Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paige Valentine Wows Me With “Fool”

Perth singer-songwriter Paige Valentine has given me goosebumps this morning with her latest track “Fool.” It’s full of heartbreak and angst, but its summery sound gives it a hopefulness that balances the dark. The lyrics are direct and relatable and Paige’s voice has such an alluring tone.

“‘Fool’ was very much written as a continuation from the story of my first single, ‘Pure’,” she explained. “It examines the complex and melancholy journey through heartbreak, questioning whether the reward was ever worth the risk. It explores the feelings of unkept promises and unfinished plans, while also remembering the nostalgic warmth of a past connection.”

Live music is back in full force in Western Australia. If you’re lucky enough to live there, catch Paige Valentine at the following shows.

11 December 2020 – Assembly Yard, Fremantle (with Riley Pearce)
20 December 2020 – Clancy’s, Dunsborough (FREE)
21 December 2020 – The Quill Collective, Vasse (SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: She is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get “Sentimental” With Eliza & The Delusionals

Eliza & The Delusionals are sparking indie-rock nostalgia with their latest single “Sentimental.” Their first release since March’s A State of Living in an Objective Reality EP, the track has that late ‘90s, early noughties cool laidback sensibility that I’m really vibing.
The band has worked with some heavy hitters on the release of “Sentimental.” They co-wrote the track with our own Sarah Aarons (Cosmo’s Midnight, Childish Gambino) and U.S. songwriter and producer John Hill (WAFIA, Portugal. The Man). Producer/engineer Dylan Adams (DMA’s, Skeggs, Troy Sivan) also played his part in the song’s sound.

This song came out of a weird time for the band. “Just Exist” earned enough airplay in the U.S. for the band to lock in their first American festival slots and solo gigs, and then COVID-19 hit. Not a band that’s willing to wallow, this song and other new material came out of a desire to keep moving forward musically, despite the odds.

“We’re super proud of this song, it’s one of our favourites to date,” confirmed frontwoman Eliza Klatt. “Kurt started playing some chords in a tuning he made on the tour bus. We knew we were going in for a writing session, so after coming up with a few ideas around the chords, we brought it into the studio with Sarah and John, and they really helped bring it to life. After having a few months of listening to the demo over and over, myself and Kurt added a bridge and the other parts before taking it into the studio with Ruby and Tex to record it.”

From the sound of things, we’re going to hear a lot more from Eliza & The Delusionals in the near future. And that is a verry good thing.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kinkora Slows it Down for “You Got Me”

Unseasonably warm weather calls for a soundtrack that’s sultry and soulful. Melbourne chanteuse Kinkora has you covered with her latest single “You Got Me.” It’s a lot more low-key than her up-tempo debut “Set You Free,” but that shift in sound shows us another side of this super talented singer. The sparse arrangement also lets her voice shine. And what a voice it is. If you loved female R’n’B acts of the ‘90s like Aaliyah and Brandy, this is going to be right up your alley.

Kinkora penned the lyrics to thank the people who helped her through some hard times.

“I’ve dealt with pretty full-on anxiety for a long time. The song is primarily a thank you to my partner who has supported me and provided me with so much love and care during challenging times – and also to my family/friends who are always there for me. It’s a song rooted in gratitude,” she explained.

Kinkora should drop more new music really soon, so keep your ears out for that!

Image used with permission from Kinkora

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The 2020 ARIA Awards Wrap-Up

Judging by the fairly dismal ratings, it seems many of you missed the 2020 ARIA Awards last night. These nights are rarely ratings bonanzas, but there’s always some gold amongst the broadcast. I was also fascinated to see how this year’s awards would function given the current global pandemic. Funnily enough, crosses to artists around the country and a virtual mosh pit felt more natural than that year outside the Opera House. I could have done without the international acts, but I suppose they added a bit of glamour to proceedings.

Tame Impala continued their winning run, taking home five awards including album of the year. Major props to Sampa the Great who no doubt raised her profile with three ARIA wins. On a personal note, I was thrilled to see Miiesha take home the best soul/R&B release for Nyaaringu, one of my favourite releases of the last year.

