Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Can’t Get Enough” of Zachary Leo’s New Single

Melbourne artist Zachary Leo is adding a little funk to your morning with his ultra-cool new single “Can’t Get Enough”. With that groovy bassline, airy synths, and Zachary’s effortless vocals, I can’t get enough of this song!

“The song speaks about being addicted to something that isn’t good for you and constantly wanting to distance yourself from reality, something that I found myself doing a lot over the past few years,” Zachary admitted. “A lot of my music tends to relate to what is going on inside my head, whether that be happy feelings or feelings of sadness. There are also frequent links to mental health which is something I feel very passionate about sharing with the world, so that hopefully others can feel they aren’t alone in their struggles.”

Zachary will officially launch the single for hometown fans at Cherry Bar on June 10. If this song is any indication, it’s going to a fun night!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amanduh Releases Powerful Debut Single, “Old Flame”

Amanduh takes back her power with “Old Flame”, an empowering new pop song about moving on after a toxic relationship. It’s super catchy with insightful lyrics that will strike a chord with anyone who started living their best life after leaving the wrong relationship. It sounds like an instant classic, with hooks for days and self-assured vocals.

“After a breakup I felt quite defeated, and I entered into a toxic fling with someone. There were your standard red flags, but I just accepted it,” Amanduh admitted. “We skip ahead two years after said fling was over and I received an odd text from that person, out of the blue. It made me reflect on all the crappy parts of the relationship and ultimately how I had grown from it. ‘Old Flame’ stems from that confidence you have knowing that you’re almost untouchable by them now. ‘I know you want me, but it just aint the same’ it doesn’t come from cockiness; just pure understanding of your worth and knowing that they abused your love.”

I love the way the film clip puts Amanduh in wide-open spaces, unrestricted by anyone or anything as she embraces her freedom and future. With such a confident debut release under her belt, that future’s looking pretty bright!

Image used with permission from Star Crossed PR; credit: Jon Pisani

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Faim Release Catchy New Single, “Me Because of You”

The hits keep coming from Perth rock act The Faim. I keep expecting the quality of their singles to dip at some point, but their latest offering “Me Because of You” is just as irresistible as I hoped it’d be. If you love your rock music with a side order of synths, you’re going to dig this one.

“‘Me Because of You’ was written about embracing change and letting go of a past version of yourself. The lyrics recognise the huge impact someone else can have on the process,” bassist and keyboardist Stephen Beerkens explained. “This song was a huge milestone for us, as it’s our first release that has been self-produced!”

The Faim will set off on their first Aussie tour in three years this July. It’s been a long time coming, so you don’t want to miss it.

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

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amin Payne Remixes The CB3

I’m not normally one for remixes, but when they’re as good as Amin Payne’s new treatment of The CB3’s “Lost & Looking” it’s pretty hard to resist. This track is ultra-cool, the perfect track for knock-off time. If last month’s release of The CB3’s Bunny Hop left you wanting more, feast your ears on this.

“Hearing the original version, I got so inspired to remix it. I chopped it up and added drums & bass,” explained Amin. “Having Jordan [Dennis] bless it with vocals took the track to a whole new level.”

“This is one of my favourite tunes from our first release,” added Cristian Barbeiri from The CB3. “I love writing solo guitar arrangements; they allow me to lean into the jazzier side of things. Not long after its release, Amin messaged me a link. He’d remixed it. I was blown away. I loved it sooo much. I showed Jordan Dennis while we were on tour with Billy Davis and he got inspired to write to it. The follow-up to the original, ‘Still Lost, Still Looking’, is on our latest release, so who knows what may come of that!”

The release coincides with The CB3’s new four-week residency at Baby Snakes in Footscray. Catch them every Sunday in June from 7 pm for two free two-hour sets of improvised music. MCs and horn players are welcome to join in, so if you’re musically inclined you know what to do!

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Into the Black” – Karise Eden

While the country is captivated by the search for the next Voice superstar, Australia’s original winner Karise Eden has dropped a brand new EP, Into the Black. Its release doesn’t have the same fanfare as tonight’s winner’s announcement inevitably will, but it’s a timely reminder that it’s worth looking back at some of the talents who’ve come through the competition rather than simply seeking out the next big thing.

Into the Black is officially called an EP, but at seven tracks it feels more like a mini-album. And just like an album, this is a collection of songs with something to say. It starts strong, with rock-blues numbers “Beast” and “Black Crow”. They’re unflinching, uncompromising, the perfect vehicles for her trademark gravelly vocals. Karise reveals a more tender side with singles “My Old Friend” and “Gone”. No matter what type of song she’s singing, it’s all heart. This is a longer EP than most, but when the final note of “So Far” faded away I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. That’s a testament to the quality of every song included here.

