Jeremy Beggs has blown me away with his latest single “Hurtful Ways.” I’m not surprised though, as Jeremy cowrote the song with one of Sounds of Oz’s favourite local artists, Matt Joe Gow.
“I feel so fortunate to have met Matt and am grateful for all the things I have learnt from him so far,” Jeremy enthused. “Before being thrust up on stage with Matt & The Dead Leaves in Tamworth last year, my music was really just floating around like a dream. Sharing the stage and watching and meeting wonderful artists made me really understand what this journey is all about.”
He said they wrote “Hurtful Ways” about the search for balance as a travelling musician.
“My family always comes first but the reality is as a musician, sometimes we are taken away from the ones we love. I’m constantly trying to find and keep that balance but unfortunately that sometimes tilts too far one way and requires recalibration.”
You can see Jeremy perform “Hurtful Ways” at the following shows:
6 May 2023 – Daylesford Hotel, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Daylesford
13 May 2023 – Red Door Pizza, Wathaurrung Country/Buninyong
28 May 2023 – Cinnamon Grove Cafe and Catering, Nillumbik/Greensborough
4 June 2023 – Edinburgh Castle, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick
Image used with permission from Chris Familton Publicity
I’m convinced the Pierce Brothers can do no wrong. Their latest single “In the Water” is another stellar indie-folk track that perfectly showcases their gift for building melodies.
“As a major third wheel in the twin brother dynamic, we found pretty quickly that my main role was actually that of a casting vote between Pat and Jack,” said Dara Munnis, who played keys on and cowrote the song with the Pierce Brothers. “Whenever there were different options on the table for the direction the song was taken, I have 100% let this newfound power go to my head.”
Dara also co-directed the music video with Patrick Pierce, who said “I have wanted to shoot at these locations for a while, and I saw the work of Alicia Brown which got me thinking about using those designs and ideas in a music video about a child’s imaginary friend. Once that was in my head, I just began thinking of all the beautiful locations in Victoria and just wanted to get on the road to start filming them. I reached out to Maryanne Lea to help with the costuming and she took the idea and really ran with it!”
The concept was originally meant for another release, but due to lockdowns in 2020 the performance aspect become impossible. However, now the time is right.
“We had to shelve the project until a new project that fit the song came along. Since then Dara has become a keys player in the band and this was our first song we wrote together. It just made sense that we release this music video we’d worked on for so long together”
Pierce Brothers will celebrate the release of “In the Water” with long-awaited shows allong the East Coast.
“It’s been such a long time since we’ve played headline metro shows, so I’m just really excited to get back out there and play to some of our most excellent hometown fans,” Jack Pierce enthused. “Melbourne is where we honed our craft and where our oldest fans are from, so we’re just really excited to see them all again.”
Tickets are on sale now for all the Pierce Brothers’ single tour shows:
12 May 2023 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
13 May 2023 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane
19 May 2023 – Corner Hotel, Quo-yung/Richmond
27 May 2023 – Tropic Sounds @ Reid Park, Gurrumbilbarra/Townsville
9 June 2023 – Sooki Lounge, Wurundjeri Country/Belgrave
10 June 2023 – Haba, Bunurong Country/Rye
11 June 2023 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung Country/Torquay
1 July 2023 – Western Port Hotel, Bunurong Country/San Remo
5 July 2023 – Big Red Bash @ Big Red Dune, Wirrarri/Birdsville
11 August 2023 – Seabreeze Hotel, Yuwibara Country/Mackay
12 August 2023 – Village Festival, Darumbal Country/Yepoon (FREE)
19 August 2023 – Mundi Mundi Bash, Wilyakali Country/Mundi
Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Dara Munnis
Is it just me, or does Dami Im seem to keep getting better and better? With every release it seems she’s opening up more, showing more vulnerability and stepping into her power. She sets the bar so high for herself, but her latest single “Collide” may just be her best yet.
“Collide is about life transitions. It’s about grieving the roads not taken and embracing the one that you’ve chosen,” she explained. “I started working on Collide with my co-writer Tom Eggert while I was pregnant. I wanted to write about losing my identity and heading into a new season of life.
“Initially the song was written just on the piano, but with Andy Mak coming on board to produce the track, it took a lot of experimenting to land on a production that had enough power and angst while preserving the raw fragility.”
