Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boyeur Make Me Swoon with “Cupid”

Today Melbourne indie pop duo Boyeur have officially unleashed their brand new single “Cupid.” The release comes ahead of the band’s debut EP Gold Street, which is slated to hit stores on May 30. The lads will celebrate the releases with official launches all around the country.

It might have a romantic title, but the single is no cliché. Its lush strings are dreamy, but the song’s actually about those moments when the head gets in the way of the heart.

“Overthinking is toxic to any human relationship,” explained Tim Ischia, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, “and sometimes it prevents a relationship from even starting. All the emotions become magnified and you end up being too nervous to do anything.”

I love the way this duo marries classical elements with contemporary hip hop sounds. The song’s also so catchy, but it stays well away from the middle of the road. The two piece manages to play six instruments between them, so music lovers are in for a real treat when Boyeur play shows to support the single release next month.

“We’re really excited to play live with our string quartet,” Tim said. “We spent a lot of time perfecting our setup so that the two of us can play all of our instruments on stage and adding the string quartet to that creates something we’re really proud of!”

You can see just how good Boyeur are for yourself at the following gigs.

4 June 2014 – The Vanguard, Sydney
6 June 2014 – The Newsagency, Sydney
7 June 2014 – Rad, Wollongong
8 June 2014 – Smith’s Alternative Bookshop, Canberra (3-5pm)
26 June 2014 – The Workers Club, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Empire Tours Top 30 Album

Sydney rock quartet New Empire are celebrating the recent top 30 debut of their sophomore album In a Breath with a national tour. The sort of MMM-friendly stadium rock you’ll hear on the album is showcased beautifully by the lead single “Say It Like You Mean It.”

The boys from Cronulla have supported the likes of Owl City, Neon Trees, Simple Plan, and Good Charlotte, but now it’s there time to shine. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows from New Empire’s tour website.

7 June 2014 – Old Museum, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
13 June 2014 – Factory Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES)
19 June 2014 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (18+)
21 June 2014 – SUB, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
26 June 2014 – Transit Bar, Canberra (18+)
27 June 2014 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli (18+)
28 June 2014 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle (18+)
4 July 2014 – The Promethean, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
5 July 2014 – Venue TBC, Perth (ALL AGES)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Evening Cast Do It Again with “Questions”

The Evening Cast are one of those awesome Aussie bands that never quite got the accolades they deserve. They plug away releasing incredible song after incredible song to very little fanfare. It’s a shame, because more people really deserve to hear their latest single “Questions.” Lucky for you, you can do just that here.

It’s got such a strong melodic centre. It all seems to effortless, and before you know it it’s over and you’re ready to play it again.

If you love “Questions” too, make sure you catch The Evening Cast when they tour the single all around the country. They’re playing some lovely intimate venues which are perfect for showcasing their special brand of music.

7 June 2014 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne
9 June 2014 – The Lass, Newcastle
20 June 2014 – Yours & Owls, Wollongong
21 June 2014 – Oxford Art Factory – Gallery Bar, Sydney
27 June 2014 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
28 June 2014 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
12 July 2014 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mind Over Matter Collaborate with Bliss N Eso

After wowing listeners with their single “Real Life,” Mind Over Matter are back with a brand new track, “What They Say.” The lead single for the local hip hop duo’s album This Way to Elsewhere features special guest vocals from Bliss N Eso.

It’s such a soulful track with some really smart lyrics. What do you think of it?

Mind Over Matter’s new album This Way to Elsewhere hits stores on May 30.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Todd Sibbin Wows me with Blame it on the Aeroplanes

Adelaide singer-songwriter is back with a brand new band and a killer new song. “Blame it on the Aeroplanes” sets the bar incredibly high for Todd Sibbin and the Acadian Driftwood and their new LP A Set of Knives, A Pair of Pens, which is scheduled for a midyear release.

I knew before even reading the press release that this was a song that came from deep personal experience. It’s just got that raw grit of emotion running through it. Todd penned the track when his nearest and dearest began to move away, and he was struggling with their leaving. It’s just so achingly good.

You can hear it and other songs from the album when Todd Sibbin and the Acadian Driftwood launch the single at the following shows.

10 May 2014 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne (Full Band)
23 May 2014 – The Newsagency, Sydney (Solo)
7 June 2014 – Wheatsheaf, Adelaide (Full Band)
13 June 2014 – Jade Monkey, Adelaide (Full Band)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amaya Laucirica Tours “Sway”

Amaya Laucirica will take her beautiful voice on the road this month to promote the recent release of her album Sway. The album features the previously released singles “Prettier Than The Sound” and “On the Air” and the newie, “Running Out of Time.”

