Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ILUKA Spreads Sunshine With “Get Free” Single

Weekends are all about freedom, especially now those lockdowns have lifted, so what better time to introduce you to ILUKA’s banging new single “Get Free.” This synthy poppy masterpiece is the perfect track to get you grooving on this Saturday morning.

“I think it was a confession of the journey I’ve been on over the years. A celebration of the messy and long-winded route I’ve always taken – always a little left of centre and always in reach of something but never quite getting there, wherever ‘there’ even is,” ILUKA said of the song’s inspiration. “I think it was a way for me to find joy in that path rather than frustration and loneliness and in turn, to hopefully bring some kind of joy to the listeners.”

The song comes with a beautiful video filmed on Gundungurra and Darug land in the Blue Mountains, choreographed by Matthew Gode, and directed by Sophia de Vries. She explained, “We wanted to create a visual journey that embodied the idea of feeling free. Expansive natural environments, vibrant colours, and expressive movement. I was particularly inspired by the French filmmaker Eric Rohmer and the feeling of long summer days with no place to be.”

Expect to hear a lot more from ILUKA really soon, as she’s currently putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited debut album.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Vasili Papathanasopoulos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Heirloome Releases Special Single, “Flesh To Flower”

When you listen to as much music as I do, it’s rare to hear releases that are truly original. Queer/nonbinary artist Heirloome is one special soul who isn’t afraid to go their own way though. Their latest single “Flesh To Flower” is a hauntingly beautiful track that pays tribute to their late brother.

“Losing my little brother was the deepest grief of my life – it completely broke me,” Heirloome explained. “He was 23. I had to create this magical world to protect myself, and to grieve, or I just couldn’t cope. I saw a shaman ten days after he passed, and she said that his spirit was still in shock – so we sang to him, to help him understand and move on. That’s how this song happened. The shaman called in the spirit of a hummingbird to guide me, and the next day three birds appeared at my window and told me to write three songs for my brother. It’s really me singing to him – asking his spirit questions about life, about what it all means … and what it is to die.

“I didn’t want the song to be dark – I wanted it to be filled with the mysticism of this human experience we are having, to transform the pain into beauty somehow. I wanted to create a magical soundscape where it was safe enough to feel the loss, and begin to heal.”

This track is so special. Heirloome describes it as chamber pop/indietronica which gets close, but I’m not sure words quite capture the magic of it. And then you add in the gorgeous music video which adds a new cinematic dimension to the song.

It sounds like we’re in for more unique art when Heirloome releases their debut EP Cycles on November 19. Click here to sign up for the free interactive online experience.

Image used with permission from Heirloome

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Cummings’ Latest Single is a Slice of “Heaven”

Grace Cummings has got one of those voices that stops you in your tracks. It’s like she’s smoked a thousand cigarettes and lived a life well beyond her tender years. She already sounds like one of the greats, but her new single “Heaven” comes from only her second album, Storm Queen.

“I wrote ‘Heaven’ in just about the same time it takes to sing,” she admitted. “I heard that you’d always know who the hero was in an old cowboy movie because they’d be wearing a ten-gallon Stetson. Heaven might be a person… or a place… or my father or a tiny little caterpillar or the sound of a kookaburra laughing. The kookaburra is a hero. I am not.”

Storm Queen drops on January 14. If this track is any indication, you’re going to want to hear it.

Image used with permission from Brain Drain PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus Legg Drops Sweet Pop Bop, “3rd Grade Art”

If you love accessible folky pop bops from acts like Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes, I think “3rd Grade Art” by Melbourne’s Angus Legg will be right up your alley. It’s incredibly sweet with nostalgic lyrics that take listeners back to the simple days of childhood.

“The metaphorical undertone felt playful, light and energetic, however, I was having a tough time with my partner at the time and decided I would use this idea to frame our difficulties in a new, positive light,” Angus explained.

If you weren’t already in love with Angus, the music video might just push you over the edge. It’s cheeky, goofy, and impossibly endearing.
Remember the name, because I predict we’re going to hear a lot more about Angus Legg in the years to come.

Image used with permission from GYROstream

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get to Know The Ritzy Kids

Listening to a debut single usually goes one of two ways. I either feel like the act needs more time to mature or I fall for their energy. Thankfully The Ritzy Kids fall into the latter camp. Their first track “Breakthrough” is a high-energy slice of pop-punk just brimming with the enthusiasm of an act that simply loves making music.

It wasn’t long ago that this song dropped into my inbox, but The Ritzy Kids’ have already released a couple more tracks: “Sally” and the new single “Scars and Regrets.” Turn your volume right up really do this track justice.

The Ritzy Kids formed in Sydney earlier this year. Singer-songwriter Sean Frazer spent the summer writing songs for the project. With a solid three months’ worth of material, he approached producer Mitch Willard who lent drums to the project and mixed the mastered their story. This is just the start of The Ritzy Kids’ story, but it feels like there’s a lot more to tell.

Image used with permission from Sean Frazer

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Nostalgic With The Wolfe Brothers’ “Kids on Cassette”

As a woman of a certain age, I can’t help but love the title track from The Wolfe Brothers’ latest album, “Kids on Cassette.” As its name suggests, this is a real nostalgia-fest for those of us who grew up with our cassettes and walkmans.

The Tassie act had gone back to their roots with the video too. The clip features a pair of real-life brothers stepping into the shoes of Nick and Tom Wolfe. It was filmed on location at The Wolfe Brother’s Berry Farm in Southern Tasmania.

“Kids On Cassette is all about that amazing feeling of being a kid, when everything seemed bigger and it felt like the summer holidays lasted forever,” Nick Wolfe explained. “Tom and I are so grateful to have grown-up where we did as country kids, and in this video, we tried to capture a day in our childhood. Exploring, learning, getting into strife, and of course, playing music with our mates.

