Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amateur Hour TV Brings Aussie Music and More to the Web

When I was younger, there was plenty of live music on TV. My parents weren’t into Countdown, but I remember tuning in to catch bands play on Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Later there was always a live performance on Rove Live and The Panel. I even remember seeing a lot of cool acts on Good Morning Australia and Midday. Today RocKwiz brings us live music when it’s on, The Loop’s started to give us live interviews and performances, and the morning shows and singing reality programs are happy to book acts once they’ve hit the mainstream, but we don’t see nearly as much live music. Where do young artists go when they release a single or album?

Well, next month they’ll probably start heading to Amateur Hour TV, a new half hour-ish web series created by Laura Imbruglia. Each episode promises to feature live performances, interviews, comedy skits, and other assorted entertainment filmed in Melbourne’s bars and rehearsal spaces.

Laura created the series after lamenting the lack of Australian variety shows. She insisted she’d make her own, and after asking for volunteers to join her quickly amassed a crew of more than 30 willing folks. They’ve pulled the show together on a shoestring, and it deserves your attention.

Episode one of the six episode pilot season will hit the web on September 1. New episodes will air every two weeks. Head to the Amateur Hour TV website and subscribe to the channel to stay up to date with everything Amateur Hour TV.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Billy Fox Covers Farnsy

I always love an interesting cover version. It’s so exciting when an artist can make me look at a song differently and reveal parts of the lyrics I hadn’t tapped in to before. So in that spirit, check out Billy Fox’s take on John Farnham’s 80s classic, “Pressure Down.”

“I originally did an arrangement of it at live shows with no plans to release it, until fans kept asking how they could get their hands on it,” explained the Sydney-based songwriter. “So I rearranged it in my studio and sent my arrangement to Sesta (The Funkoars) who added some more drums and other sounds to it”.

I know this stripped back cover isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but I think this unique cover really works. Love it or hate it, I’d love to know what you think!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Safia Deliver Cute Amish Inspired Clip

I’ve long been fascinated with the Amish, so I was thrilled to see Safia’s looked to this religious sect to inspire their new clip for “Embracing Me.” It tells the story of the star-crossed relationship of two ridiculously good-looking Amish folk beautifully, and the song’s not bad either just quietly. Look out for the Canberra trip amongst the clip’s cast.

Safia are currently promoting “Embracing Me” with shows all around the country which are selling out at a great rate of knots. These will be Safia’s last shows for the year, and looking at the number of sold out dates they’re bound to be big.

15 August 2015 – Darwin Festival, Darwin
20 August¬ 2015 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
21 August 2015 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
22 August 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
23 August 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
24 August 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
25 August 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
27 August 2015 – Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong (SOLD OUT)
29 August 2015 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
30 August 2015 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
2 September 2015 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
3 September 2015 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
4 September 2015 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
9 September 2015 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES)
10 September 2015 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES – SOLD OUT)
11 September 2015 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES – SOLD OUT)
12 September 2015 – ANU Bar, Canberra
18 September 2015 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (ALL AGES – SOLD OUT)
19 September 2015 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (SOLD OUT)
20 September 2015 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle (SOLD OUT)
21 September 2015 – Amplifier Bar, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Unwind with Tim Wheatley’s “Valerie”

After a busy working week, we all need to shift gears and start winding down. Tim Wheatley can help you get into the right frame of mind with his cruisy new single “Valerie.” This is a world away from the upbeat track Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson made famous a few years back. It’s perfectly chilled folky acoustic goodness, with a dreamy slide guitar and the sort of husky vocals that make me melt. Or perhaps that’s just the sight of Tim himself?

Anyway, if you love his music or you’re just a bit smitten too, make sure to check out Tim’s album Cast of Yesterday when it hits stores on August 28. He’s currently supporting the release with dates all around the East Coast, so get along to one of the following shows for your folk fix.

14 August 2015 – The Vanguard, Sydney
16 August 2015 – Central Park, Sydney
20 August 2015 – Café Del Mar, Sydney
21 August 2015 – Illawarra Brewery, Wollongong
22 August 2015 – Howlin’ Wolf, Wollongong
23 August 2015 – The Soda Factory, Sydney
27 & 28 August 2015 – Gympie Music Muster, Gympit
29 August 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
30 August 2015 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne
2 September 2015 – Café del Mar, Sydney
4 September 2015 – The Metro, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Playwrite Remember Past with “Animals Housed” Clip

Playwrite have released a gorgeous anthemic new track “Animals Housed.” I love the way it builds to a fist pumping conclusion. But perhaps more than the song itself, I love the video that accompanies it.

You see, the band’s guitarist Patrick Holcombe lost his mum and dad in the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. They were trying to defend their family home in Kinglake National Park. The home took his parents more than 25 years to build. They raised their children there. Yet after the fire tore through, there was nothing left but crumbling mud bricks and scraps of metal and pottery.