Into the Black is Karise’s first collection of songs since 2018’s incredible Born to Fight album. Like a fine wine, she’s becoming even more compelling as time goes on. This is a brilliant collection of songs that reminds listeners of her unparalleled vocal talents and stellar songwriting ability.

Karise will play River Heads Rocks 2022 on June 25 and The Gathering of the Goddesses festivals in Victoria and Tasmania next year, but that’s not all. Expect a national tour announcement really soon.

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Flynn Gurry Celebrates His Best Mate With “Changed My Life (Harve’s Song)”

Warrnambool-born, Melbourne-based artist Flynn Gurry’s new single “Changed My Life (Harve’s Song)” will get you right in the feels. It’s a touching tribute to his best mate Harve who experiences life in a wheelchair. It hasn’t slowed him down though. Flynn and Harve have travelled the world together, participating in world adaptive skating and adaptive surfing. They also run a video production company together.

“Harve has constantly broken down barriers and challenged outdated beliefs of what it means to be a person living with a disability,” enthused Flynn. “If the world focused more on the ‘ability’ part rather than the ‘dis’ it would be a much better place.”

Take a listen to this one and I swear it’ll make your day better. It’s definitely a pick-me-up in musical form.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“20 and Bored” – Nick Keogh

I’m not sure there’s any feeling greater than falling in love with new music. You know the feeling, that head over heels sensation that makes you want to stand on a street corner and tell everyone they need to listen to it. That’s the way I feel about Nick Keogh’s debut EP, 20 and Bored.

I’m not always so quick to impress. Sometimes it takes me a few listens to really gel with new music. But when I hear something this good, it’s like a bolt from the blue. I was hooked from the folky acoustic guitar intro of “Sweater Weather.” It’s such a beautiful song, but there’s more where that came from. As I continued listening, I fell just a little more in love.

This kind of folk-pop music is right up my alley. It’s introspective, with lyrics that are powerful in their relatable simplicity. The acoustic melodies are so gorgeous. Nick’s voice is warm and welcoming. It stands up on its own, but I also love hearing it contrast with the sweet, feminine tones of his special guest vocalists. Nancie Shipper joins him for “Red Flags,” an uplifting track that looks back on mistakes made in past relationships. Another stunning duet, “Let Me Let You Down” with Stella Who follows. Nick has a knack for creating these songs that sound so optimistic sonically, but the lyrics reveal darker truths. There’s heartache, regret, shame, the whole messy human experience.

“Baby Blue” continues the trend. The first part sounds like the sort of song you might sing along to with your drinking parties on a fun night out, but the cutting lyrics swipe at an old love. Part two is softer, the other half of the story, more reflective, the sort of song that might come out when the friends have gone home and the booze is wearing off. The simple, unadorned acoustic guitar melody and heart-on-sleeve powerful vocals of the final track “Outliers” is everything I love about Nick’s music.

Naming your EP 20 and Bored hardly raises expectations. But this music is anything but boring. This special collection of songs has quickly made Nick Keogh one of my favourite Aussie artists. If you’re near Albury, click through for tickets to his show tomorrow night in Birddog.

Image credit: Mike Ridley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tia Tamora Releases New Pandemic Single, “Sick”

Tia Tamora is celebrating her 21st birthday today with the release of her sophomore single “Sick”. This killer cut will be right up your alley if you love your music dark and brooding. I love its cinematic feel. If Quentin Tarantino made a James Bond movie, you could expect to hear “Sick” on the soundtrack.

“I wrote ‘Sick’ during a period of isolation. I was completely consumed by thoughts of a guy I was seeing and I ran with the idea of that love sick infatuation you get when you’re first getting to know someone and the hurt obsession that follows after they break your lil heart. Naturally, I took it to the extremes,” Tia said.

While Tia wrote the song about her own experience, “Sick” also speaks to the isolation so many of us felt and are still feeling during the pandemic. Whether you’re still traumatised by the lockdowns or you’re being cautious while the rest of the world rushes headlong into the new normal, I’m sure this song’s themes of being locked up, physically in your own home or mentally in your own thoughts, will resonate.

Tia Tamora will release her debut EP later this year. If “Sick” and her previous single “Picnic” are any indications, it’ll be one to listen out for.

Image used with permission from Tender Trap Studios

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out to Sputnik Sweetheart’s “Lindy Hop”

Turn your volume right up, press play, and let the indie punk rock vibes of Sputnik Sweetheart’s latest track “Lindy Hop” wash over you. Its bold, rebellious, and oh so good.

