Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Indigo Sparke Drops Enchanting New Single, “Pressure in my Chest”

I’m absolutely enamoured with “Pressure in my Chest,” the new single from Aussie expat Indigo Sparke. On hearing this song, I couldn’t stop thinking about my own struggles with anxiety. Indigo is cryptic about the song’s meaning, simply stating “In the birth of memory, there is the eternal moment of time. All things exist here. Through night dreams and wishes, and hot tears and laughing stars, I carried myself to the desert to traverse the landscape of history and reconcile the ever-present Pressure in my Chest.”

I don’t mind that Indigo keeps us guessing. It means we can take whatever we want from this beautiful song.

“Pressure in my Chest” comes from Indigo’s forthcoming album Hysteria, due out on October 7, a collection of songs conceived while Indigo was stuck in Australia at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, waiting for her visa to be renewed so she could return to New York City. She was far from the place she now called home, processing a difficult breakup, and seeing the whole world seemingly crumble around her. If that doesn’t make for a compelling album, I don’t know what will. “Pressure in my Chest” is certainly a great start.

Image used with permission from Inertia Music; credit: Angela Ricciardi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Summit Drop New Single and Tour Dates

South Summit have only recently wrapped up their first headlining national tour, but they’re itching to get back in front of crowds again. They’ve just announced a slew of East Coast dates in September to celebrate the release of their brand new single “Promise Me.” This is another cool cut from the band which showcases Isaiah Reuben’s soulful vocals beautifully. If you love your rock music with a side order of reggae, you’re going to dig this one.

“‘Promise Me’ is about falling for the rebelliousness of someone and hoping they will give you that part of them,” Isaiah explained. “It’s about having an itch to be different from everyone else. A side that gives us adrenaline only makes things exciting.”

“Recording ‘Promise Me’ started from a jam us boys had back in 2021,” added his younger brother and the band’s rhythm guitarist, Nehemiah. “All of us love that soul rock and groove feel and I think that’s what we aimed for in this song. Writing a tune for people to dance to is something we considered when in the process of making it, having groovy rhythms and a soulful voice played a major part in this one. We were so stoked to have Dave Parkin (Blackbird Studio) bring it to life, we all enjoyed recording this one and I think you guys will like it.”

They’ve only just been on the road, but South Summit are ready to do it all again this September.

“This trip over east is definitely the most exciting thing that we have booked so far and we are keen to get back on the road,” they confirmed. “We are all stoked to go on another one after our recent Tired of Waiting Australia Tour in May/June. We are returning to Sydney, Melbourne and Byron, but adding debut dates in Sunshine Coast, Wollongong and Caringbah, with new venues in all cities. We are also playing at Springtime Festival in the Gold Coast, another huge achievement as it’s another festival in 2022 with some of Aussie’s best live acts.”

South Summit are keen; are you? Here are all the dates you need:

3 September 2022 – Solbar, Kabi Kabi Country/Sunshine Coast
4 September 2022 – Springtime Festival, Kombumerri Country/Gold Coast
9 September 2022 – Beach Hotel, Bundjalung Country/Byron Bay
10 September 2022 – Huxley’s, Gweagal Country/Caringbah
11 September 2022 – North Gong Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
16 September 2022 – Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Eora/Sydney
17 September 2022 – Yah Yah’s, Naarm/Melbourne
24 September 2022 – Indian Ocean Hotel, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Sarah Haleem

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Gorgeous New Single, “Home Song”

Boorloo/Perth band Joan & The Giants have just released their gorgeous new single “Home Song.” As its title suggests, this is a really personal track for the band which celebrates the low between the band’s creative force, Grace Newtown-Wordsworth and Aaron Birch. Grace wrote the track as a love letter to Aaron while he was back home on Nimanboor/Nyul Nyul Country (West Kimberley) mourning the loss of his grandmother, part of the Stolen Generation, with his family.

“‘Home Song’ was written on a Sunday in June 202I. Aaron and I had a pointless fight over nothing (probably the dishes), then he saw all of these missed calls on his phone and found out his grandma was seriously ill and he needed to fly to Broome immediately to say goodbye,” Grace recalled. “When he flew away, it put everything into perspective and I just wanted to take the pain from his chest and hold it for a while. It taught me to not take anything for granted, and to hold the people you love close … so this song is for Aaron, my home.”