I think the ARIA awards are a great platform for helping the average Australian catch up with the local music scene. Performances from Lime Cordiale and Amy Shark were especially stellar. But there were two moments for me that really hit my heart. Watching Archie Roach taking his place in the ARIA Hall of Fame, hearing him sing “Took the Children Away” with Paul Kelly, Linda Bull, and other real talents was so moving. The final number, a tribute to Helen Reddy, brought Australia’s leading female artists together for her feminist anthem “I Am Woman.” Generations of strong Aussie female performers were represented, from Marcia Hines and Kate Ceberano to Tones & I and Montaigne. A video wall brought more famous voices into the chorus. This was packed, and as a woman I’ve got to admit I got a little misty by all that strong feminine energy.

If you missed the show, I encourage you to check out these performances if nothing else. And listen to those albums and songs celebrated this year. Here are all the winners:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST MALE ARTIST: Archie Roach – Tell Me Why
BEST FEMALE ARTIST: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST DANCE RELEASE: Dom Dolla – San Frandisco
BEST GROUP: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST: Lime Cordiale – 14 Steps To A Better You
BEST POP RELEASE: Amy Shark – Everybody Rise
BEST HIP HOP RELEASE: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST SOUL/R&B RELEASE: Miiesha – Nyaaringu
BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST ROCK ALBUM: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: Archie Roach – Tell Me Why
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM: Fanny Lumsden – Fallow
BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY ALBUM: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Chunky Shrapnel
BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM: The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Forum
BEST CHILDREN‘S ALBUM: Teeny Tiny Stevies – Thoughtful Songs for Little People
BEST COMEDY RELEASE: Anne Edmonds – What‘s Wrong With You?
BEST VIDEO: Guy Sebastian – Standing With You
BEST AUSTRALIAN LIVE ACT: Amy Shark – Amy Shark Regional Tour
SONG OF THE YEAR: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Teeth
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST: Harry Styles – Fine Line
BEST COVER ART: WASHINGTON – Batflowers
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM: Richard Tognetti & Erin Helyard – Beethoven & Mozart Violin Sonatas
BEST JAZZ ALBUM: Paul Kelly & Paul Grabowsky – Please Leave Your Light On
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OR MUSICAL THEATRE CAST ALBUM: Chelsea Cullen – I Am Woman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM: Joseph Tawadros – Live at the Sydney Opera House

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LUPA J Wows Me With “This Suburb” From Latest Album

LUPA J’s new album To Breathe Underwater is out now, a fascinating collection of songs that showcase the diversity of this daring Aussie artist. It’s such an eclectic mix of tracks created during the COVID lockdown. Even when the tracks don’t resonate with me (and on such a diverse album, I think it’s hard to please everyone all the time) I appreciate LUPA J’s bold bravery.

The track that’s hit me hardest is the current single, “This Suburb.” It’s a lot quieter and more introspective than most of the tracks on this album, which ensures it really stands out.

“‘This Suburb’ is one of the most raw and vulnerable songs I’ve ever made. It sits a little outside my ‘usual’ pop-dance style but I think it might be my personal favourite on the album. I don’t always feel up to being so lyrically honest and emotional, sometimes I just want to make techno tracks with little to no vocals – but when I feel capable & ready of writing a song like this it’s a really incomparable, cathartic experience,” they explained. “This one still makes me teary to listen to sometimes – it’s about the intensity of an attachment that’s to not only a person but a place and a life you’ve become so wrapped up in together.”

LUPA J worked closely with Kat Silverosa to translate her musical vision into a gorgeous music video.

“While writing the song I had all this fantastical imagery in my head of a body becoming one with a place, almost like this singular organism, as seen in the chorus lyrics:

I’ve grown to love this suburb
My skin is a sticky sap
It’s grown into your walls
And around the vines out the back

Kat Silverosa, the video director, translated this into a really beautiful stop motion style concept where we used paint and liquid to visually meld me into a space. I’m very proud of how it turned out.”

To Breathe Underwater is a dynamic listening experience, but if you’re short on time make sure you at least check this song out. It’s really something special.

