guitar, a demon with an axe who’s playing with Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, and Richie Ramone of The Ramones.
If you love you rock old school, you’ll love The Hots.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
Add some soul to your mid-week with That Gold Street Sound’s new single, “Rain.” Originally conceived as a folk-country song, the Melbourne outfit have given this stunning song a great, laidback groove and emotional gravitas. That epic 15-piece choir doesn’t hurt the sound either!
“I came up with a new chord progression, but I was struggling to write lyrics for it so I thought I would go through some old lyric books and see if I could find some inspiration,” explained guitarist Jim Griffiths. “The lyrics just worked. When I put them together I was imaging how Shaanika would sing it and when we played it as a band, it felt like it had finally become what it was supposed to be. Then, when we were in the studio, we kept adding layer after layer. The Hammond – played by Sam Cope (Blue King Brown, Dynamo, Buttered Loaf) – glued the whole track together and we went crazy on the outro with the multiple percussion, guitar and horn parts, wails, backing vocals and the choir. It just kept developing musically and it ended up sounding epic and joyful.”
“Rain” comes from That Gold Street Sound’s forthcoming album Trick of the Light, due for release on February 16. If you’re in Victoria, check out their forthcoming shows.
7 December 2018 – Major Tom’s, Kyneton
16 February 2019 – Geddes Lane Ballroom, Melbourne (album launch)
I’m not sure anyone has ever written a song more patriotic than “Only in Australia,” from Kiama’s Benn Gunn. It’s crammed with references to Aussie icons, from the Ettamogah Pub to the MCG. The film clip, shot somewhere in the middle of the Outback is also perfectly on point. Just see if you’re not charmed by this dinky-di country-rock track.
Benn will launch his Only in Australia album at Culburra Bowling and Recreation Club on Australia Day. Of course.
Rather than sitting around wallowing about a toxic relationship, Gold Coast-based country singer Brooke Lambert got together with her bestie Nina Ward and wrote a song about it. Despite the dark subject matter “I Don’t Wanna Hate You” is a sunny country-pop smash reminiscent of old school Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus.
“I Don’t Wanna Hate You” is an exciting preview of Brooke’s upcoming EP. It doesn’t drop until next year, but expect to hear a taste of the new material at her upcoming shows.
25 November 2018 – Mr Henderson, Sandgate
22 December 2018 – Rivea Italian Dining, Broadbeach
24 January 2019 – Tudor Hotel, Tamworth (with Josh Setterfield)
25t & 27 January 2019 – The Longyard, Tamworth (with Josh Setterfield)
MAXON has stolen my heart with her powerful new single “History.” It’s one of those tracks that just stops you in your tracks with the right combination of emotional lyrics and gut-wrenching vocals.
“I have done so much growing over the past two years and I think ‘History’ is simply a diary entry in a melody. This song is the first step I’ve ever taken towards bravery and self-acceptance,” MAXON reflected. “It’s long over-due and represents a major turning point in my life and I hope my career as well. I’m breaking free from a long standing history of self-doubt, inflicted upon me throughout my life, and I’m burning all those bridges behind me to focus on a productive future full of bravery and self-love. It’s extremely hard to live a full and happy life when a person you love is constantly putting you down. I’m learning to reflect those things now and accept everyone for who they are – because we don’t know what they’ve been through to get to that point. And in turn, accept myself and reward myself more for the progress I am making with my mental health.”
The clip, directed by MAXON and filmmaker Josh Mitchell-Frey, is also so special. Shot in the Australian bush, its single take provides an unflinching look at the raw emotion driving this stunning song.
MAXON will celebrate the release of “History” with a show for hometown music lovers at Melbourne’s Paris Cat Jazz on November 22.
“I’m really excited about the launch,” she confirmed. “I just feel better when I sing – doesn’t everyone? Music is the one thing that brings us all together – I have good friends Ruby Gill, NUSSY, Plazza, Eaglemont and Magnets joining me on the night, performing renditions of both songs from my catalogue and their own. It’s a two-hour show with an intermission and it’s going to be full of harmonies and empowering female pop music. I’m so excited to get stuck into rehearsals!”
If you’re in Melbourne next Thursday, make sure you check it out!