Amaya will play regional centres and capital cities with her full band over the next month. All the ticketing information is available on her website.

15 May 2014 – Beav’s Bar, Geelong
17 May 2014 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
23 May 2014 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
24 May 2014 – Curtin Bandroom, Melbourne
31 May 2014 – Goodgod Small Club Sydney
8 June 2014 – MONA, Hobart (1pm)
8 June 2014 – The Republic, Hobart
13 June 2014 – Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay
14 June 2014 – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hands Like Houses Cover Natalie Imbruglia

When I heard that Canberran six-piece Hands Like Houses had recorded a cover of Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” for the Punk Goes 90s Vol 2 compilation album, I expected a frenetic rendition of the Aussie classic. However, this is actually a surprisingly tender, powerful version of the iconic song. It seems I’m not the only one that thinks so, because since the album’s digital release it’s become the most downloaded song. That’s some feat considering that the compilation also features international heavyweights like Yellowcard and Falling in Reverse.

Hands Like Houses are attracting a legion of international fans at the moment. They’re currently headlining shows in the United Kingdom, and then they’ll be off to the United States to support Chiodos and play their own shows. Never fear though Aussie music lovers; they’ll be gigging back on home soil later this year.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Isaac de Heer Unleashes Summer

I dragged out my tracksuit pants for the first time this year recently, so I know summer’s long gone. However, Isaac de Heer is attempting to bring a bit of its warmth back with his new album Summer, which hits stores on May 8.

It’s a unique album with hip-hop inspired musings about spaceships, piano ballads about time’s residue, and music set to his grandfather’s own poem, also called “Summer.” But we wouldn’t expect convention from the guy who grew up off the power grid in northern NSW and travelled around Asia, India, South America, and Europe. You can learn a little more about the making of the album in this video.

Isaac will celebrate the release of Summer with a tour of some fabulous intimate venues later this month.

15 May 2014 – Front Gallery, Canberra
16 May 2014 – Yum Yum Eatery, Hardy’s Bay
17 May 2014 – Newsagency, Sydney
18 May 2014 – Green Room Lounge, Sydney
22 May 2014 – The Junk Bar, Brisbane
23 May 2014 – The Treehouse, Byron Bay
25 May 2014 – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daniel Lee Kendall on the Comeback Trail

It’s been nearly three years since I reviewed Daniel Lee Kendall’s sublime sophomore EP Talk the Night Away. I raved about the five track collection, but insisted that such a small number of songs was merely a tease. I said that I couldn’t wait for the long player, but it seems I can.

Finally my patience has been rewarded with “Angelique,” the first new song Daniel’s released in years. It’s not that he hasn’t been creative, but it seems he’d been spending too much time in his head, worrying about whether the music would be embraced and whether commercial success would follow. And so his songs sat, gathering virtual dust.

It was clear something had to change, so Daniel set off for some soul searching in the Middle East and Sri Lanka. Then he headed to university, hoping to find the answers there. Finally he was in the right headspace to revisit some 50 demos that had sat idly. “Angelique” was one of those tracks which has been given a second chance as Daniel rediscovered his love of music.

“Here I am, with an album of songs that I once loved, and have learnt to re-love again. Though with a different love. It’s far more like I’m appreciating an old album of an artist in my youth,” he explained in a press release. “It’s almost as though someone else has written these songs, and I can appreciate and enjoy what this person has created and I wish to share them with people again.”

And once again, I can’t wait to hear more, or at least I’m excited that I won’t need to wait too long.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Damien Leith Releases New Song for Mothers’ Day

Mothers’ Day will be here before you know it, and Damien Leith is celebrating with the release of a brand new single “Halfway Heart.” After a recent trip back home to Ireland, Damien discovered that the song was his mother’s favourite from his Chapter Seven album, so he decided it had to be the next single.

Damien penned the song in Los Angeles after observing a couple on a less-than-romantic date.

“Lots of different things inspired this song but especially for me it was watching a couple at dinner one night being really distant and I thought that they had lost the spark or given up on their relationship but kept hanging in there only half-heartedly,” he explained.

Damien’s just released the “Halfway Heart” clip, which was also shot in his homeland. Fans can look forward to hearing this song as Damien continues to weave his way around the country on his national tour. He’ll play the Koroit Irish Festival on April 26, and the Glenn Innes Service Club on May 3.