Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Madoc Plane Drops Sensational Single, “Overdrive”

The weekend’s parties may still be days away, but Madoc Plane’s new track “Overdrive” will have you grooving as if they were already here. This is such a funky little number, with Madoc’s effortless falsetto soaring effortlessly over the beats. If Jamiroquai and The Weeknd had a musical baby, it might sound a little something like this.

“‘Overdrive’ is an electro-pop track showing hints of soul and dance. I tried to draw upon the sounds of The Weeknd and Kaytranada in this one, using a strong, driving drum beat underneath multiple layers of samples, synths and ambience,” Madoc explained. “There was a period earlier this year where I used a lot of mindfulness exercises to work on my mental health and I found it super helpful and inspiring. ‘Overdrive’ touches on this period, representing getting past self doubt and putting yourself out there with confidence.”

“Overdrive” comes from Madoc Plane’s debut EP Own Worst Enemy. Featuring previous single “Right Reason,” it’s well worth a listen. If you live near Boorloo/Perth, you can experience his music live at the stacked Tone City Records Dreamfest show at Rosemount Hotel. It was originally slated for November 5, but has been postponed. However, that just means you’ve got a little more time to nab early bird tickets before the new date is announced.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Michael Tartaglia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alt Fiction Drop Pop Bop “Why Are You Still Here?”

Alt Fiction haven’t dropped a single since March, but their follow-up to “Yesterday” is definitely worth the wait. Their latest track “Why Are You Still Here?” is a pop anthem, with all the energy you need to move forward in your working week. The band was inspired to write the song after seeing concertgoers booing after an interlude video featuring Greta Thunberg was played during a show from The 1975. I can definitely hear the British band’s influence in this track!

“It got us thinking about how there’s always a group of people that just go to gigs just to get a shot for their socials, ruin the experience for other people, and are just generally crappy,” they say about the experience.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by other punters at a gig, this one’s for you. I also love the film clip, which Alt Fiction made using an iPhone in two days with zero budget.

“We’ve made music videos ourselves before but this one was the most ambitious for sure,” they enthused. “We knew we wanted to involve the carnival because it’s so colourful and wild. We pretty much just dressed up in the brightest vintage clothing we could find on Depop and then ran around for two days just acting like idiots. It’s pretty embarrassing trying to film a music video at a carnival tbh – most of the footage didn’t even make the cut,” shares Alt Fiction

Thankfully it doesn’t sound like we’ll be left waiting as long for more new music, with the band promising that an EP showcasing “the absolute best of Alt Fiction” is on its way.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Layla Hutchins

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nick de la Hoyde Wows Me With “Bulletproof”

Eora/Sydney-based alternative pop act Nick de la Hoyde shows the strength that can come from true vulnerability with his new single “Bulletproof.” The track explores themes of mental health, resilience, and the importance of human connection.

“I wrote Bulletproof about breaking out of a dark place mentally. Often it takes a special someone to shake you back to reality, and to them we owe everything. They make you feel like you are bulletproof, unstoppable, and most importantly loved. I wrote this song with my brothers in our home studio in Sydney,” he explained.

I’ve always maintained that magic happens when talented siblings make music together. This stellar track is just further proof.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kyle Lionhart Wows Me With “Chemical Heart”

Folky, acoustic guitar-driven music is my kryptonite. Needless to say, I’m powerless to resist “Chemical Heart,” the latest track from Kyle Lionhart. He wrote the song after reaching a crossroads in his musical career.

“Being away and constantly on the road chasing something – that hungry ghost of needing to be validated through music – was so powerful that I was willing to just ruin the rest of my life to get it,” he explained. “I hit this point at end of 2019 – after touring relentlessly for more than six years – when I realised that my family was gonna leave me and I hadn’t spoken to my friends in years, and it took its toll on my mental health. I knew it was getting bad, but I ignored it to chase a ‘successful’ music career. And it worked, but almost every other facet of my life was suffering and falling to pieces.

“Then when I had to stop, because the pandemic forced me to, I realised everything was so turbulent. And I had to start working on myself and my relationships. It was kind of like, ‘Alright, I’m ready to get to work.’ I wrote the song Chemical Heart about that; it’s a song that was very much about everything I had just experienced.”