It was around this time that Patrick started making music with his mate Jordan White. “Animals Housed” was one of their earliest tracks.

Over the years, Patrick has spent a lot of time at his parents’ property in Kinglake. He built a cabin there, which doubles as writing and recording space, and he planted some fruit trees in memory of his parents. So it’s only fitting that Kinglake provides the backdrop for this clip.

“The only place that seemed right to make a video of this song was back up at Kinglake with the people who have supported us and our music since the very beginning,” Patrick explained. “So we threw a party, with our friends and we filmed it.”

So now that you know the story, check out the clip, which celebrates today while always remembering the past.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lucy Neville Makes Her Mark with “On My Own”

“On My Own” by Lucy Neville is one of those songs I’ve wanted to write about for a little while. I actually received a private stream in an email a couple of weeks ago, and while I dug her Ellie Goulding-esque vibe, I really hate writing about stuff that I can’t show you all.

So I left it until now, when the clip has been listed as a must see video on VEVO’s homepage. I’d really glad it’s getting some public exposure, because it’s a great song. I love Lucy’s voice, and the easy way she blends pop, folk, and electronica. The lyrics are also superb; little wonder it saw her placed as a finalist in the Vanda & Young Songwriting competition.

There’s definitely a bright future ahead for this 19-year-old from Sydney.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rachel Costanzo Gets Pop Ballad Right with “Miles Away”

When my husband and I were dating, I lived here in Australia and he was in Philadelphia. For a little over two years it was all about too-short visits, phone calls lasting for hours, even longer instant message conversations, and stilted webcam chats. Oh how I wish we had the high-speed broadband and quality webcams we do today. He’s been here for nearly ten years now, but every now and again I hear a song that takes me back to that time we had apart. “Miles Away,” by Melbourne songstress Rachel Costanzo is one of those songs.

I think even if I hadn’t been in a long-distance relationship, I’d still love this song. It’s been a really long time since I’ve heard such a quality pop ballad. It seems like most modern pop singers want to trill all over songs, showing off their vocal acrobatics rather than really honing in on a lyric. There’s a purity to what Rachel does that I really warm to.

If you feel the same way, and you live in Melbourne, make sure you head out to support Rachel when she launches “Miles Away” at Soho Southbank on Friday, August 7.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kickstart Your Career with Melbourne Music Bank

Are you a Victorian musician looking for your big break? Then you might want to consider applying for the Melbourne Music Bank.

An initiative of the Bank of Melbourne, the competition will give one talented local muso some recording time at Sing Sing studios, a film clip, album artwork, printed CDs, and the chance to get their song on a Bank of Melbourne TV ad. The prize also includes access to a dedicated team of Victoria’s finest music industry professionals.

“Being involved in the Melbourne Music Bank 2014 was an extremely valuable experience for me as an artist,” said last year’s winner, Heloise. “I received some incredible prizes and tools that have made networking, promoting and growing my fan base much easier, tools that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. I have met some incredible people who have been an excellent support base and offered precious guidance and knowledge, something that is invaluable in a tough industry.”

To enter, just submit an original song on the Melbourne Music Bank webpage before August 23. Good luck!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bronwyn Rose Wows Me with “Moonlight”

I love it when a voice is so powerful that it cuts through everything else. I’m one of those people that doesn’t equate power with big belting notes or vocal gymnastics. For me, a powerful voice is simply one that commands your attention. I found just that listening to “Moonlight,” the latest release from Melbourne songbird Bronwyn Rose.

This song has an ethereal, almost creepy quality that gave me goosebumps. Her voice is mesmerising, so pure and haunting. I love the way it intermingles with the rich soundscape Bronwyn and her musicians have created.

“Moonlight” comes from Bronwyn Rose’s debut EP Alive which is available through her Bandcamp page.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gurrumul Gives Praise with “Jesu” From The Gospel Album

I don’t know what it is about the music of Gurrumul, but listening to him just makes me feel at peace. I don’t need to know what he’s singing about, because I can feel it on an emotional level. Checking out the film clip for “Jesu,” the lead single from Gurrumul’s third studio album The Gospel Album, is just what I needed on this Friday afternoon.

The clip for this song of praise was recorded on location at Brighton’s Trinity Uniting Church and Galiwinku on Elcho Island. It’s the ideal companion for this mellow gospel tune.

The Gospel Album sees Gurrumul delivering his take on the spiritual songs the Christian missionaries brought to Arnhem Land. It’s in stores on July 31, just a couple of days after Gurrumul kicks off the album tour.

29 July 2015 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
2 August 2015 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
5 August 2015 – Festival Theatre @ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
8 August 2015 – Supersense Festival, Melbourne
10 August 2015 – Canberra Theatre, Canberra
12 August 2015 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth