Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jem Cassar-Daley Releases Powerful New Single, “King of Disappointment”

Jem Cassar-Daley really impressed me with singles from her debut EP like “Oh No” and “Like It More.” So I’m thrilled she’s going from strength to strength with her first new music since that release. I must admit, while I enjoyed her past releases, I think her latest single “King of Disappointment” is my favourite yet. It’s so lyrically strong, with a stripped-back vibe that really showcases those powerful lyrics. If you’ve ever felt gaslighted and let down, you’re going to connect with this one.

“Before heading to Sydney to write with Brendon Boney in the “resonate” program, I had a situation where my shoes were on, makeup done and I was ready to head out the door when I got a “sorry, something came up” text,” Jem shared. “Instead of being sad, I decided to use it as inspiration in the studio.”

Fresh from shows in the United Kingdom, Jem has been announced as the support act for most of Busby Marou’s upcoming dates. Here are all the places you can catch this incredible line-up:

18 August 2023 – Harvey Road Tavern, Goeng Country/Gladstone
19 August 2023 – Moncrieff Theatre, Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Country/Bundaberg
26 August 2023 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yaegl Country/Yamba
27 August 2023 – Miami Marketta, Kombumerri Country/Gold Coast
1 September 2023 – The Gov, Tartanya/Adelaide
2 September 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
9 September 2023 – The Princess Theatre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 September 2023 – Moonee Beach Hotel, Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour
14 September 2023 – Anita’s Theatre, Dharawal Country/Thirroul
13 October 2023 – Riverside Precinct, Darumbal Country/Rockhampton
14 October 2023 – Harrup Park, Yuwibara Country/Mackay
20 October 2023 – Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy-walubarra yidi Country/Cairns
21 October 2023 – The Mansfield (Warehouse), Bindal and Wulgurukaba Country/Townsville

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sick Visor and TOWNS Team Up For “Feeling Alright Forever”

I fell in love with Naarm/Melbourne duo Sick Visor when they dropped their brilliant EP, For Wise People Who Appreciate Quality. So I’m thrilled to hear some new music from them and Tartanya/Adelaide outfit TOWNS. “Feeling Alright Forever” is the perfect party anthem for your Friday night.

“The song is a love letter to the parts of myself I sometimes forget about,” said singer Alex Moses, “I wrote ‘Feeling Alright Forever’ about mentally cutting the queue, moving past all the things holding you back and realising we deserve to have a good time.”

This song is a true collaboration, with TOWNS really putting their stamp on this track.

“They wrote parts, sung vocals and played drums,” enthused Sick Visor’s drummer Katie Lovelock. “We worked on every stage of the release with them, including bunching up on the floor and drawing the artwork.”

Sick Visor will launch “Feeling Alright Forever” for hometown fans at Bad Decisions Bar on June 11.

Image used with permission from Sick Visor

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skyuka Drops Fantastic Indie Pop Track, “Michael Cera”

Boorloo/Perth-based indie pop artist Skyuka has won me over with her new single “Michael Cera.” I had high hopes for this one, given my own love of Michael Cera, but Skyuka exceeded them. Not only are the lyrics brilliant, it’s got this cool grungy pop vibe that I’m really digging.

“When I wrote ‘Michael Cera’ I was listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend and just really enjoying the playfulness of their earlier albums which influenced the writing process of this song,” Skyuka explained. “It felt refreshing to write something fun that people could clap and sing along to and have a laugh at, but still had a lot of heart. I was basically telling myself I didn’t want to see this person anymore because of their addictive tendencies…but at the same time I felt like a huge hypocrite as I was clearly addicted to them.”

Also, if you also love Michael Cera, this video is everything you hoped it might be. Short of having a cameo by the actual Michael Cera.

