Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wayne Swan’s Daughter is “So Cool”!

While Wayne Swan has been doing his best to manage Australia’s money, his daughter Erinn has been quietly plugging away at a musical career. With her band Streamer Bendy, the tattooed Brisbanite has written and recorded tracks in Sweden and Los Angeles. The new single “You’re So Cool” is the first taste of their efforts.

“Things are very exciting in the world of Streamer Bendy right now” Erinn Swan explained. “We’ve just completed a marathon trip to Sweden where we collaborated with the likes of superstar producers Macho Psycho (P!nk), Trinity, Martin Hansen (The Rasmus), and Arnthor Birgisson (Leona Lewis, Natalie Bassingthwaite, Jennifer Lopez).”

We can expect more melodic and insanely catchy rock-pop songs when the band releases its debut album next year. They plan on conquering Australia, then setting their sights on Europe, so it sounds like 2011 is going to be massive for them!

Until then, check out the video for “You’re So Cool!”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Musicians Go LIVE at Sydney Festival Art Installation

There are so many exciting musical acts winging their way to New South Wales’ capital for the annual Sydney Festival. Emmylou Harris, Sufjan Stevens, and Paul Kelly’s A to Z shows are grabbing all the headlines, but I think one of the most interesting events is LIVE: An Intimate Video Study of the Art of Performing.

It’s an installation which features some of Australia and the world’s most exciting musicians captured on film. Each artist has performed a song of their choosing against a simple white background. Visitors wear wireless headphones to choose the artists they want to hear, while they watch the visuals projected on one of four large screens.

The idea is that by stripping away the lighting, the screaming crowds, and the theatrics, we get closer to the heart of the song and the performer presenting it.  So many fantastic and fascinated artists are represented here, including Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker, Peaches, Juliette Lewis and our own Jimmy Little, Clare Bowditch, and as seen in this video snippet, Gareth Liddiard from The Drones.

Gareth will also perform on the LIVE opening night, along with Sarah Blasko, Kram, and Laura Jean. Tickets for the January 13 opening cost $45. If you can’t make it for that night you can see the LIVE installation from January 14 to 23 for $15, or $12 for concession holders. All tickets are available from the Sydney Festival website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Something Special from The Honey Month

It’s rare to come across a band that feels really original. After all, there are only so many different instruments, and so many different notes they can play. But after listening to The Honey Month’s new song “Foliage,” I’m beginning to think they might be one of those rare gems.

Their sound is so exciting. Synths combine with heavy drums and a bunch of other sounds I can’t quite put my finger on to create something so lush and organic. The film clip is also gorgeous with all those fairy lights.

The Honey Month have been creating a bit of buzz after recent support slots with Glenn Richards and You Am I. Something tells me it’s only a matter of time before they’re regular headliners.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Free Montpelier Song Download

Brisbane four-piece Montpelier is giving us our first taste of their forthcoming EP by offering a free download of one song, “Last Boat.”

Click here to own the track, which features haunting vocals from Greg Chiapello and some incredible drum beats reminiscent of The Temper Trap. It’s no wonder Greg delivers such an amazing vocal performance, as he penned it about his difficult teenage years coming to terms with OCD.

“When I was in my late teens I got diagnosed with OCD. I had lived with it since I was quite young but never knew exactly what it was. Around the time of writing Last Boat I was really getting on top of the OCD and really learning how to manage and live with it,” he explained.

“This song for me does encapsulate the pretty extreme struggles experienced over those years, the isolation and helplessness an illness like that can make you feel, but it also reminds me of the wonderful liberation and strength I felt at the time knowing I could live with it, and knowing that it wasn’t going to be debilitating for the rest of my life.”

If you love the song make sure you look out for Montpelier’s EP next April.And make sure to check out its incredible animated video!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thirsty Merc Video Wins Cinematography Award

The clip for Thirsty Merc’s song “All My Life” has taken out the gold award in the music video category at last weekend’s Australian Cinematographer’s Association Awards.

The clip was directed by Adrian Van de Velde in conjunction with director of photography David Knight. The duo has collaborated with Thirsty Merc’s lead singer Rai Thistlethwayte for the last five years, and with this award under their belt I guess those efforts have paid off.

If you haven’t seen this moving video, you can watch it below.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Download Sarah McLeod for Charity

You might remember me talking recently about Sarah McLeod’s awesome cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.” If you haven’t downloaded it yet, or you’re just feeling particularly altruistic, there’s no better time to do so.

Until Christmas Day Sarah will donate the proceeds of each download to Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets charity. This group does such important work, giving meals, beds, and education to young people that need it most. Ministry of Sound and VDG will also match Sarah’s donations, so your $1.69 will make a much bigger difference.

I know it’s Christmas and money’s tight, but most of us wouldn’t miss $1.69. And you’ll get an amazing tune in the bargain. Click here to download the song from iTunes and make sure disadvantaged kids get a better Christmas.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefield Sisters Rock

While watching Video Hits on Sunday the clip for this song, “Through the Clover” by Stonefield, caught my eye. After doing a bit of digging, I was thrilled to find that this rocking sister act is one of our own.

In a world of vacuous female pop acts with auto-tuned vocals, it’s so refreshing to see girls that make real music. This song is ballsy stuff, with some rocking guitar riffs and great raspy vocals.

This tune comes from the Melbourne band’s EP of the same name. To sound this polished and powerful before even recording an album is incredible. I’m predicting really big things from these girls.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“If Only” – Juke Kartel

I know there are plenty of Juke Kartel fans around so I figured I’d show you their new music video for “If Only.” The clip takes us around their new base of California, from the streets of downtown Los Angeles to the arid beauty of the state’s deserts. This song was one of my favorite cuts from their album Levolution, and I think this gorgeous video definitely does it justice. Do you like it?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hancock Basement Unleash New Single

Canberra four-piece Hancock Basement are back with a vengeance with their catchy new single “One in a Million Does.”

This bouncy pop number is irresistible, the kind of thing you’ll find yourself singing for days later. The song also marks the band’s first foray into the world of music videos. It’s a fun debut, with the band held hostage by an evil record company exec and some food-throwing minions.

If you like what you see, you can catch the band on a blink and you’ll miss them tour around the country.

24 November 2010 – The Maram, Canberra (supporting You Am I)
25 November 2010 – The Empress, Melbourne
26 November 2010 – Transmission @ Ed Castle, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Verses Duet with Dan Sultan

The Verses are one of my favorite new acts from 2010, and I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Dan Sultan, so when I heard they’d teamed up for a single I knew it’d be good.

If the song “Running Away” sounds familiar it’s because you’ve heard it on The Verses debut album Seasons. I loved the original, but I think it works even better as a duet. The chemistry between Ella Hooper and Dan Sultan is only natural as they’ve been close mates for years.

“As soon as we met we knew we had a really strong musical chemistry and incredibly similar taste, so we’ve been plotting and planning, waiting for the right moment to do something together and ‘Running Away’ was one of Dan’s favorite songs of mine,” Ella explained. “The song really came to life when Dan started singing along one day when we were demo-ing it, so we turned it into a duet. He often jumps up at our gigs and sings and I was very proud and excited to sing backing vocals and a duet on his record. It’s
a fantastic feeling to sing with one of my best friends who also happens to be one of the country’s best talents!”

This new version of “Running Away” is available as a digital download from iTunes.