Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nathan Cavaleri Lays “Demons” Bare

Nathan Cavaleri had a rapid rise to fame. I remember him as a little tacker playing with Tommy Emmanuel and regularly appearing on Hey Hey It’s Saturday. By the age of 12 he was in the center of a bidding war between the labels of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince. By the age of 16 he’d already toured with B.B. King, played for the Clintons at the Kenny Centre. He rubbed shoulders with Jimmy Page and Mark Knopfler.

His battle with leukaemia at the tender age of seven was well documented. You might assume after beating cancer and gaining global attention for your music, life would be all smooth sailing. But in 2010, his battles with insomnia and anxiety were brought to the fore when he blacked out on a festival stage. The experience shattered his confidence, and he stepped away from his music, expecting he’d never return.

But he did.

“To move through those four years of paralysing anxiety/depression I had to ask myself the question, ‘Why’?” Nathan explained. “Out of self-preservation, I had to find reasons to fight and be ruthless in discarding any reason that wasn’t rock solid.”

In the process he rediscovered the same cathartic connection with music he had all those years ago when facing down cancer. During that time he wrote his new single “Demons,” and the EP of the same name.

It’s a fascinating story, and one that helps you understand the song, but “Demons” is the kind of track that stands up without it. I listened to it before I read the press release and knew where it came from, and was so impressed by the way Nathan’s sound has developed over the years. It’s an incredible track.

If you want to hear more, you can see Nathan playing shows along the East Coast in October and November. Here are all the dates you need.

6 October 2018 – Mane Event Music Festival, Geelong
7 October 2018 – Bar Open, Melbourne
13 October 2018 – 5 Church St, Bellingen
14 October 2018 – Panthers, Port Macquarie (FREE)
26 October 2018 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast
27 October 2018 – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
28 October 2018 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
1 November 2018 – 505, Sydney
3 November 2018 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
4 November 2018 – The Rhythm Hut, Gosford

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ocean Alley Prepare for Final Aussie Tour of 2018 to Promote “Happy Sad” Single

As I listened to Ocean Alley’s current single “Happy Sad” for the umpteenth time today, I came to a shocking realisation. Somehow I neglected to write about it. With the song’s video just released and a regional tour approaching, there seemed no better time to correct the oversight.

I just love this song, with its wailing guitars that seem to cry in response to the yearning lyrics. Vocalist Baden Donegal captures those bittersweet feelings of a relationship gone wrong so perfectly. Then there’s that fantastic video, with footage captured on four cameras over Ocean Alley’s recent Aussie and American tour.

Punters are snapping up tickets at a cracking pace for what will be Ocean Alley’s last headlining shows of the year. Get yours now, if they haven’t already sold out!

29 September 2018 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
5 October 2018 – The Beery, Terrigal
7 October 2018 – UC Refectory, Canberra
12 October 2018 – The Roundhouse, Sydney
14 October 2018 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
19 October 2018 – HQ, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Bianca Blancato

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Max C Bud Delivers First Solo Single, “Temptress”

After 20 years spent collaborating with other artists, Sydney’s Max C Bud has gone solo. His debut single “Temptress” has an effortless cool about it, with thoughtful lyrics and vocals that sit right in the sweet spot.

“I wrote Temptress during a confronting time in my life. It’s about dealing with an issue head-on and being honest with someone about a troubled relationship that couldn’t be changed,” Max explained.

Of course, even solo artists don’t work in a vacuum. Max credit Sam Croft of Boo Seeka with helping him find the right sound.

“Music has always been my personal creative outlet, but working with Croft on this track, allowed me to interpret my music in a new way,” he said.

“Temptress” is available from all your favourite digital stores now.

Image used with permission from Marshmallow Pavement Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wing Defence Releases Poppy Charmer, “Listerine”

Adelaide Wing Defence has put a smile on my face with their minty fresh new single “Listerine.” It’s got a poppy charm about it, which balances the heavy subject matter of loving someone with a drinking problem.

“You want to help them with every fibre of your being, but they won’t allow it and you don’t fully understand the struggles of the addiction,” explained Wing Defence’s guitarist Paige.

Lead singer Skye added “The very core of this song comes from a place of love and care, although it also delves into the reality that it can make you both go absolutely insane”

Wing Defence will warm up for the sold out Til the Wheels Fall Off festival with a free show at Yah Yahs in Melbourne on September 14.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruel Shows No Signs of Fatigue With Third EP Single & Tour

Forget about Bieber. London-born, Aussie-raised teen Ruel is creating much better music at 15 than Justin was at that age. He’s also writing the track and playing several instruments. And people are starting to take notice. Tyler, The Creator has just recruited him for his Camp Flog Knaw Festival, happening this November. But before that he’ll play shows around Australia.

If you’re not familiar with Ruel yet, his new single “Younger,” the third single lifted from his EP Ready, is the perfect introduction. It’s such smart pop music, with lyrics that speak to his core teen audience but also make people like me well past those years feel nostalgic. His voice is stellar and the production, which Ruel has a major stake in, is flawless.

See these shows while you can still catch him in small venues. This guy is destined for the stadiums. Trust me.

27 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Under 18s matinee)
28 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Licensed 18+)
29 September 2018 – Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley (Licensed ALL AGES)
4 October 2018 – The Gov, Hindmarsh (Licensed ALL AGES)
5 October 2018 – 256 Wickham, Fortitude Valley (Licensed ALL AGES)
10 October 2018 – Enmore Theatre, Newtown (Licensed ALL AGES)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Loser

Strap yourself in for two-and-a-half minutes of blistering rock courtesy of Melbourne band Loser. Their debut single, also called “Loser” is a sucker punch of chunky guitar riffs and slacker lyrics that I find irresistible.

