Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets Drop Stellar New Single, “Natural Ways”

Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets are here to ease you into your weekend with their jazzy and oh-so-soulful single “Natural Ways.” It’s effortlessly cool, with Ken and Persia’s vocals bending beautifully against that fanfare of horns. It’s the sort of song that once you hear it inspires you to spend time digging around their back catalogue. Hot tip: it’s worth doing.

“‘Natural Ways’ is a high-energy affirmation about moving on from toxic situations,” Ken explained. “It is our most ambitious track with an addiction of a horn section.”

I just hope those horns become a permanent addition, because they really turn this song into something special. It’s hard to believe these guys only formed last year, because they are creating some of the slickest music I’ve heard in some time. Fan in their hometown of Boorloo/Perth can catch them at the In Dreams Festival at Rosemount Hotel on November 5.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Cass Evans-Ocharern

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Illy Drops Latest Banger “Like You”

Back in the Warner Music Australia stable, Illy has just dropped his feelgood new single “Like You”. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up this Wednesday, you can stop searching. This is everything you need.

We shouldn’t be surprised it’s so catchy though, as “Like You” comes from Illy collaborating with Johnny Took from DMA’s, Reuben Styles and Adam Hyde from Peking Duk, Styalz Fuego, and Black Summer. That’s a lot of different voices involved, but this song comes together beautifully.

“I’m stoked to be releasing new music, especially after the last few years,” Illy said. “I wanted to kick off the new era with a bang, and ‘Like You’ was the perfect fit for that. Working with some of my favourite Australian artists and producers made the process a lot of fun, and something to be excited about. This really shines through in the track. I’ve listened to this song 1000 times and still, I love this song.”

Illy has just dropped a few dates and he swears there’s more to come. If he’s not visiting you yet, just sit tight.
18 November 2022 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung Country/Torquay
19 November 2022 – Volta, Wadawurrung Country/Ballarat
2-4 December 2022 – VANFEST, Wiradjuri Country/Bathurst
8-12 June 2023 – Dream Machine, Bali

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia; credit: Giulia McGauran

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chloe Kay & The Crusade Wows Me With “Broken Woman”

Don’t you just love finding those voices that stop you in your tracks? That you fall in love with instantly, hanging on every single word they sing? It’s rare and difficult to describe exactly what draws you to them, but when it comes it’s like lightning in a bottle. Chloe Kay, of Chloe Kay & The Crusade, has one of those voices. Press play on their latest single “Broken Woman” and I know you’ll fall in love too.

This song is a bit of a departure from the upbeat blues-rock the band usually delivers. There’s still that strong blues spirit, but it’s more vulnerable and intimate. You can hear how cathartic singing this song is for Chloe, who wrote the song after getting out of an unhealthy relationship.

“‘Broken Woman’ was my chance to say what I’d been holding inside,” she admitted. “This track is for those who have been taken advantage of, lied to and disrespected in a relationship and who so badly want to be seen and heard. ‘Broken Woman’ will be a little slice of therapy for some and serve as an anthem for those who have felt broken. I hope it will give them a chance to feel empowered, even just for a few minutes.”

Chloe Kay & The Crusade will close out the year playing Australian Blues Music Festival in Mulwaree Country/Goulburn on November 18 to 20.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rachael Fahim Celebrates City Roots With “City Girls in the Country”

Eora/Sydney artist Rachael Fahim busts the stereotypes and shows you don’t need a rural upbringing to make killer country music. Her latest single “City Girls in the Country” is an anthem for all the city slickers who love country music.

“As a city-born country artist of Lebanese decent, I’ve constantly been challenged about my country music eligibility, but for me, country music has always been a place of storytelling, a platform of the underdog to speak out and a place to connect with real people,” she explained. “Country music is evolving and becoming the most adored genre across the globe, a voice for everybody, no matter what your background or story is! This song is an anthem for doing what you love, being who you want to be, embracing what is different and not really caring about what other people think or say! Fuck yeah, city girls can be country too.”