“Chemical Heart” comes from Kyle’s new album The Silence of You, which drops on November 18. After eating up his singles, I can’t wait to listen. He’ll also play the following shows next year to support the album release:

20 January 2023 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth
21 January 2023 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
27 January 2023 – The Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 January 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
3 February 2023 – Mos Desert Clubhouse, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
4 February 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 February 2023 – Solbar, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast
11 February 2023 – The Northern, Cavanbah/Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pretty Bleak Impress With “other people’s heads”

Pretty Bleak are serving up some of the best pop-punk tunes around. Their latest single “other people’s heads” is an absolute belter with some really insightful lyrics about the influence of social media on modern society.

“Just before the pandemic, I was thinking a lot about the fact that if you have a social media account, at any given moment someone could be creating a model of your personality in their minds that you have very little influence over,” explained vocalist Sam Thomas. “In the past it would have been quite unusual to meet someone for the first time and discover that they already know significant and intimate things about you … I wanted to describe both the uneasiness that an individual might feel about being in a situation comparable to that, and the absurdness of the fact that this paradigm has become the expected state of our social interactions.”

This smart song is matched with a really clever film clip directed by Tom Thomas.

“The use of mirrors and cameras constantly reflecting and perceiving us throughout the video represents obsession our society has with the perceptions of those around us, and how this pathology is exaggerated by how prevalent social media is in our lives,” Sam added. “As with all of our videos, we like to intersperse visual metaphors with intense performance shots that mirror the content of the lyrics of our songs, because we like the video to act as a coherent augmentation of the song itself.”

Pretty Bleak will celebrate the release of “other people’s heads at Stay Gold in Naarm/Melbourne on November 25. They’re also heading to Great Escape in Lutruwita/Tasmania on March 3.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Tom Thomas

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fresco Kyoto Releases Dreamy Single “You Save Me”

Meeanjin/Brisbane quintet Fresco Kyoto has really impressed me with their new singer “You Save Me.” Their sound is so beautifully layered and frontman Robbie Balmer’s vocals are incredible. They’ve been garnering comparisons to Rufus Du Sol and Hayden James, which I can certainly hear, but they’ve also got that indefinable something that sets them apart.

Talking about the single’s inspiration, Fresco Kyoto explained “A person has realised that they have entrapped their love in a relationship that is proving to be defined by their own flaws. Through self-sacrifice the person determines the way they rise above their ailment is on their own, and that their partner must move on to a better life. This song is an ode to time and the revelations it unveils.”

It seems these guys have a lot of hometown support, recently winning Best Live Artist and Best Emerging Artist awards from Brisbane Council and supporting acts like Custard, Jaguar Jonze, and Greta Stanley at local venues. Surely this track is the one that makes the rest of the country sit up and pay attention.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Vivid Visual Co

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eves Karydas Releases Beautiful New Single “Last Night When We Were Young”

Singer-songwriter Eves Karydas has won me over with her nostalgic new single “Last Night When We Were Young.” This beautiful ballad beautifully captures the freedom of youth. I’m smitten.

“We had spent the day at Jon’s [Buscema, writer/producer] house alternating between the swimming pool and the studio, chatting about the fast-moving feeling of life,” she recalled. “Where does all the time go? It’s like we’ve suddenly woken up, we’re adults, we have responsibilities.”

Eves said the song came out of a time when she felt she was taking things for granted, and wanted to hold on cherishing the small moments that really mattered more.

“Like at the start of a new relationship when the hours feel like minutes, and you know those moments aren’t going to last forever. That’s the feeling we wanted to capture in the song.”

Job done I’d say!

Image used with permission from Gyrostream

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“BIG!” – Betty Who

It’s an exciting time for pop music, and women are front and centre of the revolution. Taylor Swift has just broken all records with Midnights. I can’t stop listening to Carly Rae Jepsen’s newie, The Loneliest Time. Another artist who deserves to be in the conversation is Betty Who. The Australian-American pop trailblazer recently dropped her latest album BIG!, which is her most personal and probably her best to date.