Joan & The Giants had a massive 2021 playing Nannup Music Festival, supporting Jamilla, and earning three nominations in the International Songwriting Competition 2021. With gorgeous music like “Home Song” dropping, no doubt 2022 will be every bit as big for the band.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meg Mac Wows Me With “Letter”

Meg Mac has totally floored me with her gorgeous new single “Letter.” It’s a classic piano ballad that tells a powerful story about the things that are often left unsaid.

“Letter” is the latest track lifted from Meg’s third album, Matter of Time, which drops on September 16. Preorder the album now to get your hands on a gorgeous vinyl copy.

Image used with permission from Meg Mac

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Younger Than Me Does Things Differently With “Hallucination”

Eora/Sydney duo Younger Than Me has just dropped their beautiful new single “Hallucination,” and you’ll want to hear it. An experimental pop masterpiece, it’s truly hypnotic listening to the duo’s dreamy harmonies and the pretty melodies of flutes and mellotron.

“I’d just got home from a rehearsal with Em [Davis],” said Annie McKinnon, the other half of the talented duo, on the track. “I flopped onto my bed, pulled out my microkorg and started singing this story. I had an image of someone in a desert, standing on a porch, and longing for an old lover. A strange weather event hits, a huge flood of water and colour and they turn into a creature, escaping longing through fantasy”.

Another self-recorded and self-produced effort, this track shows Younger Than Me are an exciting act taking control of their creative destiny.

Image used with permission from Younger Than Me; credit: Marcus Coblyn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

COTERIE Ready to Headline First National Tour

I meant to write an article about COTERIE’s upcoming tour yesterday. Instead, I found myself travelling down the rabbit hole listening to their music and remembering just how much I love it. I’m still listening today, but I’m a bit more focused on the task at hand!

With Western Australian borders shut for so long, this will be the first time COTERIE have headlined an Aussie tour. Fans have wasted no time snapping up tickets, with several shows already sold out or getting close to it. COTERIE have just wrapped up a tour supporting Kiwi group SIX60, so they’re in fine form right now. Head to their website to get your tickets, because you don’t want to miss out.

29 July 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne (FINAL TIX)
30 July 2022 – Jive Bar, Tarndanya/Adelaide
4 August 2022 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
5 August 2022 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney
6 August 2022 – Woolly Mammoth, Meeanjin/Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
19 August 2022 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Matt Joe Gow’s Newie, “‘Til My Whole Heart Bursts”

When you press play on a new Matt Joe Gow track, you know you’re in good hands. His latest single “’Til My Whole Heart Bursts” is another sublime slice of Americana. From Matt’s easy, earnest vocals to the cool sounds of the slide guitar, it ticks all the boxes for me.

“’Til My Whole Heart Bursts” comes from Matt’s forthcoming album Between Tonight & Tomorrow. He’s got a couple of local shows before he heads across the ditch to wow crowds in his homeland. Catch him at the following venues:

16 July 2022 – Shady Palms, Kincumba/Kincumber
17 July 2022 – Bayview Country Arts Club, Boonwurrung Land/Bittern
30 July 2022 – Radio Luna, Bunurong Land/Portsea
5 August 2022 – Bark, Dunedin
6 August 2022 – Peace Memorial Hall, Ophir
7 August 2022 – Thomas Green Pub, Gore
12 August 2022 – Maheno Hall, Oamaru
13 August 2022 – Luggate Hotel, Luggate
19 August 2022 – Hilltop House Concerts, Wellington
21 August 2022 – Wine Cellar, Auckland

Image used with permission from Matt Joe Gow

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bad Weather Drops “Flowers in Your Room” Ahead of The Faim Support

Winter may have well and truly set in, but Bad Weather are bringing the sunshine with their sweet new single “Flowers in Your Room.” This track has such a fun, radio-friendly feel. It’s the perfect blend of pop and rock, and we just don’t hear enough of that these days.