Fuck yeah indeed! She may have faced her fair share of criticism, but it seems the country music scene is coming around. After her 2021 single “Middle Ground” spent five weeks at number one on the Australian Country Singles Airplay Chart, Rachael became the second-most streamed female country artist of all time, just behind Kasey Chambers. She’ll also play some of the biggest country music festivals in the country over the coming months.

14 & 15 October 2022 – Channel Country Music Muster, Thargomindah/Bulloo River
3 December 2022 – Capital Country, Nugunnawal/Canberra

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jacqui Lumsden Releases Amazing New Pop Single, “Closer”

As the working week wears on, it’s easy for the grind to get you down. If you need a lift right now, press play on “Closer”, the latest track from Jacqui Lumsden. It’s a sparkly, synth-soaked pop banger penned about a bittersweet love affair Jacqui had as a teenager on exchange overseas.

“The song is about separation. At 16, I fell desperately in love with someone on the other side of the world,” Jacqui explained. “He was my best friend and the only person I felt understood me truly. We spent a year together and then I went back to my small country town in Victoria, and that was that. It felt like the world was crashing down around me. Ultimately this song is about long-distance relationships and the trauma of being separated from the person you love.”

The retro sound of “Closer” perfectly evokes the nostalgia of teenage love and loss. It makes me remember how much bigger and more intense everything felt at 16. It also doesn’t hurt that it sounds a lot like a Carly Rae Jepsen song, and I’ve been bingeing her music pretty hard of late! If you’ve got your own workspace, this song is the perfect soundtrack for a well-earned dance break.

Image used with permission from StarCrossed PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Younger Than Me Delights With “Robomash”

After impressing me a couple of months ago with “Hallucination,” Younger Than Me has charmed me again with “Robomash.” It’s another piece of experimental pop music that is totally enchanting. It’s a real gift to create music that’s out of the box, yet so appealing. When you take risks invariably you’ll fall short from time to time, yet it seems like this Eora/Sydney duo can’t put a foot wrong. It’s so exciting.

Emma Davis said the song was inspired by a time when the duo wasn’t sure their music dreams would get off the ground. “It was a time where Annie [McKinnon] was trying to juggle her interaction design with teaching, music and everything else that comes with life, and I think it just all felt too much,” she explained. “We’ve never wanted this project to feel like a burden so it’s been so important to be honest and try to fit it into life in a way that works.”

Thankfully, all’s well that ends well. After losing themselves in a day of recording, Emma and Annie agreed to stop stressing about the outcome and take things as they came. They shared a bottle of red, or maybe more, and created this track to celebrate their collaboration, friendship, and belief that things always work out in the end.

“It’s the first track where we let go a little and started to trust ourselves more as producers” Annie added. “We stopped being so afraid of trying weird things, so there are lots of wacky synths, and vocal sounds acting as drum beats that somehow find their place. I think it’s a good precursor of what’s to come.”

After they’ve released such beautiful and unique singles, I can’t help wondering what’s next for Younger Than Me. But rather than focusing on the future, I’m going to take a lesson from them and just sit with this gorgeous track for a while.

Image credit: Marcus Coblyn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ella Therese Shows Age is Just a Number With “THIRTYFOUR”

Ella Therese proves she’s a real force with her latest indie pop-rock single “THIRTYFOUR.” Written as Ella approached her 34th birthday, it challenges the idea that you’re ever too old to make your dreams come true.

“It’s never too late. Never too late to do exactly what sets your soul on fire,” she enthused. “Age doesn’t dictate what happens next. I’ve just turned thirty-four years old and I used to be worried about starting music later in life, but I’ve learnt to embrace my unique perspective on the world. ‘THIRTYFOUR’ is about feeling empowered, limitless and perfectly happy with your age, and embracing the distinct qualities you have to offer the world. I expect more from the world, more from myself, and I’m celebrating that quality in ‘THIRTYFOUR’. I’m not going to settle for anything less than absolutely everything I could possibly aim for.”

