Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Give Vinyl 45’s Newest Track “Top Down” a Spin

With a name like Vinyl 45, you might expect this seven-piece from Western Eora/Sydney to deliver some serious nostalgia. They deliver with their latest track “Top Down,” a song which somewhere combines the soul of yacht rock with urban edge, thanks to the rap stylings of Truboy.

“This track holds a special place in my heart as it was the first track we recorded with the band that was a reflection of my personal feelings at the time,” explained Vinyl 45’s frontman Aaron Gunawickrema. “The lyrics basically talk about that moment when everything around you gets too stressful to handle, be it money matters, study, whatever. And you just want to leave it all behind and go to the one person that will silence all those worries and voices in your head, get in a car with them and drive away, leaving everything behind.”

A true representation of the diversity of their part of the country, Vinyl 45 has members with Sri Lankan, Myanmarese, South American, Scottish, and Welsh heritage. When you get all those backgrounds together, they’re going to create music that doesn’t sound like anything else. I can’t wait to hear what’s up next from Vinyl 45. While they don’t have any headlining shows coming up, you can catch them at The Great Club in Eora/Sydney supporting Sex on Toast on April 22.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Kushal Bhattarai

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Holly Wild Releases Relatable New Single, “Inside My Head”

If you’ve ever wrestled with negative self-talk, you’re really going to relate to Holly Wild’s latest track “Inside My Head.” It’s a gritty pop song with powerful lyrics and vocals from this Eora/Sydney singer-songwriter.

“This is a song about the negative dialogue that goes around in my head, the endless loop telling me that I’m the jack of all trades, but master of none. Chipping away at my self-confidence every day, telling me I’m not good enough,” Holly admitted

Holly’s music has already earned praise from publications in the United States and United Kingdom. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers this local talent.

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Laurie Cave Makes a Splash With Debut Single, “Nobody Could Ever Love You”

Laurie Cave was born in the United Kingdom, but we’re pretty lucky he’s decided to call Naarm/Melbourne home. He’s just released his debut single “Nobody Could Ever Love You”, one of the catchiest rock songs I’ve heard in some time. You can hear the Sam Fender influence coming through, but there’s something about Laurie that sets him apart.

“This song is heavily inspired by ‘Seventeen Going Under’ by Sam Fender – a song that completely transfixed me”, Laurie explains. “It felt like Sam was making the music and expressing the things that I have always wanted to. In some ways, it is a homage to his song.”

He added that “This release is about doing ‘the work’ and facing up to the demons of early childhood and a ‘mis-spent youth’ of drug use and avoidance. It’s about the moment when you finally accept that you have to go to the deep and dark places to work through your trauma.”

I hear he’s got a stack of material that he’s waiting to unleash, so we can expect to hear a lot more from Laurie in the coming months.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Casey Horsfield

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

marigolden Releases Gorgeous New Single “Mars”

Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter marigolden has gotten underneath my skin with her latest single “Mars.” It’s one of those songs that sneaks up on you, a slow burner that reveals itself to be the perfect mix of folk and indie-rock. If you’re into artists like Sharon van Etten and Middle Kids, I know you’re going to love this.

“Have you ever felt a bit fed up with humanity? Like everything around you is a bit too hard and you wish you could just scrap it all and start from scratch? That’s sort of what ‘Mars’ is about,” she explained. “The ebb and flow of this feeling is mirrored in the song’s structure. Guitar drives the song from a soft, vulnerable start to a climactic full band ending that truly encapsulates the essence of feeling overwhelmed.”

If your working week is getting to you, this song is the perfect antidote.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Lust for Love” – Mother Culture

Leave your expectations at the door and discover Mother Culture’s sophomore EP, Lust for Love. The Naarm/Melbourne duo plays with genre to deliver a collection of songs that keep you guessing.

While most EPs set the foundation with their opening number, Mother Culture ease you in to this EP. “The Lesson I Can’t Seem to Learn” is a gentle acoustic folk ditty, which makes the big guitar chords of the next track “Fall On My Face” a real surprise. These guys know how to rock, whether it’s with this contemporary sound or the more vintage, psychedelic sounds of follow-up track “The Girl With the Doja Cat Tattoo.” Mother Culture really deliver something for everyone here. It’s all so much fun and never boring. “Dive” is classic country, with a driving acoustic guitar reminiscent of a Johnny Cash tune. “Should She Stay” is an upbeat pop-rocker with an irresistible hook you’ll find yourself humming for days. The EP closes out with the title track, a beautiful piano ballad that shows once and for all that Mother Culture are true musical chameleons.

The left turns of Lust for Love might be jarring for some listeners, but as someone with eclectic tastes I think they’re a lot of fun. With these six songs, Mother Culture prove they’re a band that refuses to be pigeonholed. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. Mother Culture will launch their EP at the Evelyn Hotel in Ngár-go/Fitzroy on March 25.

Images used with permission from Mother Culture

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Mastwyk Drops Original Country Single, “Actually”

Cosmic country act Ben Mastwyk has dropped his fabulous new single “Actually.” If ELO ever released a country track, it might sound a little like this.

“Performing is essential to my happiness, but it’s not always easy. Dressing up, standing out with flashy clothes and jewellery, gives me confidence and protects me from the dangers of the world. ‘Actually’ is a glimpse behind the armour of gold suits and rhinestones, reminding us that even the boldest of personas can be vulnerable,” Ben explained.

