Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sophian Celebrates the Now With “Beautiful Day”

Boorloo/Perth-based indie-rock act Sophian have impressed me again with their uplifting new single “Beautiful Day.” Coming hot on the heels of other stellar 2023 releases “Moments” and “Georgia,” these guys are having such a great year.

“My wife and I were having a conversation one day around feeling the pressures of society to have life all figured out by a certain age. I saw what it meant it to her and I just wanted to let her know that it’s okay to not have it all figured out yet, life is still beautiful and its okay for us to just enjoy that moment. This song is about feeling free and enjoying life around you for just the way it is,” recalled the band’s frontman Sophian Manik.

Sophian will launch “Beautiful Day” for hometown fans at The Indian Ocean Hotel on October 20. After they sold out hometown shows at Old Habits Bar and The Bird earlier this year, I suggest getting tickets now to avoid missing out!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Brighten Your Day With “NEON CLOUDS”

The future looks bright with talented up-and-coming artists like ALEKS MATIC and AMOS KIM making music together. Both students at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, they’ve just collaborated on a fantastic new EDM track called “NEON CLOUDS.” This is an absolute bop. I know I’m going to have it in my head for the next few weeks, and that’s just fine by me. If you’re not singing along by the end, I’m a poor judge.

“NEON CLOUDS” is the first single lifted from a concept EDM EP that ALEKS MATIC and AMOS KIM are working on together. If the rest of the material is this good, I can’t wait to hear it.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tig Releases Powerful First Single, “Too Late Heartbreak”

Tig has made a really positive first impression on me with her debut single “Too Late Heartbreak.” It’s so beautiful and understated. By keeping the music simple, we can really hone in on those poignant lyrics and Tig’s sweet voice.

“This song is about catastrophising. Building walls. Trying not to get hurt. Confusing isolation with independence. Lying to yourself. And realising some feelings just have to be felt,” Tig explained. Oh yeah, that all hits.

The song comes with a gorgeous music video created by Tig’s high school pal Jasper Dorman.

“The idea started with these tiny felt hearts that my mum makes, you keep them in your pocket when you need a bit of love,” Tig added. “As the crux of the song is about keeping your heart intact, I asked myself ‘how would I protect one of these pocket hearts if it was prone to breaking?’ And so the lego house was born, followed by the Heartbreak Prevention Plan.”

“Too Late Heartbreak” is the first song lifted from Tig’s debut EP Inside Voices, to be released on 1 February, 2024. Tig has a couple of shows coming up at The Gasometer Hotel, a venue she sold out just a few months ago before releasing any material. If you want to be there, I recommend securing your tickets really soon.

18 October 2023 – The Gasometer Hotel (Upstairs), Naarm/Collingwood (supporting Izzy Summers)
26 October 2023 – The Gasometer Hotel (Upstairs), Naarm/Collingwood (supporting Nanas Pie)

Image credit: Kinga Howard

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vinyl 45 Release Funky Single, “Night Rhythms”

The weekend is so close you can taste it so you’re moving with a little more groove in your step. Enter “Night Rhythms,” the funky new track from local neo-funk act Vinyl 45. As their name suggests, their music is a bit of a throwback, in the best possible way. This new song is the perfect track to score your Friday.

Vinyl 45 frontman Aaron Gunawickrema, who was born and raised in Sri Lanka, said the song was inspired by his move to Eora/Sydney. “It came about as I had just arrived in Australia in 2020 to attend uni and was working in a fish shop, which I absolutely hated and I missed Sri Lanka where I was working as a musician full-time. I missed being on stage and not having any worries while I was performing, and I was contemplating my move to Sydney which was obviously making me emotional.”

When an artist loves being on stage, you know they’re always amazing live. See just how good Aaron and his mates from Vinyl 45 are at one of the following shows around Eora/Sydney:

13 October 2023 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Darlinghurst
28 October 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewing Co, Eora/Brookvale
9 December 2023 – The Factory Theatre, Eora/Marrickville

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Two Times Shy Release Another Pop-Punk Bop, “Wits End”

I know I’m posting a lot of pop-punk these days, but god the scene is strong. When local bands just keep dropping stone cold bangers, what’s a girl supposed to do? The latest to capture my heart is “Wits End” from Two Times Shy. I know I’ve written a lot about these guys too, but when they keep producing such quality music I don’t want you to miss a thing.

“It’s an emotional journey, a reflection of those moments when you watch your life unravel, and everyone else seems to be moving forward while you’re stuck searching for answers,” explained Douglas Hudswell, Two Times Shy’s frontman.

The band will load up the van and hit venues across the East Coast next month. Catch Two Times Shy at the following hotspots:

4 November 2023 – Bodega, Jagera, Giabal and Jarowair Country/Toowoomba
9 November 2023 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
11 November 2023 – The Hamilton Station, Mulubinba/Newcastle
17 November 2023 – Tomcat, Meeanjin/Brisbane
18 November 2023 – The Chippo Hotel, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Ruckus PR; credit: Gabi Rankine

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jack Anthony Releases Rocking Single “Call My Name”

Dharug/Western Sydney indie-rock act Jack Anthony has blown me away with his latest single “Call My Name.” This track goes hard, with an energy reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys or the Libertines. Just see if you’re not punching your fist in the air or at least grooving in your seat by the end of this one.

“‘Call My Name’ is about reflecting on an old relationship where you had known the person for years prior, before having a crack at a romantic relationship,” Jack explained. “We both knew we weren’t meant for each other and were filled with conflicting feelings of wanting to stay and leave. This song has a feeling of being happy/sad and bittersweet, whilst also being anthemic. A song that you can scream in the car and cry alone to, but also dance and the song would still be fun depending on what mood you’re in.”