I must admit, I came to this album a little reluctantly. I’ve been bingeing the other two big pop releases, and I expected this one to fall short. But Betty had me from the title track. It’s the perfect opener, a nostalgic pop ballad that unashamedly introduces and celebrates all 6-foot, two-inches of Betty. “WEEKEND” turns up the energy with more ‘80s vibes and fun, flirty lyrics. Betty Who is a master at crafting these feel-good pop bangers. Listening to songs like “BLOW OUT MY CANDLE” and “SHE CAN DANCE” is a pure delight. They’re great fun, but tap into those introspective lyrics and I guarantee you’ll fall a little more in love. These are songs of strength, celebrations of the human spirit and embracing all parts of yourself.

While I enjoyed the upbeat moments, the quieter songs really made me fall in love with this album. “SOMEONE ELSE” slows the beats down and reveals the vulnerability that comes with opening your heart to another human being. The closing song “GROWN UPS GROW APART” is so stripped back and raw. Its quiet power draws you in, encouraging you to listen to its poignant lyrics. It’s such a special song, and the perfect way to end this album.

Like many of you I imagine, I didn’t know much about Betty Who beyond her big covers of “I Love You Always Forever” and the Queer Eye theme. BIG! shows Betty Who is so much more than that. She’s an incredible songwriter who has really floored me with this record. I understand it’s hard to tear yourself away from the new Taylor Swift and Carly Rae records, but I promise it’s worth giving BIG! a listen.

Images used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Austin Mackay Impresses With “Dancing Through the Fire”

Austin Mackay is one of those artists who is so good, it’s hard to stop at just one song. I intended to give his latest single “Dancing Through the Fire” a listen to decide whether to write about it or not. That was about three hours ago, because I found myself listening to the entire Dancing Through the Fire EP. Multiple times. It’s honest folk-rock with just a sprinkling of pop to make it extra irresistible. As for the single, I can imagine cranking it up on my next road trip. The synths and sax make it sound so good, but this track came from a fairly difficult chapter of Austin’s life.

“’Dancing Through The Fire’ is a song that I wrote about the realisation of a relationship that was falling apart right in front of me,” he explained. “That initial moment when clarity kicked in and I finally saw the warning signs that had been there all along … I noticed the string of bad habits and unhealthy compromise that caused me to become so far removed from myself. But for some unknown reason I tried to hold the damn thing together.”

At least he got a great song out of it, right? Austin is currently touring all over the country. Catch him at one of his remaining shows:

28 October 2022 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
29 October 2022 – Commonfolk, Boonwurrung Country/Mornington
31 October 2022 – Westernport Hotel, Yallock Bulluk Beek Country/San Remo (FREE)
4 November 2022 – The Chippo Hotel, Eora/Sydney
5 November 2022 – Bitter & Twisted Festival, Minderibba/Maitland
17 November 2022 – Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay (FREE)
18 November 2022 – Felons Barrel Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (FREE)
19 November 2022 – Solbar, Kabi Kabi Country/Sunshine Coast
27 November 2022 – Summer Sesh Festival, Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Kieran Tunbridge

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Loretta Start Your Week Right With “dad’s mercedes”

Eora/Sydney indie-pop act Loretta are back with a new single “dad’s mercedes”. I fell pretty hard for these guys with the release of “Late Night” last year, and I’m so glad they’re back on my radar. Its optimistic energy is just what you need to feel better about your Monday morning.

“Lyrically, this one came from a time in our lives when we felt like love had lower stakes,” the band explained. “Exploring the narrative of two young lovers chasing after one another, in a place where you may be ready for love and relationships and all that comes with it; but one of you can’t quite commit, both being fully aware of each other’s feelings. It comes from a happy place where nothing feels like it needs to be too serious. We made sure to capture that feeling sonically; it needed to feel youthful.”

Loretta are currently playing shows around the eastern states to support the release of “dad’s mercedes”. They’re at it again this weekend with shows in New South Wales. Catch them at the following venues in the coming weeks.

4 November 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Awabakal/Newcastle
5 November 2022 – La La La’s, Tharawal/Wollongong
10 November 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
11 November 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
2 December 2022 – Vanfest, Wiradjuri/Bathurst

Image used with permission from Good Intent