Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Return to Form with “Everyone’s Giving Up”

I fell in love with Saskwatch when they first hit the music scene, but I fell out of love with them somewhere along the way. While the last couple of singles haven’t revved me, I think they’re back to their best with their latest single “Everyone’s Giving Up.”

It’s a much mellower sound from this funky Melbourne act than I’ve come to expect, but I appreciate it. With all those brassy notes it reminds me a little of something Prince might slip in to his set. “Everyone’s Giving Up” comes from Saskwatch’s third studio album Sorry I Let It Come Between Us, which is slated for release next year.

Saskwatch will support its release with the following shows just about everywhere in 2016.

9 January 2016 – Summer Of Soul Festival @ Mossvale Park, Berrys Creek
21 January 2016 – Australian Open Sessions @ Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Melbourne
23 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
24 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Waterfront Hotel, Sunshine Coast
4 February 2016 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 February 2016 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough
6 February 2016 – Summerset Arts Festival, Carine Open Space, Carine
7 February 2016 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2016 – UC Refectory, Canberra
2 March 2016 – Studio Six, Sutherland
3 March 2016 – The Basement, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Baroque, Katoomba
5 March 2016 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
6 March 2016 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
12 March 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
18 March 2016 – The Jack, Cairns
19 March 2016 – Street Party, Townsville
20 March 2016 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
26 March 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
1 April 2016 – Club 54, Launceston
2 April 2016 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 April 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
8 April 2016 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
9 April 2016 – Theatre Royale, Castlemaine
14 April 2016 – The Loft, Warrnambool
15 April 2016 – The Grand Hotel, Mornington
16 April 2016 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
29 April 2016 – The Gap View, Alice Springs
30 April 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Abraham’s “Speak” a Sign of Special Things to Come

Melbourne singer-songwriter Ben Abraham has found a new home for his music at Inertia Music. I must admit, I hadn’t heard of his stuff until the good folks there sent me a press release, but the moment I started to watch him performing “Speak” in a Mahogany session, I fell hard.

The Sydney Morning Herald recently declared he’s one of the best new male voices the country’s seen in ages, and I’m not inclined to disagree. But there’s more to Ben than just a voice. He’s a superb songwriter who can deliver a lyric like nobody’s business. There’s truth in the way he sings, and I really responded to that. “Speak” is just one of the tracks we’ll hear on Ben’s album Sirens, which will be released on March 4. The album’s seen him collaborating with everyone from Gossling to Gotye, so it should be something really special.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amazing Artists Showcased by Cuthbert Corner

I believe the best place to really discover what a musician can do is the live arena. There’s no auto tune or second take, just an artist creating the best music they can. So I was thrilled to discover an organisation called Cuthbert Corner, who records up-and-coming musicians and promotes their songs online.

Take a look at Sounds of Oz favourite Anna Cordell playing her song “Blue Rose” at Melbourne’s Krimper Café. It’s such a beautiful live recording which really showcases how special Anna is as an artist. After you’ve watched this, let YouTube take you to another Cuthbert Corner video, and another. If you love new Australian music, there’s plenty to keep you entertained here.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ten Tenors Get Festive for Children’s Hospital Foundation

‘Tis the season to create really corny music videos, according to The Ten Tenors. The clip for their latest single “All I Want for Christmas is You” is to Woolworths what those terrible Down, Down ads are to Coles. With one important exception: it’s all for a good cause.

Yes this clip is a total car crash. But the Ten Tenors are some of the country’s best singers. This track is just one of the holiday songs featured on their new album Our Christmas Wish. All net profits from the album will benefit the Children’s Hospital Foundation. You can get a copy from Woolworths stores in Queensland and Northern New South Wales and via iTunes worldwide.

After they’re done spreading Christmas cheer, The Ten Tenors will embark the Power of TEN tour, which will hit theatres all around the country next year.

12 & 13 February 2016 – Regal Theatre, Perth
13 April 2016 – Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay
14 April 2016 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
15 April 2016 – Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, Bundaberg
16 April 2016 – Brolga Theatre, Maryborough
17 April 2016 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
20 April 2016 – Festival Theatre, Adelaide
21 April 2016 – Hamer Hall, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne
22 April 2016 – Theatre Centre, Canberra
24 April 2016 – The Star Events Centre, Sydney
30 April 2016 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
4 May 2016 – Townsville Civic Centre, Townsville
5 May 2016 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Free TAD App Makes Cover Art Easy

Unless you’ve got the backing of a big studio, releasing an EP or album can take some serious coin. After you’ve paid for studio time and professional mixing and mastering, there’s little left over for things like cover art. However, cover art is so important because it gives music lovers their first impression of your work.

Your cover art needn’t let you down with TAD, a brand new and totally free locally made cover art app created by indie musicians, for indie musicians. TAD, which stands for Thumbnail Art Design makes it easy to create high-quality cover art for Soundcloud, Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, and other popular platforms. Check out the video to see a demonstration of TAD in action.