Jack will join Kingswood at their October 29 show at the Lady Hampshire in Eora/Sydney, so if you’re going make sure you arrive early enough for his set.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hannah Stow Drops Sweet New Song, “Sunflowers”

Hannah Stow has thoroughly charmed me with “Sunflowers,” a love song with a difference. This sweet track explores a budding relationship with a healthy mix of heart and cynicism.

“My girlfriend said she loved me after three weeks of dating and I was trying to prove to her that what she felt was lust and not love. I said, ‘You know nothing about me,’ and she said, ‘I know your favourite colour is red, you didn’t walk until you were two because everyone kept picking you up, and I don’t know if they’re your favourite – but I know for sure you like Sunflowers’. The moment she said that I knew it would make a catchy song,” Hannah said. “So, ‘Sunflowers’ discusses the point in a relationship right after someone says ‘I love you’ where you’re feeling like they don’t know you well enough to express those emotions. It unpacks the moment you’re being proven wrong as they highlight facts about you which you thought they never listened to.”

I love the intimacy of this track. It’s so lyrically good, and the minimalist instrumentation makes sure you don’t miss a word. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more from Hannah.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR; credit: Ian Young

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hollow Coves Release Long-Awaited New Single, “Harder to Fake It”

Listening to “Harder to Fake It,” the first new music from Hollow Coves since 2021, has made me realise just how much I missed them. This is music that simply makes you feel good with its beautiful harmonies, acoustic feel, and uplifting lyrics. Rest assured, this one ticks all the boxes. As it should, as Hollow Coves wrote and recorded the track with Matt Corby and Alex Henrikkson at Alex’s Rainbow Valley Studio.

“Last year, we played at an event that Matt Corby had put on to raise money for victims of the floods in the Northern Suburbs of New South Wales in Australia. After the show, we got chatting with Matt Corby and we connected really well. We were both keen to see what we could make together, so we ended up going to his studio, which happened to be not too far from where we lived, and did a few writing sessions. We ended up writing five songs together,” the band explained. “We were all in a room together trying to come up with an initial idea. I had a guitar part and rough melody that I had been wanting to work on for a while so I thought I would test it by starting to play it and see if anyone would comment on it. Straight away, Matt Corby expressed that he liked what he heard so we took the idea and ran with it. From there, a lot of the song came quite quickly. We recorded the main guitar part quickly and then Matt Corby jumped on the drum kit and started recording some really cool drum parts to make a quick demo. A lot of the parts from the demo ended up being used in the final recording.”

The song comes with a beautiful music video filmed in the scenic coastal town of Tofino on Canada’s Vancouver Island. It features school children bored with the mundanity of the classroom who taste real joy when that bell rings and they can go out and experience the world.

Hollow Coves are back on the road playing shows around the country. Here are their upcoming dates:

13 October 2023 – Altar Bar, Nipaluna/Hobart
14 October 2023 – Northcote Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
20 October 2023 – Princess Theatre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
21 October 2023 – Miami Marketta, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
3 December 2023 – SummerSalt @ Torquay Common, Wadawarrung Country/Torquay

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Bradley Murnane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

BESTIES and Between You & Me Team Up For “two wrongs”

BESTIES and Between You & Me have joined forces for an epic new single, “two wrongs.” I’ve covered music from both these outfits before, so this track was always going to be up my alley. However, the collaboration is even better than I hoped for. Hit play and you’ll hear exactly what I mean.

“We wanted to write the soundtrack to a rom-com set during a global cataclysm,” admitted BESTIES’ vocalist Max Pasalic. “It’s Love Actually meets Day After Tomorrow.”

“two wrongs” is just the start of plenty of new music set to drop for BESTIES in the coming months. They’ve just wrapped up a tour supporting none other than Between You & Me, but they’re not going into hibernation just yet. They’re set to play the following shows for SXSW Sydney:

18 October 2023 – British Music Embassy @ The Soda Factory, Eora/Surry Hills (from 7 pm)
21 October 2023 – Dr Martens Presents @ The Chippo Hotel, Eora/Chippendale (from 3pm)

Image used with permission from Capital Artist Group

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sunday Lemonade Show Softer Side With “I know it sounds simple”

Sunday Lemonade usually charm me with their upbeat folk ditties, but they’re showing a different side with their latest single “I know it sounds simple.” This is a gentler, more contemplative number from this talented Bunurong Country/Mornington Peninsula-based duo, and I’m absolutely smitten.

“I know it sounds simple was written to process the unspeakable actions of one of my long-term friends. I really thought he would take responsibility for what he did, thought he’d do something as simple as apologise for what he’d done but instead he decided to bury it like it never happened,” explained Tyson, one half of Sunday Lemonade. “An apology wouldn’t fix it but would at least help all parties move forward and heal from it. I think we’re all guilty of taking the easy road sometimes instead of facing our issues and talking about them.”

Tyson and his partner in life and music, Loz, always seem to have a full touring schedule. Here are all the places you can hear them play “I know it sounds simple” and other fantastic songs in the coming months.

15 October 2023 – Main St Festival, Bunurong Country/Mornington Peninsula
21 October 2023 – Crack N Jack 2023, Woromi Country/Tanilba Bay
27 October 2023 – The Night Cat, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting CJ Commerford and the Supertones)
10-12 November 2023 – Blues at Bridgetown, Nyungar Country/Bridgetown
25 November 2023 – Always Good Nights @ Guppy Park, Noongar Country/Bunbury
2 December 2023 – Summer Swells @ Indian Ocean Hotel, Wadjak Nyoongar Country/Scarborough

Image used with permission from Sunday Lemonade