Too right! No matter how old you are, I know you’re going to take something from this song. Ella launches it tomorrow night, October 9, at Kidogo Arthouse in Walyalup/Fremantle.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Me & You” – Joan & The Giants

After waxing lyrical about Joan & The Giants’ singles “The Weekend” and “Home Song,” I wasn’t sure what I’d have to say about the band’s debut EP Me & You. That’s two of the five songs after all. But now this beautiful EP is out in the world, I knew I had to find the words and put this band back on your radar.

Listening to “The Weekend” opening the EP reminded me just how much I love what this band does. If you somehow missed the single on its release, I know it’s going to hook you in. “Slow Motion” is a slow burner, in the best possible way, a gentle love song that captures the headiness of finding someone you spark with so beautifully. “Hardest Part” is a beautiful piano ballad. Its minimalist instrumentation ensures you focus in on the powerful lyrics and Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s stunning voice. “Home Song” brings us back to the familiar before the EP ends with “Centerfold.” We’ve all heard so many love songs that avoid using specifics to ensure they relate to the reader. I love that Joan & The Giants get specific, with references to Tim Burton characters and swimming lessons. The details bring the love story of Grace and her bandmate Aaron Birch to life in technicolour. It’s such a beautiful way to end this special EP.

The beauty of an EP is that it lets you sit in the band’s music for a little longer than a single. The singles felt all too fleeting, like a cool breeze on a summer’s day that hit you for a moment before moving on. The EP wraps you up in a warm hug, staying with you for as long as you need the comfort. And if that’s not quite long enough, you can always press play.

Images used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Blake Cateris Embraces Softer Side With “Days, Weeks, Months & Years”

His tattoos ensure he still looks like a punk star, but Blake Cateris is singing a different tune these days. As the frontman of Molly & The Krells he shared the stage with big-name acts including Bodyjar, The Getaway Plan, and Hard-Ons, but like so many rockers, Blake has mellowed considerably in recent years. His introspective latest single “Days, Weeks, Months & Years” showcases his talents as a folk artist.

“This song is about living out of balance with yourself. Watching the world go by feeling like you might be losing touch with far more important things in life than what you’re focusing on right now,” Blake explained. “It’s a daily struggle to break old and unhealthy habits that no longer serve you or have been damaging you for some time. But the struggle is what we live for.”

Blake will tour the east coast of Australia to celebrate the single’s release. You’ll find him at the following intimate venues:

7 October 2022 – Nosferatu Distillery, Meeanjin/Brisbane
8 October 2022 – Mort’s Brewing Co., Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Nambour
9 October 2022 – Yard Doggs, Meeanjin/Fortitude Valley
15 October 2022 – Last Chance Rock N’ Roll Bar, Naarm/Melbourne
28 October 2022 – Link & Pin, Darkinjung Country/Woy Woy
3 November 2022 – Sappho Bar, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Rise Indie; credit: Dario Hardaker

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Get Better” – Old Mervs

If The Wombats and The Vanns had a baby, they might sound a little something like Old Mervs. Coming out of Western Australia, Dave House & Henry Carrington-Jones are leading the surf-rock renaissance with a sound that’s much bigger and more addictive than any duo has the right to create. With the release of their debut EP Get Better today, it’s time for the nation to realise just how good these guys are.

I’ve spent a solid week just listening to this EP and I still can’t get enough. These songs are so good, with self-reflective lyrics fuelled by the lads finishing high school and figuring our what comes next coupled with a big rock sound that goes down easy. They’re accessible and irresistibly catchy, hooking you from the opening drum notes of “Where I Go”. I found myself singing along with the choruses from the get go, and when the final guitar chords of the slow-burning closer “How I Met Your Mother” faded away I couldn’t wait to press play again. All these songs were new to me, but before long they felt like old friends. It feels mean to single any out because they’re all new favourites. And besides, this music is better felt and experienced than analysed. Just turn it on and turn that volume up.

Get Better is out now. Do yourself a favour and get around it, because it’s stellar.

Images used with permission from beehive