“‘Flowers In Your Room’ is one of the few songs I’ve written that started on an acoustic guitar,” recalls lead singer Callum Robertson, who also produced the track. “My writing process almost always starts on a laptop, but I had the main chords of the song and would just play them over and over again and hum to myself. The song is about the breakdown of a relationship and learning to navigate the emotions you feel throughout that process. Like a lot of the songs on the EP, it was written during the first lockdown where everyone was thrust into this new reality of living in the confines of four walls. It was a really emotional time for me, so I just locked myself away and wrote a heap of music.”

Bad Weather are heading out on the road to support fellow Boorloo/Perth rockers The Faim this week. You know these shows are going to be good, so make sure you don’t miss out on tickets!

15 July 2022 – Vision Studios, Boorloo/Perth (ALL AGES)
16 July 2022 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Boorloo/Perth
21 July 2022 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane
22 July 2022 – Newcastle Hotel, Mulubimba/Newcastle
23 July 2022 – The Lansdowne Hotel, Eora/Sydney
24 July 2022 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong
29 July 2022 – Transit Bar, Ngambri/Canberra
30 July 2022 – Evelyn Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
31 July 2022 – Enigma Bar, Kaurna/Adelaide

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Drew Kendell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baker Boy Covers Bernard Fanning

I was pretty surprised when I heard Baker Boy had released a version of Bernard Fanning’s “Wish You Well”. But I should have known this wouldn’t be any karaoke cover. The Yolnu superstar has flipped the script here, bringing something new and very fresh to the Powderfinger frontman’s solo smash. Speaking of Bernard, he lends vocals to this incredibly cool new take.

“‘Wish You Well’ is a break-up track, but it’s all about spreading that love,” Baker Boy explained. “The original isn’t really usual for Baker Boy – that vibe. So I wanted to kind of make it into a story where I can also apply it differently and make it Yolŋu flavour. It’s not just in a romantic way, it’s about sharing the love – whether it’s your partner, whether it’s your friends or family … It’s also for the people that are having a hard time right now. I just wanted to spread some love through music.”

Bernard was also full of compliments for Baker Boy and his new version of “Wish You Well”.

“Baker Boy’s music is so full of energy and excitement that I was very happy to collaborate on a new take on ‘Wish You Well’,” he added. “I love the spirit of this new version and am so glad it’s taken such a different musical tack but maintained the buoyancy of the original. It’s the first time I’ve worked in this way, but I found it so easy because the ideas coming from Danzal and Pip [Norman, producer] were so good.”

After delighting crowds on his North American tour, Baker Boy is ready to play local shows. Catch him at Splendour in the Grass or one of his recently announced regional Victorian shows:

26 August 2022 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Bendigo (ALL AGES)
2 September 2022 – Memo Theatre, Wurundjeri Country, Healesville (ALL AGES)
3 September 2022 – Volta, Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country/ Ballarat (18+)
8 September 2022 – Westernport Hotel, Bunurong Country/San Remo (18+)
9 September 2022 – Pier Hotel, Bunurong Country/Frankston (18+)
10 September 2022 – Gippsland PAC, Traralgon (ALL AGES)
23 September 2022 – Lighthouse, Warrnambool (ALL AGES)
24 September 2022 – Riverlinks, Kanny-goopna/Shepparton (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Charlie Ashfield

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bel Kil Overcomes Adversity to Release Debut Single, “Escaping”

Imagine if the life you knew changed in an instant. That’s what happened to Naarm/Melbourne artist Bel Kil. A music production student, she was riding her bike home when a 4WD opened its door into the bike lane. The impact with that car door damaged her vagus nerve so badly that she needed to relearn how to use the right side of her body and how to sing.

Many people may have found themselves in a pit of despair, but not Bel. Instead, she realised how lucky she was, how much she appreciated her life, and that she owed it to herself to make the most of it. Rather than studying to engineer and produce music for other people, she decided to invest in her own music. “Escaping” is her first single. It’s the perfect summery jam to help you escape from the winter weather, even if it’s for just a little while.

“Escaping” comes from Bel’s debut EP My Year, which will drop later this year. Bel applied her studies to this EP, producing and mixing every track in her bedroom during last year’s lockdowns. She’ll showcase songs from this EP when she launches the single at LeadBeater on August 6.

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital