Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daniel Shaw Makes a Mark With “drunk high low”

Getting his start busking from the age of eight, Daniel Shaw is an artist committed to his craft. All that hard work is starting to pay off, as Daniel recently signed with Island Records Australia. His first release under the label is “drunk high low,” a relatable pop song that marries upbeat melodies with dark themes of overthinking and overdrinking.

“I battle with self-expression sometimes, I’m not good with uncomfortable situations and conflict, I run away from them. In this song I point out how my coping mechanism was to drink, I felt that anxiety and depression went away, and I could handle it, I was fine,” he admitted. “I wasn’t in a good place, I’d moved out fairly suddenly, but the reason the song is called ‘drunk high low’ is because it was just that cycle of getting drunk, feeling alright – which is the high – and then I went right back to feeling low and the cycle would start again.”

Daniel has spent the last year writing songs for his new EP, which will drop later this year.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emily Lubitz Goes Solo With “Like I Do”

Tinpan Orange vocalist Emily Lubitz is striking out on her own with the charming new solo single “Like I Do”. This might be Emily’s solo debut, but her experience gained through more than a decade in the business shows here. It’s a seasoned effort that should please her fans and win her some new ones.

“When a relationship spans many years it contains many lifetimes. This song is about looking back to when things started and how different it is now. How our lives turn and curve and the common denominator is the person we have shared it with,” Emily explained. “Actually, our partner changes and curves too and so do we, so maybe the common denominator is love. From being young musicians in Melbourne, drinking bourbon and pretending we know everything, to being the parents of three children and realising we know very little, it’s a big range. And we are still learning. ‘Like I Do’ is a love song too.”

Emily will hit the road next week to support the release of “Like I Do.” Here are all the dates you need:

17 July 2022 – Brunswick Artists Bar, Iramoo/Brunswick
18 July 2022 Regal Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Paul Kelly and Paul Grabowsky)
19 July 2022 – Regal Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Paul Kelly and Paul Grabowsky)
29 July 2022 – The Citadel, Murwillumbah
30 July 2022 – The Junk Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
31 July 2022 – Dust Temple, Currumbin

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Lilli Waters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

CLAUDIO Drops Gorgeous Single “Losing You (One Day at a Time)” With Award-Winning Video

CLAUDIO’s new single “Losing You (One Day at a Time)” was only released recently, but it’s already earned a swag of awards for its stunning film clip. The music video took home gongs at international film festivals in Rome, Berlin, and New York City. Featuring ballet dancer Rose Alice, it’s such a glorious piece of creative work.

While you’re marvelling at the clip, make sure you pay attention to CLAUDIO’s incredible vocals. This soulful song is the perfect soundtrack for this visual feast.

“It’s inspired by the witnessing of self-sabotage in real-time; and feeling powerless against the momentum of trauma patterning,” CLAUDIO explained. “I came to the difficult-to-swallow understanding some years back via a rapidly failing relationship, that self-awareness is not always enough to outrun the deeper wiring of the subconscious.”

A self-described “sonic scientist”, CLAUDIO is a vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Rest assured, we’ll be hearing a lot more from her.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Blair Gauld

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Your Groove On With NECTAR’s “Find a New Friend”

Boorloo/Perth four-piece NECTAR are bringing the funk to your Tuesday with their latest single “Find a New Friend”. If your workday needs a lift, crank this up and I swear it’ll feel better, even if it’s just for a few minutes! It’s a little bit disco, and a whole lot of fun. Listen closely to the lyrics and you’ll realise it’s got a little more bite than its retro feel suggests.

“’Find A New Friend’ is a toxic tale from beginning to end of an obstructive relationship where with its close you realise the only healthy thing to do was move on,” the band explained. “The story is cohesively told over a bright and euphoric instrumental slowly but surely building up to the climax where the person finally ‘moves on’ over intense and washy sounds. When compared to its content and more satiated counterpart “Found A New Friend”, you can start to see how things can change for the better after you leave an obstructive relationship, and the light that can bloom in your life from that person.”

You just know these guys will raise the roof live. Catch NECTAR supporting The Buoys at the Indian Ocean Hotel this Friday, July 8.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KEZRA Wows Me With “Back Home”

Take a moment to stop what you’re doing and listen to “Back Home,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter KEZRA. This is a song that deserves more than becoming the background of your workday or late lunch. It demands your full attention so can catch every lyric, every emotion, every note. I’ve got chills.

“I started writing this song on the floor of my living room, strumming along on my guitar, but feeling very uninspired during lockdown. So, I plugged in my vocal harmoniser pedal, in the hope that it would give me some inspiration and help me write in a more creative way. It first began with the slow paused chord changes on the guitar. Then the lyrics – ‘I was taken back to the house where we met’ came to me whilst using my harmoniser and this instantly set the tone for where the rest of the song needed to go,” KEZRA explained.

“There was something special about the imperfect and mechanical sounding harmonies, that made these lyrics hit deeper. The guitar pauses are almost echoing that feeling of being stuck, reminiscing on the past, replaying old memories in your mind and not being able let go. Towards the end, the strumming is so aggressive with distortion, building up with anger, kind of like a cry for help by the end of the song.”