Image used with permission from Arow Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydney’s Sloan Peterson Drops “Nightmare”

Nothing makes you understand your flaws quite like the downtime we’ve had through the pandemic. With my husband working from home since mid-March, we’re discovering just what nightmares we both can be. So “Nightmare,” the latest single from Sydney’s Sloan Peterson, is ticking all the boxes for me. It’s a sugary sounding indie-pop track with a dark undercurrent that’s perfect for these pandemic times.

“The beauty of songwriting is creating a story or poem with emotive concepts; it could be elements of truth, exaggeration or completely fictional” she explained. “‘Nightmare’ is shining a light on the fact that perhaps my expectations in life could come across unrealistic at times, but on the other hand does that really make me a nightmare or just a strong-minded woman who knows what she wants. It’s written in a playful relationship sense but questioning the construct of being deemed bossy or controlling rather than assertive or driven. I think it’s something a few people might relate to, whether it be a personal, social or professional circumstance.”

With a new EP slated for release early next year, we’ll be hearing a lot of Sloan Peterson in the near future.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leonie Kingdom Releases New Pandemic Folk Anthem, “2020”

It’s safe to say that 2020 hasn’t turned out the way any of us expected. Queensland’s Leonie Kingdom has paid tribute to a year that’s been memorable for all the wrong reasons with her folky new single “2020.” However, don’t expect your typical pandemic soundtrack. This song examines the little things that pile up rather than the enormity of the global health crisis.

“It magnifies all the ‘non-event’ things that went wrong this year whilst subtly ignoring the elephant in the room that is the global pandemic. This is not your ordinary ‘sad’ song; the upbeat production married with pitiful lyrics give the overall song a lighthearted feel.”

Leonie teamed up with animator apricotbanana for this cute clip.

Leonie is currently supporting Sons of the East on their You Might Think tour. It wraps up on Friday night, November 20, at Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Loiter’s New Single “In This Town”

With international travel off the table and border closures isolating so many states, it’s easy to feel a bit fractured from the rest of the world these days. But Loiter reminds us of what great things can happen when we come together. The band features a British expat and lads from Newcastle and Brisbane, and they’re pretty fantastic. Once you hear their new single “In This Town,” I’ll bet you’ll want to hear more.

“When I wrote the lyrics to ‘In This Town’, I was in a dark place. A volatile relationship was due to end as she was moving away, and although I knew it was probably for the best, in my immaturity I didn’t want it to,” explained frontman Daryn Yeats. However, the song took on new meaning when he moved to Australia and joined Loiter.

The band just dropped the music video for what will be their only single release for 2020. Hopefully, the new year brings plenty more music from these guys.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; photo credit: Will Johnstone

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sing Along to Midnight Drags’ “Ronnie”

I’m really digging the retro vibes of Midnight Drags’ new single “Ronnie” this morning. It’s got such a great power pop feel. But before you hit play on that bad boy, be prepared, this song will get stuck in your head. I guarantee you’ll be singing the catchy chorus throughout your day.

“Ronnie is a love song about yearning, regret and ultimately meeting one’s fate,” explained Lucas James, the man behind his exciting solo musical act. “It was (loosely) written about someone I know who went to jail. It’s written from the perspective of their confused and tormented loved one waiting on the outside.”

Lucas recorded the track at his studio with his talented musical friends Ashley Naylor (Even, Paul Kelly Band), Bill McDonald (Stephen Cummings, Frente), and Brett Wolfenden (The Casanovas, Wolfmother). No wonder it sounds so good.

“Ronnie” is our first taste of the new Midnight Drags album Bad Business, which should drop early next year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

JXCKY Releases Romantic Pandemic Track, “Lockdown Lover”

The global pandemic hasn’t brought us a lot worth celebrating, but the creativity it’s inspired is a real silver lining. Melbourne was hit harder than most Aussie cities, but local soul singer JXCKY has turned lemons into lemonade with his latest single “Lockdown Lover.”

The track explores the idea of building emotional connections during this time when physical connections are so hard to find. It sounds like a bit of a throwback to the slow-jam glory days of the ‘90s, which is no negative at all. JXCKY’s falsetto is oh so smooth.

With a few more single releases slated for 2020’s remaining months and an album to follow next year, it sounds like we’ll be hearing a lot more from JXCKY.