“Collide” is our exciting first taste of Dami’s forthcoming new album, which is scheduled to drop in the second half of the year.
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Nathan Seeckts delivers raw, alt-country music the way it’s supposed to be with his new single “The Wildest Thing.” It’s all heart that refuses to simply imitate American acts. I absolutely love Nathan’s husky, soulful tone.
“This song is about the wildest girl that I ever met,” Nathan said. “It was a whirlwind romance borne under neon and moonlight.”
“The Wildest Thing” is the first single from Nathan’s forthcoming 2023 album. Featuring many of the musicians that played on his 2019 debut, The Heart of the City, it seeks to capture the sound and energy he delivered with his first release. Expect a sneaky listen to more new material as Nathan tours “The Wildest Thing” all around the country. Here are the remaining dates:
22 April 2023 – Stars and Bars Festival, Nira-Balluk, Heathcote
23 April 2023 – Shiraz Republic, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Yorta Yorta Country/Cornella
29 April 2023 – The Retreat Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
6 May 2023 – Pistol Pete’s, Djilang/Geelong
Image used with permission from Chris Familton Publicity
DICE have already sold out plenty of shows on their upcoming tour, but the release of their fabulous new single “Stockholm” should move the rest of those tickets. You know what to do. Press play and enjoy three minutes of exquisite surf rock. Then point your browser to snap up tickets to a show near you, if you haven’t already done so!
“Our latest single, ‘Stockholm’ is a Gen-Z take on the concept of Stockholm Syndrome. The track’s lyrics delve into the intrusive thoughts that arise when you feel trapped within a group of people whose morals and values don’t align with yours and you feel unable to escape the situation yet are forced to be around them,” the band explained. “The process of making this track felt a lot more thought out and perfected than our previous songs. The foundation for the track was made 6 months ago while touring however we continued to work and refine the song to really hone in on the cohesiveness of all the parts. Taking more influence from Brit-Pop we are finding our sound is maturing with each release all while learning that sometimes overthinking parts of a song can hinder our momentum.”
“Stockholm” gives us another taste of DICE’s sophomore EP Time Will Tell, which drops on May 4. You can count on the band playing songs from that release and old favourites at the following gigs:
11 May 2023 – Burleigh Bazaar, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast (SELLING FAST)
12 May 2023 – Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay (FREE)
13 May 2023 – Spaced Out Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane
17 May 2023 – La La Las, Dharawal Country/Wollongong (SOLD OUT)
18 May 2023 – Waywards, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
19 May 2023 – Waywards, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
20 May 2023 – Cambridge Hotel, Mulbinba/Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
25 May 2023 – Republic Bar, Nipaluna/Hobart
26 May 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
27 May 2023 – Crown & Anchor, Tartanya/Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
28 May 2023 – Crown & Anchor, Tartanya/Adelaide
10 June 2023 – The Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth
jnr. and JËVA have joined forces for the powerful new single “Cruel.” After writing the song together, both talents have contributed vocals to the track. Bringing two voices into the song helps bring to life the story of a break-up before the break-up, that period of time when both people know the relationship isn’t working but aren’t quite ready to say goodbye.
After enjoying jnr.’s upbeat pop single “Say (Light Me Up)”, I’m excited to hear something so different. It’s more stripped back, more intimate and vulnerable than the track that came before.
If you’re in Eora/Sydney, you can hear more of .jnr’s music when he opens for Jamyang at the Royal Bondi on May 18. While it’s a free event, you should RSVP online.
It was the single release that had to happen. A month out from the start of their Way Out West tour, James Reyne and Ella Hooper have teamed up for a new version of The Dingoes track, “Way Out West,” which James famously covered in the ‘90s with James Blundell.
“When James came to me with this idea – I was like – hell yeah! I’ve always adored that song, it’s got such a lovely, laconic feel to it and it’s such a unique Australian song too,” Ella gushed. “I used to belt out this song growing up in the country, it’s a dream to be doing it for real with James! It definitely deserves another spin!”
They haven’t reinvented the wheel, but that’s as it should be. This take is pure nostalgia that’s bound to resonate with fans of the original and people like me who remember it from the ‘90s. If you haven’t jumped on tickets to James and Ella’s upcoming shows, let this release be a reminder to get onto it!
