Posted on by Lauren Katulka

FLETCHER Bringing Shows Down Under

Try as I might, I struggle to keep abreast of all of the great music that’s released. Focusing on Australian artists in my blog helps me keep my finger on the pulse of the local industry, but I often miss awesome international acts until they announce they’re touring. While I missed New Jersey native FLETCHER when she dropped her debut album, GIRL OF MY DREAMS, I’ve been making up for lost time in the last 24 hours. If you love great pop music in the vein of Olivia Rodrigo and Due Lipa, you’re going to love FLETCHER.

The good news is that there’s still time to come up to speed, and nab some tickets for her upcoming Australian tour. While the first Melbourne show has sold out, she added another one in Victoria’s capital. That means there are still tickets in every city available, but they won’t last long. Get onto it music lovers:

2 December 2023 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney
4 December 2023 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
5 December 2023 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne
7 December 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
9 December 2023 – Metro City, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Dirty Laundry” – Sammy White

I’m not interested in artists with a lot of polish. I want to know about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I want it raw and real. And that’s exactly why Dirty Laundry, the debut album from country singer-songwriter Sammy White, is so appealing.

As the title of her album suggests, Sammy isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. This is a confessional body of work with songs that touch on Sammy’s sense of self and her relationships, especially with fellow country artist Brad Cox. He guests on the romantic ballad “Love on the Line,” which touches on the challenges of sustaining a relationship as travelling musicians. Songs celebrating the strong women in regional areas like “Country as Cow Shit”, “Diamonds and Dolly”, and “You Sound Like Me” are bound to resonate with her fans. However, you don’t need to be from the country, or even a fan of country music, to appreciate this music. I really related to the picture of a peaceful, uncomplicated love she draws in “Countryside.” “I’ll Do Me, You Do You,” the beautiful ballad of acceptance featuring Brad Butcher which closes the album, is another stunning song.

Listening to Dirty Laundry, it’s difficult to believe that Sammy was nominated for New Talent of the Year at the 2022 Golden Guitar Awards. Just a year on she sounds so seasoned, confident in her vocals and her message. This album paints a picture of a performer who knows herself and is unafraid to share that with the world. It’s refreshing and so exciting to hear. Dirty Laundry is out now. Sammy is currently supporting Brad Cox on his Australian tour, so make sure you get there early if you’ve got tickets to the remaining shows:

22 June 2023 – The Cambridge Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
23 June 2023 – Manning Bar, Eora/Sydney
24 June 2023 – Anita’s Theatre, Thurraral Country/Thirroul

Images used with permission from Sammy White

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Setterfield Drops “Life Ain’t So Bad” Ahead of Canadian Show

Josh Setterfield may be one of the most consistent artists in the country scene right now. He has an uncanny knack for releasing banger after banger, and his nostalgic new track “Life Ain’t So Bad” is no exception.

“This song has been a turning point for a lot of things in music for me so far,” Josh said. “Sure, it’s about going through the dark and finding the light, and writing this song has led to some of my proudest moments with other tracks.”

Not content with conquering the Australian country scene, Josh is set for world domination. He’s just played his first shows in the United Kingdom and in September he heads to Canada for the Live Laugh Love Festival in Barrie, Ontario. Before that, he’ll play the Gympie Muster on August 26.

Image: Josh Setterfield EPK

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Australia’s Newest Pop Sensation, Heleina Zara

If you caught Peach PRC’s recent shows, you probably already know how fabulous Heleina Zara is. For everyone else, let me get you up to speed. This Aussie-Filipina artist is pure pop perfection. Her new single “Alphabet Soup” is so catchy, I can’t stop listening.

“I wrote ‘Alphabet Soup’ during a time when I felt out of place and when I was at a loss truly believing that my generation was incapable of actual emotional intimacy and nurturing relationships,” she admitted. “It’s brutally honest – which makes it a bit jarring to think about now but it’s also the reason I love it so much. It marks a point in my life where I was confused and rolling with the punches with an unapologetic mindset.”

She might seem like an overnight sensation, but Heleina has been writing music since she was 14 years old. That commitment to her craft and her knack for creating crowd-pleasing pop should see her go far.

Image used with permission from Island Records; credit: Allegra Messina

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna O Wows Me With “Set It On Fire”

Becoming a mother can be a wonderful time for many women, but it’s not always butterflies and rainbows. Anna O reveals her truth in her powerful new single “Set It On Fire.”