There’s a spontaneous energy about the band that might come because they’re a relatively new outfit. Frontman Tim Maxwell (Apart From This/Grim Rhythm) wrote the songs in late 2017 and got Chris Cowburn (The Smith Street Band) and Craig Selak (The Bennies) involved. Just three weeks later after three jam sessions, they were in the studio. Keeping with the band’s philosophy that time’s not there for wasting, they filmed the clip at Max Watts in Melbourne just a week later.

Tim says the song is about “feeling isolated, overwhelmed and conflicted between what you feel is right within yourself, and what everyone else is constantly telling you.”

It’s just the thing you need to fire you up on the home stretch to the weekend!

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chilean Expat Constanza Herrero Sings of “Packing Up” For Oz

Chilean-born singer-songwriter Constanza Herrero speaks of the excitement and uncertainty she felt moving to her current Australian home in her new single “Packing Up.”

Moving to Australia to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts was a leap of faith for the artist who was part of an MTV Latin America award-winning band and star of a Nickelodeon TV series in her homeland. However, after selling out her self-titled EP launch party at Fremantle’s Fly by Night last November, it seems she’s on the right track.

I really love the cheery Latin-American influence in Constanza’s catchy new pop single. She said she hopes the song encourages others to overcome challenges in their own lives.

“In order to move forward you need to face your circumstances, otherwise you will only be running away. It’s not about forgetting your past, but learning from it,” she explained.

The beautiful music video was filmed in Constanza’s homeland. Making it was a special process for Constanza, who still feels the challenge of leaving Chile behind and making a new home in Australia.

Constanza is a regular on the Perth music scene but hopes to bring her live shows to venues around Australia and the United States in the near future. Hopefully this is the song that makes it all happen for her.

Image used with permission from The A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Blue Child Collective Inspire Epic Adventures With “Dive”

Blue Child Collective are easing me into my working week with their dreamy new single “Dive.” This is such a beautiful track from the Margaret River band, a cool folky ditty inspired by apnea and nautical freefall.

The video is also spectacular. World-class oceanographer captured the footage on Ningaloo Reef, and it’s got me itching to experience that part of the country for myself. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to freefall like Blue Child Collective frontman Dan White, but it looks amazing.

Mondays are tough, but discovering music like this makes it a little easier.

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Book of Mormon @ Lyric Theatre, Sydney

Ordinarily when I see a musical theatre production I can’t wait to tell you all about it. But more than a week has passed since I saw The Book of Mormon and I still haven’t put fingers to keyboard.

It’s certainly not because the production was disappointing. It’s up there with the best things I’ve seen on a stage.

It’s not that I was reluctant to recommend it, although it’s not a musical I’d suggest everyone see. Chatting to a saleswoman at one of the fashion boutiques, I learned there have been many walkouts. During one of the earliest numbers, when F-bombs and C-bombs starting flying, I wondered about my own decision to take my parents for their birthdays. However, when they raved about how much fun they were having at intermission, I realised my parents are made of tougher stuff than I imagined. It’s certainly not for the easily offended or sensitive ears, but if you buy tickets for a musical by the creators of South Park you probably have some idea whether you can handle it.

Perhaps I’ve hesitated because I’m not quite sure what to say beyond what you probably already know. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know The Book of Mormon follows the journey of some American Mormon missionaries keen to save the people of Uganda through the power of the Good Book. The thing is, I think that’s all you really need to know. The less you learn about the intricacies of the musical beyond that, the better. I found it so rewarding to see a production that surprised me. In the recent past the musical theatre scene has been dominated by retellings of popular stories like Aladdin and Mary Poppins and biopics charting the rise of legendary musicians like Carole King and Bobby Darin. I’ve enjoyed those musicals, but I also knew where they were going. Even something original like Kinky Boots had an air of predictability about it. True love and our hero’s dreams would always win in the end. But you’re never quite sure where The Book of Mormon will take you, and that’s exciting.

I do want to tell you The Book of Mormon is exceptionally funny. I mean proper laugh out loud from your belly kind of funny. It’s also a very good musical. Don’t underestimate it on that front because Trey Parker and Matt Stone are behind it. The songs are as well-crafted as any you’d find in a Broadway hit. The cast is exceptional, singing and dancing with the best of them. It was no fluke that this show won the Helpmann award for best musical last year, and that goes beyond the edgy comedy. Perhaps one of the key reasons is that this is a show with real heart. I cared about the characters. I was invested in the storyline.

The Book of Mormon is certainly a musical with the power to offend. The walkouts are proof positive of that. But true art plays on the edges. If you appreciate that, make sure you don’t miss The Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, in Sydney’s Star Casino. It will then travel to Brisbane and Adelaide.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Charlie Collins Destined For Big Things

Charlie Collins has one of those voices that makes you feel right at home. It wraps around you and feels so familiar, encouraging you to fall in love with her music from the first note. “Wish You Were Here” is the Tamworth singer-songwriter’s first single as a solo artist, a track that marks a new beginning for the former member of Tigertown.

It’s already been embraced by radio stations from FBi Radio Sydney and Triple J to KCSN in Los Angeles and WXPN in Philadelphia. Expect to hear plenty more from this local talent.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company