Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

JONES Jnr Celebrate Soul with “Step on Sleep”

It’s always hard to get back to work after a long weekend. It’s even harder when you feel a cold coming on. But it’s made easier when you’ve got something fantastic to listen to like JONES Jnr’s debut EP Step on Sleep.

JONES Jnr is a new project for Ev Jones and Thundamentals founding member Morgan Jones. With it they’re bringing back old school soul with songs like the funky single “Never Be Lonely,” the Nu Jack Swing feel of EP opener “Feel That Way,” and the epic Motown-influenced closing number “Don’t You Worry.” There are plenty of grooves and brassy hooks and velvety smooth vocals.

“We have a lot to share with the world when it comes to the JONES Jnr sound. It’s still growing and developing, it’s still soul, it’s still got swingbeats, but it will take listeners to some surprising places,” Ev explained. “There are some very personal songs on this EP, these aren’t stories, this is our life on record.”

JONES Jnr will showcase that sound when they play the following shows supporting Step on Sleep’s recent release.

2 July 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
3 & 4 July 2015 – Bello Winter Festival, Bellingen
10 July 2015 – Blackbear Lodge, Brisbane
11 July 2015 – Shebeen, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Callum Chynoweth Band Wows Me with “Hope You Know”

You know that feeling that you get when you hear a new song from a new artist and you instantly get them. That’s the way I felt listening to Callum Chynoweth Band’s new single “Hope You Know” for the first time. Incidentally as I write this I think I’m up to my sixth spin.

It makes sense that I’ve connected with it on such an emotional level, because Callum says it’s incredibly personal. “Writing it helped me to get over my own nerves and show someone very special to me how I felt,” he explained.

If you’re feeling it too, make sure you don’t miss Callum and his band playing hometown shows at Sydney’s The Townie tomorrow night (June 3) and Oxford Art Factory on July 17.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jinja Safari Mount Comeback with “Find My Way”

After delighting crowds as a solo artist, Pepa Knight is back making beautiful music with his Jinja Safari buddies. The band have just released their latest single “Find My Way” and it’s superb.

This is indie pop at its finest. It’s got a great African tribal feel mixed with a pop accessibility that’s so refreshing. It may just be the ultimate cure for Mondayitis. Seriously, I reckon it’s impossible to listen to this without a smile on your face. Vocalist Marcus Azon put together the nostalgic clip made up of footage collected during the band’s five years together.

Are you excited to have Jinja Safari back?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Telescopes Release Great New Single “Grow Lonely”

Victorian band Telescopes have released a stunning new single “Grow Lonely,” lifted from their brand new release 001 EP.

This song’s a bit of a slow burner but it really grew on me. It’s got a great ‘90s grunge influence but its vocals are more haunting than most of the acts that decade produced. It builds to a killer crescendo, so make sure you stick with it.

Not one to sit still for long, Telescopes are already in the studio working on a follow-up to 001 EP. It’s due out later this year.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Expat Penelope Austin Impresses with “Trigger”

The bright lights of New York City are in stark contrast with the streets of the Southern Highlands, but it’s where locally-born songstress Penelope Austin has found her “spiritual home.” She’s been in the United States for nearly a decade learning her craft and rubbing shoulders with big name artists like the Rolling Stones. And now she’s almost ready to unleash her debut album.

The latest single “Trigger” definitely has my attention. It’s got some polish from famed UK mix engineer Cenzo Townshend (Florence & The Machine, Florence & The Machine), but he’s been careful not to smooth out Penelope’s edges. There’s real heart and desperation in this dark electro-pop song. The clip showcasing New York City looks brilliant, even though it was reportedly shot on a shoestring.

Let’s wait and see whether Penelope Austin becomes our next big breakout star.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jack Carty and Jordan Miller Reunite for National Tour

Jack Carty and Jordan Millar enjoyed playing shows together in March so much that they’re set to do it all again with an acoustic tour this August.

Jack should be in fine form because he’s currently touring his latest album Esk across the United Kingdom and Europe. Meanwhile, Jordan will be taking a break from recording his next album for this tour. After time spent in the studio, he’s probably itching to get back out on stage!

If you’re on the fence about the shows, take a look at this video capturing one of their performances together in March. Do you really want to miss two singer-songwriters of this calibre playing together? I think not!

It’s also worth pre-ordering your tickets, as every one bought on presale comes with an 11-track digital live album Jack Carty & Jordan Millar – Live @ The Front Gallery. Tickets are available from Jack Carty’s website.

1 August 2015 – The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
6 August 2015 – The Commons, Newcastle
7 August 2015 – The Street Theatre, Canberra
8 August 2015 – Venue 505, Sydney
14 August 2015 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
15 August 2015 – Rous Mill Hall, Rous Mill
20 August 2015 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
21 August 2015 – Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne
22 August 2015 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Society of Beggars Release Rocking First Single

There’s something so appealing about straight up rock and roll. And that’s what Melbourne band Society of Beggars give us with their debut single “Hyena.”

There aren’t any bells or whistles here. It’s rough around the edges, and it looks like the clip was probably made on a shoestring. But there’s real heart here. And I love the huskiness of the lead singer’s voice. It doesn’t have the spit and polish of big label releases, but it’s also got a bit more soul than many of them do.

What do you think of “Hyena”?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bad Pony Get Toes Tapping with “White Russian”

Sydney indie-pop act Bad Pony have grown from a duo to a quintet since they released of their debut single “Sucker.” So we hear a much fuller sound on their new single “White Russian,” the first single lifted from their forthcoming EP.

I’m not quite sure what the song has in common with my husband’s favourite drink, but I do know that I like how it goes down. It’s so damned catchy, with beautiful harmonies and more hooks than a fisherman’s tackle box.

I had the Soundcloud link, but I think I prefer the energy of this video recorded in the studio. It gives just a hint of what they’re going to unleash at the following shows.

5 June 2015 – Worlds End Brewpub, Sandy Bat
7 June 2015 – Republic Bar, Hobart
12 June 2015 – Standard Bowl, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hein Cooper Impresses with “The Art of Escape”

Hein Cooper has gotten under my skin with his debut single “The Art of Escape.” It’s a gentle song, a real slow burner but let it creep up on you and you’ll start to appreciate its delicate beauty.

Hein hails from the New South Wales south coast but he recorded the track, and the others on his self-titled EP, on a recent trip to Canada where he played Montreal’s Canadian Music Week.

Something tells me it’s not going to long before the rest of the world discovers this talented troubadour.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dolly Denko is Doctrin

Multi-talented Melbourne musical force Dolly Denko is giving us our first taste of her new musical project Doctrin with the exquisite single “Take Me,”  released today. This over-achiever serves as vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and writer on the track which was born from an existential crisis, as so many of the best songs are.

“After binge watching The Craft and Charmed and with already a rough idea for what I wanted the music video to be,” she explained. “I thought that a throwback to magic and occult which I grew up with would represent the theme and story of the song.”

Apparently the song wasn’t just influenced by 90s TV and film, but music as well like Hole and Garbage. However, it certainly doesn’t sound like a throwback. More like this please!