“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of … post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared,” she admitted. “One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”

I can’t stop listening to this one. The lyrics are incredible, but I’m also really digging those layered vocals and unique electro soundscape Anna O’s created. Coming hot on the heels of “We’ve Got Time,” Anna O is delivering some of the best music of her career.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Nostalgic New Anthem, “Cool Kid”

Boorloo/Perth alt-pop act Joan & The Giants have just dropped their fabulous new single “Cool Kid,” and I know you’ll want to listen. The fabulous nostalgic ‘90s sound grabbed me from the get-go, but it’s the powerful lyrics exploring frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s feelings about coming out that have really stayed with me.

“Coming out as bisexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality,” she explained.

“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”

Joan & The Giants are touring all over the country next month to support the release of “Cool Kid.” Check them out at a venue near you:

5 July 2023 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
6 July 2023 – Royal Hotel, Gadigal Country/Bondi (FREE)
7 July 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
8 July 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewery, Garigal Country/Brookvale (FREE)
9 July 2023 – Yulli’s Brews, Gadigal Country/Alexandria (FREE)
12th July 2023 – The Retreat, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE)
14th July 2023 – The Espy Basement, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15th July 2023 – Gods Bandroom, Boon Wurrung Country/Mornington
16th July 2023 – Post Office Hotel, Arrarrkbi Country/Coburg (FREE)
21 July 2023 – Froth Brewery, Noongar Country/Bunbury
22 July 2023 – Hally’s Bar, Undalup/Busselton (FREE)
23 July 2023 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Quedjinup/Dunsborough (FREE)
5 August 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chill Out With Salt Tree’s Dreamy New Single, “Coming Home to You”

Salt Tree’s latest single “Coming Home to You” sounds like summer, but I don’t mind that one bit. If you’re longing for days by the beach in the sunshine, I think you’ll appreciate this heart-warming slice of indie-folk music too.

“We both grew up close to the ocean and around nature, which has always been a huge part of our lives,” Salt Tree members Tom Boerema and Nathan Parsons said of the song’s inspiration. “As a kid, Nath would take any chance he got to surf, even if it meant skipping school. Tom spent a lot of time sailing, with his whole family living on a boat for months at a time.”

After touring all over New Zealand and Australia, Salt Tree should be in fine form when they play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Whadjuk/Fremantle on June 24.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: @holiiandash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MOZË Gets the Party Started With “Albert St”

Add a little funk to your Friday with “Albert St,” the latest single from Yorta Yorta Wagaratta-based artist MOZË. With a groove that just won’t quit, it shows off a fun new side of MOZË’s soulful voice. The song recalls an epic party in the suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne.

“In 2022, my friends hosted the iconic ‘Albert St. Affair’ house party in Brunswick. They asked some friends to perform, and even built a stage. Hours before the event, I felt inspired to create a song called ‘Albert St.’,” MOZË said. “Its lyrics capture the essence of that unforgettable night, celebrating friendship and a montage of moments. The great thing about that time in Melbourne was how positive it was, people were so grateful to be out of lockdown, and we weren’t bitter about the years lost. At the end of the song is a very special live sample from the actual party, it was the first time Albert St. had been played and you can even hear everyone singing along.”

MOZË recreated that night, with the help of Sam Higham, for the single’s music video.

“Drawing inspiration from Betty Boop and the early aesthetic of Kimbra, the concept behind the video was to encapsulate a vibrant display of friendship, quirkiness, and celebration,” explained MOZË, who directed and edited the video. “In addition to capturing the essence of north-side Melbourne, the support and involvement of my friends were invaluable in bringing forth another version of an Albert St. Affair.”

With good vibes a-plenty, “Albert St” should give you the lift you need to make it to the weekend. Add it to your party soundtrack stat!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

GRXCE Drops Angsty New Single, “Wasted On You”

Originally a solo project for frontwoman Jamila Grace, GRXCE has evolved into one of the most exciting up-and-coming rock acts on the scene. Now a four-piece, they’ve just dropped their new single “Wasted On You.” This track builds to an epic crescendo, so it’s perfect for releasing any frustration you’re feeling this Friday.

“‘Wasted on You’ is about unconsciously waiting for someone to come back for you and how isolating that feeling is,” Jamila explained. “I was seeing someone who kept swearing the timing wasn’t right and I told myself that I wouldn’t wait for him and I would move on, but then I was kinda paralysed. Without even trying I was turning down advances from other people, isolating myself, staying in his peripheral in case he changed his mind. It put me in this weird stalemate where I didn’t really know who I was if I didn’t want him.”

GRXCE will support Eagle Eye Jones on the Central Coast tonight before heading to Queensland and back to New South Wales. Catch them wherever you can.

16 June 2023 – Wamberal Ocean View, Darkinjung Country/Wamberal (supporting Eagle Eye Jones)
6 July 2023 – Tom Cat, Meeanjin/Brisbane
7 July 2023 – Burleigh Town Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
16 July 2023 – North Wollongong Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE – supporting Squid the Kid)

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Sammy Lee