Ben is doing plenty of performing in the coming weeks. Here are all the places you can see him and his flashy clothes:

17 March 2023 – The Gem, Naarm/Melbourne
25 March 2023 – Union Hotel Newtown, Eora/Sydney
26 March 2023 – Grand Junction Hotel, The Junkyard, Minderibba/Maitland
1 April 2023 – Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival, Kanny-goopna/Shepparton

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

August River Band Impress With “Lemonade”

Meeanjin/Brisbane band August River Band has served up a delicious new single, “Lemonade.” With the band’s strong fiddle and minor acoustic guitar notes, I’m getting serious Dave Matthews Band vibes from this one. Trust me, that’s a really good thing.

The song explores the idea of making lemonade out of life giving you lemons through four characters: a barman, a spinster, a merchant, and a blacksmith. It’s a cool concept executed so perfectly by this inventive band.

This is August River’s first release since they dropped their debut album Thank You, Pain in 2020. Well worth the wait, it comes ahead of a new EP release later this year. They’ll play The Bearded Lady on March 24.

Image used with permission from Fox Hole Films

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jordy Maxwell Releases Uplifting Folk Anthem, “Let Me Out”

Boorloo/Perth indie-folk act Jordy Maxwell will make your day better with his new single “Let Me Out.” It’s a textbook example of how you build a song. I love its gentle acoustic opening but really appreciate how it builds to this cathartic climax once the percussion and strings kick in.

“‘Let Me Out’ started as a phone recording and some seriously silly lyrics. After listening back, the chord progression and melody were kept, and the song evolved from a simple, sweet start, into a massive build-up and release,” Jordy explained. “With the help of the violins and drums, I wanted to create momentum in the back end of the song that inspires and motivates. The song is a journey of feeling so trapped in life, whether it be a location, a relationship, or work and eventually being able to release yourself from what’s dragging you away from what you love. It’s a song I hope can inspire people to make a change if they feel they need it in their life.”

Jordy will join fellow Aussie singer-songwriter Jack Botts on his national tour, which kicks off later this month in Tandanya/Adelaide.

31 March 2023 – Lion Arts Factory, Tandanya/Adelaide
1 April 2023 – The Rosemount, Boorloo/Perth
14 April 2023 – The Triffid, Meeanjin/Brisbane
15 April 2023 – Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 April 2023 – 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Feelings Worth Living For” – Jim Alxndr

Most of us enjoy good music every day. But truly great music? The kind of music that gets under your skin and into your heart and permeates every cell? That’s so much rarer. That’s the kind of music Jim Alxndr delivers on his new EP Feelings Worth Living For.

That title instantly struck me. It raises such expectations. You’d better evoke powerful emotions when you dare to give an EP a name like that. But from the moment the lush, layered vocals of the opening track “Sticks and Stones” kicked in, I thought he might just deliver on what he’s promised.

Naarm/Melbourne-based Jim is a talented producer who’s worked with the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen, Jack Garrett, and Paul Moody. It gives him a unique understanding of music that really shines through this recording. It sounds incredible, with rich vocal harmonies and electro-acoustic sound collages. The music wraps around exquisite lyrics. They’re introspective, yet somehow so relatable. I found myself moved time and time again. When the stunning closer “The Light” faded out, I had to take a few moments to compose myself. And then listen again.

“The songs on Feelings Worth Living For all feel like big, understanding hugs to me. Like the best friend you call at 2 am crying cause you know they’re gonna pick up and you know they’re gonna accept you no matter what you’re going through. Or the picture of your partner on your phone lock screen that you look at and can’t help but smile at,” Jim explained. “The songs seem to listen to my thoughts and give me back an understanding of our current existence – hence the name of the EP.”

Take some time to listen to Feelings Worth Living For. In a world where so much music seems disposable, this is one EP that will encourage you to keep coming back for more.

Images used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LOSER Drop Rocking New Single “The More I Know” Ahead of East Coast Tour

I’ve been really impressed watching Stadium Dreams On a Bedroom Budget, the new EP from LOSER, unfold. In case you missed it, these local rockers have opted to drop a new track every few weeks, giving us time to sit with each one, rather than just dumping them all at once. You might think that four tracks in the project might be losing steam, but the latest cut, “The More I Know” might just be my favourite. It’s giving me serious Foo Fighters stadium vibes. Crank it up and you’ll hear what I mean.

“After lockdown it was hard to get back to regular programming, I lost faith in playing music and I was questioning whether I wanted to do it anymore. Craig and I sat down and punched this song out in a day,” explained the band’s frontman, Tim Maxwell. “The lyrics are the most meaningful on the EP. It’s about getting out of that rut and wanting to succeed more than ever after spending so much creative energy trying to make ends meet.”

This would be a great time to let you know that LOSER will tour the East Coast in May to celebrate the release of Stadium Dreams On a Bedroom Budget. While you’re at the shows, you may be lucky enough to score one of the limited edition signed clear 12” vinyls. LOSER will randomly draw a ticket holder’s name in the middle of each set to score one of these babies, which are the only physical merch available for this release.

“Call it crazy, call it genius, call it something in between – either way we thought this was the best and coolest way to share something special for this EP with our fans,” the band said. “It’s a gift to the people who come to see us live and hopefully a cool collectible in the future as we won’t ever be pressing this release again in its current form. We’re yet to know if our signatures will actually de-value the vinyl or not.”

If you want one, you’re just going to have to get to one of these gigs!

4 May 2023 – Oxford Arts Factory Gallery Bar, Eora/Sydney
5 May 2023 – Cambridge Sideroom, Mulubinba/Newcastle
6 May 2023 – Dicey Riley’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
11 May 2023 – Vinnie’s Dive Bar, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
12 May 2023 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeajin/Brisbane
13 May 2023 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Ian Laidlaw