I’m pretty excited about this song. It’s truly special. I’d almost forgotten that I wrote about KEZRA’s music before the pandemic, but she’s definitely back on my radar after hearing this.

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Corey Adams

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anieszka Drops Dreamy New Single, “Human”

If you’re coming down from the night before or just enjoying a lazy Sunday, you’re going to love the soothing soulfulness of “Human,” the title track from Anieszka’s forthcoming EP. Anieszka cleverly celebrates her Mauritian heritage here while creating something that’s so fresh and cool.

“I have wanted to incorporate traditional Mauritian elements into my music for years, and when I started writing this one I knew [producer] Chelsea Warner had to be part of the creating process. I wanted the ravanne (traditional Mauritian drum) to be at the core of the song, and to almost be a never-ending rhythm, kind of like a heartbeat. We also have the maravanne (also known as a kayamb) which is a traditional percussion instrument, and the triangle. This trio forms the basis for Mauritian Sega music,” Anieszka explained. “I’ve never heard a fluid blend of R&B/Soul with a traditional Mauritian beat, and I wanted to be the first to do it. I’m excited for people to learn more about my culture, and to connect with the song on a pure human level too.”

If you love this, Anieszka won’t leave you waiting too long to hear more. Her Human EP drops on July 7.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Hannah Badorrek

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phil Jamieson Drops Stellar Solo Single Ahead of Aussie Tour

Phil Jamieson is best known as the frontman for legendary nineties and noughties act Grinspoon, but his music is about much more than nostalgia. He’s just released his new solo single “Lights On” and it’s an absolute banger. Would it be sacrilegious to say I like this better than the Grinspoon material? Maybe, but I’m going to say it! That clap-along falsetto-forward chorus has totally won me over!

“It’s been a journey for ‘Lights On’, going through many iterations and arrangements and what not. It’s a fun song to move shoulders and hips to – and its release also means I’m closer to releasing the album!” Phil enthused. “The track might be about a bank heist? At its core, it’s about always keeping your heart in place for the person that you love. But it’s also about memories that might have betrayed you in some ways, and maybe about stealing money and maybe about hiding it. Maybe it’s about a bank heist, Oceans 13, Oceans 8. And it also could be about saying: no matter what, I’m gonna kind of hang in there, I’m gonna be there. So sentimental!”

“Lights On” is the third single lifted from Phil’s new album Somebody Else, which drops on July 29. But before that he’ll do a lap of the eastern states to celebrate the single’s release. With a high-quality band featuring Davey Lane, Sam Raines, and Rob Muiños, these dates will be a lot of fun. Those shows kick off tonight, so get onto it!

2 July 2022 – Gaol After Dark, South West Rocks
27 July 2022 – Eltham Hotel, Eltham
28 July 2022 – Vinnies Dive, Gold Coast
29 July 2022 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
30 July 2022 – The Zoo, Brisbane
4 August 2022 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
5 August 2022 – UC Hub, Canberra
6 August 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
7 August 2022 – Shady Palms, Central Coast
12 August 2022 – Lions Art Factory, Adelaide
20 August 2022 – SS&A, Albury
4 November 2022 – The Big Bonanza, Coffs Harbour

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Darcy Lane Is Back With “Spines”

Taking her cues from Billie Eilish and Lorde, Darcy Lane has just dropped her cool new single “Spines.” I love the contrast between the dark, brooding lyrics and the emotional release of the chorus. “Spines” sounds so current, but its emotional core is absolutely timeless.

“‘Spines’ is about falling for a friend but neither of you have enough backbone to make the first move,” Darcy admitted.

This is Darcy’s first release since her debut single “Relentless Forces” dropped in 2020. It’s certainly worth the wait.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KEEKS Drops Fab New Pop Bop, “Tongue”

Melbourne indie act KEEKS is better known for her work behind the scenes, writing tracks for local artists like RARIA and K-Pop acts including ENHYPHEN and TWICE. However, with her latest track “Tongue,” she shows us she has the charisma to step into the spotlight. This song is so fun, with plenty of attitude and a great groove.

Put KEEKS on your radar. With killer originals like this, she won’t be in the background for too long.

Image used with permission from KEEKS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Beks and Paradigm Team Up For Dance Anthem “All the Good Boys Are Gay”

As Pride Month comes to a close, there’s time for just one more queer anthem. Rising Aussie queer-pop act Beks has teamed up with European duo Paradigm for her new single “All the Good Boys Are Gay,” and it’s the perfect dancefloor filler to usher in the weekend.

Beks wrote the track as an ode to her favourite gay icons including Ricky Martin and Elton John and her besties. Paradigm loved her original demo and knew they could elevate it to the sparkly anthem it is today.

“I showed Seb from Paradigm an early demo of this track while I was at the Monster / Guesstimate International Songwriting Camp in Berlin, and he encouraged me to go bolder, bigger, and well, make it more gay, so we did that. I had a call with my amazing colleague, Christine, at Wise in NY and another writer in LA, and then I went straight to the studio with Patrick in Berlin to record it,” Beks explained.

Whether you’re hitting the clubs or enjoying a party for one, you’ll want to crank this one up.

Image used with permission from Monster Music Group