Sydney indie-pop act Bel Woods has burst onto the local scene with her first single “Running.” It might be her debut, but there’s a confidence in the track that reminds me of classic female-fronted acts like The Pretenders and The Motels.
It’s so interesting to hear how the song evolved too. It started life as a samba ballad, but over the years it’s morphed into the high energy indie-pop track we hear today. It might have been a couple of years in the making, but the song’s narrative about two people drawn to one another against their better judgement is timeless.
“Running” is a really strong start from Bel Woods and hopefully a great sign of things to come for this talented Sydneysider.
Alice Springs born, Virginia raised, and now living in Melbourne, Jayden McGrath has been exposed to a wealth of musical influences through his travels. They all come together in his genre-defying new single “Conditions.” It’s a little pop, a little rock, a little R’n’B, with a sprinkling of other elements as well, yet it all comes together so seamlessly.
That catchy, unique sound drew me in, but the song’s inspiration is every bit as fascinating.
“’Conditions’ is a track that came up for me in a rather dark period of my life,” Jayden explained. “After some big changes, I started to question the meaning and purpose of my life. At the time it felt like every step forward sent me two steps back. ‘Conditions’ is a kind of morbid acceptance of everything being dull for me at this point in time. Luckily since then, things have changed!”
Jayden will launch “Conditions” this Friday night, June 7, at The Evelyn in Melbourne.
Sydney singer-songwriter East Denistone is back with a beautiful new single, “River.” His first release for 2019 is perfect for the season, an evocative, brooding number with poetic lyrics and a gorgeous interplay of piano and guitar.
“The song itself started off being about the nature of addictive behaviours … over time, it evolved into a song about life choices and consequences,” he explained. “It’s not some complicated, deeply introspective lyrical juggernaut, and I don’t think all music has to be. My hope is that the idea of making undesirable decisions that you might regret later on is a relatable predicament for listeners.”
East Denistone filmed the clip at his parents’ home where he lived most of his life.
“If I did have one thing working in my favour it was the fact that I knew the locale better than any other place in the world,” he admitted. “It’s a weird house too! Different parts were renovated at different times and there was an extension added to it before I was born so there were few funny little different areas of the house to take advantage of.”
This is really special stuff from one of Sydney’s most promising new artists.
They’re not quite household names here yet, but The Faim are destined for greatness. They sold out shows around the United Kingdom and Europe earlier this year and are getting rave reviews in leading publications like Forbes, NME, and Billboard. Not bad for a couple of mates from Perth, right?
If you love big anthemic rock tracks from the likes of Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco, you’re going to adore these guys and their most recent single “Amelie.” Take a listen and if you dig it, make sure you get along to one of their upcoming Aussie shows. Something tells me they’ll be playing larger venues and spending less and less time in Australia as time goes on!
12 July 2019 – The Zoo, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
12 July 2019 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
13 July 2019 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
14 July 2019 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
14 July 2019 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (18+)
17 July 2019 – The Factory, Sydney
19 July 2019 – Vision Studios, Perth
20 July 2019 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
17 August 2019 – Frequency Festival, St Polten
19 August 2019 – Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg
20 August 2019 – Melkweg, Amsterdam
21 August 2019 – Den Eglantier, Antwerp
23 August 2019 – Leeds Festival, Leeds
25 August 2019 – Reading Festival, Reading
27 August 2019 – Academy 2, Dublin
28 August 2019 – Oh Yeah, Belfast
29 August 2019 – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
30 August 2019 – Arts Club, Liverpool
31 August 2019 – Corporation, Sheffield
1 September 2019 – Epic Studios, Norwich
4 September 2019 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg
5 September 2019 – Skaters Palace, Munster
7 September 2019 – Hydrozagadka, Warsaw
8 September 2019 – Lollapalooza, Berlin
10 September 2019 – Tower, Bremen
11 September 2019 – Meetfactory, Prague
In this modern world of social media, ironically many of us feel more isolated than ever before. Sydney synth-pop duo Froyo touch on the mental health issues that isolation often triggers with their latest single “Out There.”
The band isn’t just paying lip service to one of society’s hot button issues. One half of the duo, Michael Chow, struggled with depression during the making of their latest EP Blue. “Out There” was penned about the way the band felt missing a friend who’d moved overseas. However, it took on a deeper meaning after that friend took his own life before the EP’s release. The EP is now dedicated to his memory.