Eora/Sydney artist Hattie Oates has been a favourite of mine since I started hearing her music back in 2019. She was just 15 then, but she showed maturity beyond her years. However, like so many artists who start out so green, I think her music is getting better and better with every passing year. Her latest single “Terrified” is an accomplished piece of indie-pop that I can’t stop listening to.
“I wanted to write a song about leaving the safety net of school and diving straight into the music industry. I moved to Sydney literally the day after my last exam and began trying to answer questions about myself that even I didn’t know the answer to,” said Hattie, who hails from Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth.
“When Ben Oldland (producer and co-writer) and I were in the studio, we spoke about growing up surrounded by a “follow your dreams, you can do anything if you put your mind to it” attitude, while also knowing that the higher you jump the further you fall. But I always knew I’ was going to jump, I couldn’t stay put even if I tried,” she said. “This song is about trying to figure out who you are, while navigate a new environment … That feeling of stumbling through the dark trying to grab at anything that’s going to help stabilise you.”
Hattie is clearly embracing life in the big city, as she shot the video in the Northern Beaches. Directed by Will Hunt, Hattie was inspired by the eeriness of Stranger Things and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.”
“As the song has its own chaos about it, I wanted to emulate a chaotic chase through the forest, being hunted down by an unknown being, so by stumbling, running, tripping, I wanted to convey the terrifying feeling of being chased by the unknown. But while trying to escape, I never really leave, so it’s full of fear, angst, determination, wonder,” Hattie explained. We filmed it at the West Head Lookout in the Northern beaches, a stunning location with an abundance of scenic trails, drives and national parkland… oh and on the day of filming I got bitten by a bull ant, accidentally pulled a tree over and had blisters on my feet from running on the hot tar.”
Hattie told fans on Facebook she had so much to show us in the New Year, so hopefully this is the first of several new releases for 2023.
When I pressed play on Mirror Mirror’s new track “When You Find the Time,” I had to check the date. This funky disco throwback doesn’t sound like a 2023 release, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s super smooth, with an infectious groove reminiscent of songs by Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs.
“It’s written from the perspective of the person that ultimately ends up waiting around for this day, knowing full and well what is happening but putting it on the other person to say it first,” explained Ondre Davis, the man behind Mirror Mirror.
While he’s only just started working on his solo material, he’s clearly learned a lot touring as part of local bands. This release feels confident and composed. It’s a joy to listen to.
Mirror Mirror will play Tom Atkin Hall in Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast on April 29, with more dates to be announced really soon.
Tones and I may never have a hit as big as “Dance Monkey.” A song that cuts through like that all over the world is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. However, that doesn’t mean we should label Tones a one-hit-wonder. It also doesn’t mean that her best music is behind her. While “Dance Monkey,” was fun, it’s also a bit gimmicky. I much prefer more recent releases like her latest single “I Am Free.” With powerful lyrics and a soaring chorus, it’s an impressive song from this local talent.
“’I Am Free’ is a song about relationships in my life, that have ended,” Tones shared. “It’s about self-reflecting on those relationships, acknowledging that I still carry parts of them with me and taking my share of responsibility for what happened. I wrote the song, composed it, co-produced it and recorded it with my choir and an orchestra. I also wrote and co-directed the film clip and wanted it to be powerful, joyful and anthemic.”
Tones and I is supporting Macklemore on his UK and European headline tour. If you’re abroad, you can catch them both at the following international shows. Tones will also come back for a couple of local festivals before heading back to Europe for more festivals there.
21 April 2023 – Lanxess Arena, Cologne
22 April 2023 – Verti Music Hall, Berlin
24 April 2023 – Zenith, Munich
25 April 2023 – Stadthalle Offenbach, Offenbach AM Main
27 April 2023 – Edel-Optics.DE Arena, Hamburg-Mitte
29 April 2023 – Warsaw Expo XXI, Warsaw
30 April 2023 – Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
2 May 2023 – The Hall, Dubendorf
3 & 4 May 2023 – Alcatraz, Milan
7 May 2023 – Vega, Kobenhavn
9 May 2023 – Sentrum Scene, Oslo
20 May 2023 – Bassinthegrass, Larrakia Country/Darwin
27 May 2023 – Tropic Sounds 2023, Gurrumbilbarra/Townsville
20 July 2023 – Das Fest 2023, Karlsruhe
23 July 2023 – Deichbrand Festival 2023, Cuxhaven
11 August 2023 – Stars in Town 2023, Schaffhausen
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