“I wrote a lot of the lyrics for Lindy Hop around four years ago during the marriage equality plebiscite, and at the time I was in a relatively new relationship and that was really exciting and beautiful,” explained the band’s lead singer, Nette France. “But it was also a stressful, chaotic time to navigate because we were both processing the influx of homophobia around us. Part of ‘Lindy Hop’ is all about the joys of falling in love and the intense honeymoon period. Another part is all about the total frustration and disappointment I felt towards the people that led us to such divisiveness.”

After being grounded for so long, Sputnik Sweetheart are making the most of those open borders and playing shows all over the country. Catch them headlining their own gigs before they support Bakers Eddy with shows in Canberra and Victoria. Here are all the dates you need:

3 June 2022 – Burleigh Bazaar, Gold Coast (supporting Concrete Surfers)
4 June 2022 – Tomcat, Brisbane (under 18s matinee supporting Surf Trash)
4 June 2022 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane (18+ evening supporting Surf Trash)
5 June 2022 – North Gong Hotel, Wollongong
11 June 2022 – The Tote, Melbourne
12 June 2022 – Transit Bar, Canberra
17 June 2022 – UC Hub, Canberra (supporting Bakers Eddy)
7 July 2022 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave (supporting Bakers Eddy)
8 July 2022 – Pelly Bar, Frankston (supporting Bakers Eddy)
9 July 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (ALL AGES matinee supporting Bakers Eddy)
9 July 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (18+ evening supporting Bakers Eddy)
10 July 2022 – Volta, Ballarat (supporting Bakers Eddy)

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Claire Warren

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LANY @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – 25 May 2022

Midweek gigs are tough! You get to a certain age and it takes a lot to get you out in your local area, let alone make the trip from the Central Coast to Sydney for a show. But LANY put on one of the greatest live shows I’ve ever witnessed. I might be hurting now, but I was not going to miss it. So back to the Hordern I trudged, ready to back up the weekend’s Dermot Kennedy gig.

Adelaide act Bjéar were a late addition to the line-up after the original support act Sasha Alex Sloan couldn’t make the trip. The enthusiastic crowd didn’t mind the last-minute change one bit. The applause when they took the stage was so rapturous my husband asked me whether the crowd knew this wasn’t the main act. I can’t say, but I can say the young crowd ate up what they did. Meanwhile, I sat there feeling every one of my 42 years. There were moments I enjoyed, especially when the bassist took the mic and we discovered she has the most gorgeous voice. Overall though, the ambling songs and overuse of the vocoder left me feeling a bit disconnected. But as I say, the majority of the young crowd loved it, so maybe there’s something there I’m missing.

While Bjéar weren’t my cup of tea, LANY were all that and more. Near the top of the show, frontman Paul Klein told us we were going to have the best night of our lives. It’s an audacious claim, but I’m not sure he was wrong. I can’t honestly remember a time when I had more fun. Paul has such relentless energy. He’s a born performer, on the whole time whether he’s dancing about or jumping on platforms during upbeat numbers or taking us on a more emotional journey with a tender ballad. As an audience member, it’s infectious. It might have been late on a school night, but we were all partying along with him.

In the three years since LANY last played here, they’ve released two albums. I wondered whether old favourites might be sacrificed for new material, but this set was perfect. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a band get the balance so right. New favourites like “never mind, let’s break up”, “ex i never had”, and “cowboy in LA” took their place against classics like “Thick and Thin” and “Super Far”. I was thrilled to hear so many songs from Malibu Nights, the album that turned me onto the band, make the set. And then there were the deep cuts! After a band releases four albums, you don’t expect to hear early EP tracks like “pink skies” make the set. What a treat!

Speaking of fans, what a joy they are. I must admit, it’s still a little weird to go to concerts where most members of the audience are less than half your age. But after being annoyed by the incessant chatter at the Dermot Kennedy show, I appreciated these fans even more. They were so respectful of the artists, not just the headliner but the support act too. They were properly in it, singing along to every lyric, holding their phones aloft like cigarette lighters, soaking up every moment. No wonder by the end of the show Paul told us that we were the best audience of the Australian tour. He might say that in every city, but we’ll take it. He also assured us they’ll be back next year, the year after that, and every year for the rest of their lives. If they do, so will I. Because nothing is more fun than a LANY show.

LANY will play Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tomorrow night and Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Sunday night before they head to New Zealand. If you’re on the fence about a weeknight gig, just buy the tickets. Life is too short to miss shows this good.

Image source: Stephen Katulka