Blue features “Out There” and another track I raved about earlier this year, “Heart.” The EP has such an upbeat pop essence, but make sure you listen to the lyrics to appreciate the darkness hiding just beneath its sonic surface.
If you love what Froyo do, make sure you catch them at their next gig at North Wollongong Hotel on August 18.
For a long while it seemed like pop was a dirty word in Australia, but thanks to the popularity of acts like Five Seconds of Summer and Sheppard, we’re slowly embracing its upbeat sounds. It’s the perfect time for Chris Rose to spread some good vibes with his latest single “Someone Like You.”
This is your classic pop love song, buoyed by the energy of new romance and a clap-along beat. The video is pretty fantastic too, featuring footage of the Twelve Apostles along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
Don’t be surprised if this song becomes your latest guilty pleasure. If you love it, get along to one of Chris’ upcoming shows.
25 May 2019 – Crescent Head Country Club, Crescent Head
31 May 2019 – Finnian’s, Port Macquarie
15 June 2019 – Village Green Hotel, Grafton
16 June 2019 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
22 June 2019 – South West Rocks Country Club, South West Rocks
23 June 2019 – Rockin the Rocks, South West Rocks
6 July 2019 – Finnian’s, Port Macquarie
17 August 2019 – Finnian’s, Port Macquarie
Living in Melbourne seems to agree with Dalli. Originally from Brisbane, he relocated to Victoria’s capital five years ago and soaked up the local scene. They helped shape his sound from some raw and acoustic to music that’s a little more atmospheric and experimental. “Taken By the Sky” is Dalli’s latest track, a song that explores his continuous pursuit of artistic progression and expression.
“Sometimes I look back on all the bad decisions I’ve made and feel like the only person in the world. There’s a strange sense of belonging in embracing these very human moments when you realise we all feel them at one point along the way,” he mused. “’Let it fade away, taken by the sky’ is having this realisation and changing something lonely and heavy into something lighter, something that brings us all closer together. There is a weightlessness to it.”
Dalli performs regularly around Melbourne. Follow his Facebook page for all the details of gigs as they happen.
Image used with permission from The A&R Department
Ulladulla-born and Sunshine Coast-based, Taylor Moss is a country-pop princess with a sound reminiscent of early Taylor Swift. Her latest track “Take It From Me” has stormed up the iTunes country singles charts and has what it takes to garner some mainstream attention.
It’s a relatable number about a guy who thinks the grass is greener. However, once he learns the truth, sassy Taylor won’t have a bar of him! The song’s empowering lyrics seek to remind the listener to never settle for someone who ever thinks you’re not enough. Right on!
Image used with permission from Social Family Records
It might be Thursday, but after a few days away celebrating my wedding anniversary this one is feeling like a Monday to me. If you’re dragging your feet as well, allow Janey to put some pep in your step. Their irresistible new pop banger “L.A.” has got all the good vibes you need to get through the day.
Janey are Central Coast-based sibling duo Billy and Sarah Otto. Just like other cool sibling acts like HAIM and Echosmith, there’s a real chemistry about what they do that just makes sense. These guys don’t even need to be in the same place to make it work. This track came about during a FaceTime conversation, when Billy was driving around downtown L.A. drumming on his steering wheel. Sarah sang the hook and the song started to take shape. It paints an honest picture of the City of Angels, a place that’s full of possibilities, yet somewhere where artists face rejection and abject poverty as they attempt to make their dreams come true.
“L.A.” is the first single from Janey’s forthcoming EP, due out later this year.
Break-ups are never easy, but at least they provide creative fuel for some fantastic songs. The latest to capture my heart is “Start Again,” a deeply personal track from Victorian country-pop darling Jade Gibson.
She penned the track with good friend Taylor Foley which she was living in Nashville and nursing a broken heart. It’s a moving track about the heartache that lingers after a break-up when you’re not quite ready to move on.
Jade is playing plenty of regional dates in the coming weeks. Catch her at the following venues soon.
18 May 2019 – Batlow RSL, Batlow
25 May 2019 – Henty Football Club, Henty
1 June 2019 – Precinct Bar & Restaurant, Wangaratta
8 June 2019 – Hay BnS Ball, Hay
15 June 2019 – 1895 The Royal, Echuca
22 June 2019 – Bright Football Club, Bright
13 July 2019 – Star Hotel, Rutherglen