TAD is available for free download for iOS devices from iTunes now.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tame Impala & Courtney Barnett Clean Up at ARIAs

Tame Impala and Courtney Barnett were the big winners at this year’s ARIA Awards, taking home three awards in major categories each. Tame Impala were named best group and received best rock album and album of the year for Currents. Courtney Barnett claimed best female, breakthrough artist, and best independent release (Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit) gongs.

Like so many people, the highlight for me was watching The Veronicas and Jessica Mauboy join Hall of Fame inductee Tina Arena for her 90s hit “Chains.” It was such a powerful reminder of what incredible female vocalists we have in this country. I’ll take these ladies over Beyonce, Mariah, and Christina any day of the week. I also loved Tina’s speech. What a way to claim that Hall of Fame spot.

Anyway, if you couldn’t be bothered sitting through the hours of Channel Ten footage, here are all the winners for your browsing pleasure.

Album of the Year: Tame Impala – Currents
Best Independent Release: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Female Artist: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Male Artist: Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away
Best Group: Tame Impala – Currents
Breakthrough Artist: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Dance Release: Rüfüs – ‘”You Were Right”
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Northlane – Node
Best Pop Release: Jarryd James – “Do You Remember”
Best Rock Album: Tame Impala – Currents
Best Urban Album: Seth Sentry – Strange New Past
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Oh Mercy – When We Talk About Love
Best Blues And Roots Album: C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo
Best Comedy Release: Matt Okine – Live at the Enmore Theatre
Best Australian Live Act: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour
Best International Artist: One Direction
Best Video: Matt Sharp & Daniel James for The Veronicas – “You Ruin Me”
Song Of The Year: Conrad Sewell – “Start Again”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Indigo Provide Your Summer Soundtrack with New Single

It might technically still be spring, but it feels like summer in my part of the world. Some scorching hot temperatures have me feeling a little cruisy. It’s the perfect mindset for approaching “Moving On,” the stellar new single from WA four-piece Indigo.

It’s a totally accessible slice of alternative soft rock that’s perfect for all this warm weather. The message about putting the pain of the past behind you and moving forward it perfect for this time of year.

“I started writing ‘Moving On’ around 2013 after being unemployed for a few years, at a time where I solely depended on music,” the band’s lead singer Christopher Kinna explained. “It was in summer I think, I was sitting at a mate’s with a Roland Juno I had just purchased playing around with chords I started coming up with the structure of the song a few days later I wrote the words jamming on my acoustic guitar it was the easiest song I had ever wrote the words just flowed straight from my mouth. It felt very effortless I think because of the emotional detachment I felt from myself feeling like I was stuck and needed the motivation to move on from all the negativity that overwhelmed me.”

“Moving On” is the first track lifted from a new Indigo EP which we’ll see in early 2016.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Wheatley Back Home for Single Tour

It hasn’t been too long since Los Angeles-based Aussie Tim Wheatley was on home soil, but he’s back again for a New South Wales tour to support his bluesy new single “The Heathen,” the latest release from one of my favourite albums of the year, Cast of Yesterday.

The track draws on Tim’s early days in LA and the seedy characters he met during this time. The video has garnered some massive attention, scoring more than 26,000 views via Facebook in just a week.

If you’re in New South Wales, here are all the places you can catch Tim in the coming weeks.

28 November 2015 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
2 December 2015 – Panthers, Penrith
3 December 2015 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
4 December 2015 – Dee Why RSL, Dee Why
5 December 2015 – The Basement, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Felix Reibl Releases Solo Single “Lonely Truth”

Cat Empire frontman Felix Reibl has offered us the first taste of his brand new solo EP Lonely Truth with the release of the single of the same name.

The song is dramatically different from the music I remember from the Cat Empire days, but that’s not such a bad thing. While it’s not going to get your party started, it’s perfect for chilling with your close mates once the acquaintances have left as the night wears down. It wears its heart on its sleeve, and I really respond to that.

The Lonely Truth EP will drop on December 4. Felix will give us a little time to sit with it before launch shows at The Basement in Sydney on January 24 and Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on January 29.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Swim Season Hit Another Home Run with “Soldiers”

Swim Season bowled me over in February with their single “Hide and Seek.” Now they’ve done it again with their latest cut, “Soldiers.”

This track is so accessible that I can easily see it earning a place on commercial radio, and that’s no criticism. It’s wonderful to hear a song that you can immediately connect with. It has such a great feel to it, it reminds me of summer barbeques and beers.

“Soldiers” is the latest track lifted from Swim Season’s debut EP Cascades. They’re currently celebrating its release with some launch parties. Catch them at The Roxbury in Sydney on November 28 or the Workers Club in Geelong on December 11.