“Being a Michael Cera fan I knew I could have a lot of fun with this video. I found this Michael Cera mask on eBay and I think that was when I realised I was onto something. I wanted the video to be very narrative-driven and fun like the song,” said Skyuka. “I did a very detailed storyboard for this video and a lot of thought and attention to detail went into the props and settings as I really wanted to capture the 90s/early 2000s vibes that come to mind when I think of Cera. The first scene was actually shot in the lounge room at my parent’s house and I remember being up till 4am the day before the shoot decorating the entire wall with Michael Cera posters and rearranging all their furniture like a mad woman. I directed the video myself and Dylan Guy shot and edited the video.”

We’ll hear more from Skyuka when she releases her EP later this year.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Mark Francesca

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chris Rose Releases Party Anthem “Cold Beer Buzz”

Is Thursday too early for drinking songs? Maybe. But if your week has been anything like my week, then “Cold Beer Buzz,” the new single from Guruk/Port Macquarie-based country singer Chris Rose is right on time.

Chris is country born and bred, but I love the electronic beats and rock edge he’s brought to this party song. Apparently, it was produced with the vision to create a tune that’s “Billie Eilish Bad Guy, meets AC/DC with a southern country twist.” Mission accomplished!

Chris has a whole stack of dates coming up. Don’t miss him when he hits a town near you:
9 June 2023 – Hello Sailor, Guruk/Port Macquarie
1 July 2023 – Beach Hotel, Birpai Country/Bonny Hills
20 August 2023 – Kempsey-Macleay Bowling & Sporting Club, Thunggutti Country/Kempsey
3 September 2023 – Seabreeze Beach Hotel, Thunggutti Country/South West Rocks
15 October 2023 – Seabreeze Beach Hotel, Thunggutti Country/South West Rocks
12 November 2023 – Country Showcase @ Hat Head Bowling Club, Thunggutti Country/Hat Head
26 November 2023 – Seabreeze Beach Hotel, Thunggutti Country/South West Rocks
17 December 2023 – Hat Head Bowling Club, Thunggutti Country/Hat Head

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KHAOS EMERLD Makes His Debut With “getting better”

Eora/Sydney act KHAOS EMERLD has made a big impression on me with his debut single “getting better.” The presser describes his music as hyperpop, but I’m definitely hearing some heavier punk and grunge influences in there.

“‘getting better’ was written in July 2022, after I had spent several months in an endless feedback loop of feeling bad about myself and feeling like I was pulling everyone down with me. There were many events that changed the pathway of my life, yet I hadn’t done anything to benefit from them. Suddenly, I realised half a year had gone by and I felt like I was exactly where I’d started,” KHAOS EMERLD explained. “The song is a mix of rage and derision, written in a genre I was just getting familiar with around the time, and funnily enough, became the start of an upward trajectory which led me to where I am now.”

I hear this is the first of several KHAOS EMERLD songs slated for release, so make sure you follow his socials to hear the new music as soon as it drops. KHAOS EMERLD will also launch the single for hometown fans at Goodspace @ The Lord Gladstone on June 10.

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: @yogapunkphotography

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Delta Riggs Make Your Day Better With “Solutions”

The Delta Riggs are bringing the good vibes to your midweek with their new single “Solutions.” If this one doesn’t put a smile on your face, you might be a lost cause!

“Taking from our experiences in life, as well as that of friends and strangers alike, instead of just seeing the negatives, we wanted to write about finding the positives in situations,” the band explained. “Finding a solution through banding together with friends, lovers, family or strangers you’re yet to meet, lifting each other up and sharing the weight together.”

I hear there’s plenty more new music from the Delta Riggs on the way, so we can expect the good vibes to keep on coming this year.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sooks Drop Summery Single, “Burn Me Out”

Winter’s chill might be setting in early, but I think there’s always a place for surf rock in our lives. Hailing from the west of Eora/Sydney, The Sooks are bringing back summer vibes with their new single “Burn Me Out.”

“‘Burn Me Out’ explores the feeling of being alienated from the things around you, being disconnected from the world and feeling like time is passing by when you are stood still,” the band said in a statement. “We all get that kind of feeling of being burnt out by something or someone, and this song is sort of a tribute to that universal frustration.”