“To watch the brothers play us was amazing. I think their personalities really reflected ours. I could see a lot of similarities between us: a couple of country kids who make their own home movies and recordings and write songs and jam. Really, we could not have found a more matched pair! To watch the kids all jamming in the old fruit pickers hut where we used to 20-years ago was actually uncanny. It was like stepping into a time machine. Seeing the kids jamming out at a band practice really brings a smile to my face. I remember being in that very room, rocking out with our mates, all just totally high of the joy of music, long before any thoughts of business or careers ever entered our heads.”

If you like what you hear, you can pick up a signed copy of the album plus a free sticker for just $20 from The Wolfe Brothers online store, while stocks last. The Wolfe Brothers are also in the middle of an Aussie tour. You can still catch them play at all the following venues:

27 November 2021 – Country Rocks Canberra @ Rose Cottage, Tuggeranong
2 December 2021 – Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns
3 December 2021 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
4 December 2021 – Queens Beach Hotel, Bowen
5 December 2021 – Mt. Pleasant Hotel, Mackay
10 December 2021 – Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane
11 December 2021 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
21 January 2022 – The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth

Image: Michael parkergraphix @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wanderers Bring the Good Vibes With “Nothing in This World”

If you’re having problems shaking off that new working week funk, press play. “Nothing in This World,” the soulful new single from Wanderers, is the perfect song to put a smile back on your dial. Fittingly, lead singer Dusty Lee penned the track as he tried to shake off his own funk and creative dry spell.

“I felt that I was at a crossroads at the time, approaching 30 and realising that my old algorithms for distraction and excitement weren’t really working the same way they used to,” he admitted. “I wanted more, but not sure what, when or how. All I knew was that my old tricks weren’t serving me anymore. So I dove deep into this feeling, which actually brought me some sort of clarity.”

The pandemic has seen Wanderers stuck in their native South Australia for some time, but all that will change this month with the duo announcing some shows in Queensland. Catch them at all the venues listed below if you can! Stay tuned if you live in the rest of the country. Wanderers aim to play gigs all around Australia in 2022.

6 November 2021 – Big Easy Radio, Aldinga
26 November 2021 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
27 November 2021 – Felons Barrel Hall, Brisbane (FREE)

Image used with permission from Big Oak Records; credit: Samuel Graves

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Buckleys Release Nostalgic Throwback Single, “Woodstock 69”

The Buckleys have got me feeling nostalgic with their latest single “Woodstock69.” With the world still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, this song perfectly encapsulates the way many of us are longing for a simpler time. The band namechecks Joni Mitchell and references the barefoot hippies, creating a beautiful picture of the Summer of Love. I remember loving this song when the band released their album, and I’m now remembering all the reasons why with the single release. And of course, it’s also made me nostalgic for those big rock shows and the sense of community I always find there.

“Beyond Woodstock, this song is reminiscent of the times we all stood in packed crowds, singing songs, holding the hands of strangers, and dancing together,” the band said in their press release. “It’s a song that embodies the excitement we have for when we all get to do this again. This is our love letter to live music and the impact Live Music has had on all of our lives.”

The song comes with a beautiful music video which was directed by the band’s youngest member, Molly Buckley. She shot the video on location at Chris Murphy’s Ballina property, Sugar Beach Ranch. I think you’ll agree it makes the perfect Laurel Canyon stand-in!

Those big live shows might be a little way off yet, but in the meantime, you can catch The Buckleys sharing all their favourite cover versions in virtual shows from their home studio, Soulfood Studios. Check out the Soulfood Sessions on The Buckleys’ YouTube channel.

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Can’t Fight The Appeal of Etoile Marley’s “Moonlight”

Etoile Marley’s first name means “star” in French, so it’s not surprising that the night sky inspired her new single. “Moonlight” is a cool, sultry electro R’n’B track that is quite frankly out of this world.

Etoile’s rich voice really drew me into this one, but I was impressed to learn just how much creative control she had. She wrote and produced the song, which sounds just as polished as anything coming out of the big studios. Apparently this single gives us a big clue about the theme of the music from Etoile’s album, which is scheduled for release in 2022.

Image credit: Etoile Marley EPK

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Find Music and Mental Health Tips With “Scrub Sessions”

As restrictions ease further today in New South Wales, it can be easy to forget much of Australia is still doing it tough. With the Central Coast lumped back into Greater Sydney, I’m still separated from my family in Newcastle. I’ve spoken to friends in Melbourne who find looking at the images from Sydney a little hard to take. Their restrictions will ease on Friday, but with daily cases at close to 2,000, many still don’t feel confident venturing out. People focus on mental health while we’re all locked down, but I think it’s something that will concern us for some time as we try to navigate the new normal. So I was thrilled to discover Scrub Sessions, a cool podcast series focusing on music and wellness from the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

There are three episodes so far, including the latest featuring doctor and singer-songwriter Gordi. Here’s an awesome musical performance from that episode.

Hosted by the head and founder of the hospital’s Scrub Choir Dr Emma O’Brien OAM, all the episodes feature interviews and music, including some great wellness tips.

“Scrub Sessions aim to lift the spirits of our staff, patients and community,” Dr O’Brien explained. “It’s been a long difficult road for us all, and it is at these times, more than ever, that we need to stay connected and celebrate small moments of joy, working together to face the multiple health, physical, mental and emotional challenges brought on by the pandemic – Scrub Sessions aim to keep the hope alive.”

If you need a pick-me-up, I thoroughly recommend checking the Scrub Sessions out on YouTube or your favourite digital streaming platform.