Like so many of the best songs, it came together quickly for The Sooks.

“After realising that we had studio time booked in, we thought it would be a good idea to write a single a few days beforehand,” they laughed. “So we sat with acoustic guitars and put the song together in like 20 minutes from scratch, lyrics and everything. We were heaps thrilled to be tracking up in Sonar Studios in Tuggerah with Jack Nigro. We like his work and so we knew that the song would come together just fine. After a long day of tracking all the instruments, we waited for Jack to work his magic in the mixing studio and the song was done.”

Press play on this one and you can almost forget its trackpants weather. Almost!

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: The Sooks

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Recalls the Good Old Days With “We Grew Up On”

James Johnston is serving up a heavy dose of nostalgia with his latest single “We Grew Up On.” The track celebrates the freedom so many of us experience getting our first set of wheels. The song’s lyrics are married with a classic country-rock sound that sounds ready for radio.

“You know one of your best days growing up was the day you got your first car. It was more than just a car; it was your first taste of real freedom,” James reminisced.

James will be hitting the road later this year and playing the following shows:

30 September 2023 – Deni Ute Muster, Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa Country/Deniliquin
6 October 2023 – Savannah in the Round, Muluridji Country/Mareeba
1–8 December 2023 – Cruisin’ Country

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boo Seeka Drops Club Banger “Are You All In?”

Is it too early in the week for club music? I’m not sure, but I can’t wait any longer to share Boo Seeka’s new track “Are You All In?” with you. If you need to hang on to your weekend vibes just a little bit longer, this one’s for you.

“‘Are You All In?’ for me is a continued step into a new era of Boo Seeka. In the previous few years, I’ve probably had an emphasis on creating dance music, but looking forward to this new project, I’m really leaning into a sound that is really effortless, and isn’t forced into any sort of box or genre. I love rock, I love folk, I love dance, so why not take elements of them all and see how it goes,” Boo Seeka explained.

Boo Seeka also just signed an international deal with Kygo’s Palm Tree Records, so worldwide domination is surely the next step.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Boo Seeka who has made an amazing impact in his home country, and we look forward to amplifying his vision on a global level,” said Palm Tree Records representative, David Rishty. “His sound touches so many different genres and styles of music, you can’t help but want to be a part of what he’s building. No limits, no boundaries, we’re here for all of it.”

Boo Seeka has just completed a massive regional tour, but he’s not going to let the grass grow under his feet. He’ll be back on the road next month supporting Boy & Bear on their upcoming shows. After signing that international deal, fans should probably take every opportunity to see Boo Seeka close to home. Here are all the dates you need:

16 June 2023 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
17 June 2023 – The Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
30 June 2023 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney
14 July 2023 – Perth Concert Hall, Boorloo/Perth
15 July 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tartanya/Adelaide

Image used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mathilde Anne Makes a Splash With “Crime Scene Cadillac”

Naarm/Melbourne punktress Mathilde Anne has just dropped her fantastic new single “Crime Scene Cadillac.” It’s got the cool brooding quality of a Lorde track combined with the energy and angst of the Arctic Monkeys. It’s a strange meeting of influences, but it really works!

“’Crime Scene Cadillac’ essentially focuses on the idea of loving what isn’t good for you despite knowing that it may very well kill you. Whether it’s a person/an action or a substance… you just can’t get enough of it,” Mathilde Anne explained. “This song voices my own personal experiences with addiction and poor relationships and that feeling of living the pain. Much like buying an extra-large packet of Cheetos and eating it while watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you know that it isn’t going to end well, but you just can’t stop!”

“Crime Scene Cadillac” is already a fan favourite at Mathilde Anne’s live shows, so you can bet she’ll raise the roof at the single launch this Friday, May 26, at Naarm/Melbourne venue LongPlay.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Daniel Nathans