Posted on by Lauren Katulka

90ivy Release Stellar New Single, “Now or Later”

If The 1975 and HAIM had a baby, it might sound something like 90ivy. The latest track from the Sydney quartet, “Now or Later” is putting a spring in my step today. With its upbeat vibes and explosively angsty chorus, I know you’re going to love it as much as I do.

“‘Now Or Later’ is our happy-sad take on a breakup song,” explained lead singer Agnes O’Dwyer. “We love exploring contrast with our music, and this track is a good example of that as we juxtapose upbeat melodies and instrumentation with storytelling centred around heartbreak. The track came together so organically. Tom just started playing around with this bouncy, syncopated bass line during one of our jam sessions. It immediately caught all of our attention, and everyone stopped what they were doing to figure the song out. Liam came up with his infectious, 1975-esque riff almost immediately and the verse and chorus lines came to me on the spot, which very rarely happens.”

90ivy have played shows with some of the country’s most exciting new acts including AGOISM, Yorke, CLEWS, Teenage Dads, and Jess Day. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see them back on stages soon. Until then, press play on this tune!

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Rhys Bennett

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The VANNS Bring Good Vibes With New Single & Rescheduled Tour

The VANNS might just be the most consistent band on the music scene right now. The South Coast act recently dropped their latest single “Feels Good Now,” and it’s predictably brilliant. With Jimmy Vann’s exquisite vocals and big chunky guitars, this track is bound to make your Hump Day a little easier. Like their last single “Red Light,” this song came out of recent recording sessions with producer Chris Collins at The Music Farm.

“The song was originally meant to finish with a fade-out, but we were having too much fun playing it for it to end so soon. We wrote (and I use that term loosely) the jam at the end of the song at the last minute, before we got in the studio and tracked it,” explained the band’s lead guitarist Cameron Little. “Thematically, ‘Feels Good Now’ is about taking a risk on something that you feel needs to change in your life despite any anxieties, apprehensions, and reasons why you tell yourself you shouldn’t; and actually pulling it off and feeling all the better for it. It’s a good feeling, hence the title; we can’t bloody wait to play this one live!”

That tour has just been rescheduled, but there’s an extra Torquay show and a few more tickets to previously sold-out gigs to sweeten the deal. Tickets are selling fast though, so get onto it!

3 March 2022 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
6 March 2022 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
18 March 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
19 March 2022 – Manning Bar, Sydney
25 March 2022 – Wollongong Uni, Wollongong
1 April 2022 – Kambri @ ANU, Canberra

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; photo credit: Vasili Papathanasopoulos (@vasilipappas)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Spilt T” – Talitha Jae

Talitha Jae’s EP Spilt T is a collection of songs that has snuck up on me. I was immediately struck by the warm, welcoming tone of her voice. This Cairns-based artist is so easy to listen to. But the more I listened to this EP, the more I appreciated her music.

“Chasing My Tail” is a laidback tune with a jazzy brass section. I can imagine her playing it in the corner of a coffee house. It’s the kind of music that’s so soothing and chill, and it wouldn’t disrupt the punters who just want to enjoy a latte. I enjoyed it on that level the first few times, but then I really listened to the lyrics and found the heartache. That was the turning point for me. Every song sounds so inviting. Her voice sounds clear as a bell against the honky-tonk piano and fiddle of the country-tinged “Ambiguity.” It anchors the stripped-back ballad “Slow.” But the lyrics of these songs, and others on the EP tell deeper, more complex stories than the fairly straightforward music.

Talitha Jae has a lovely voice to listen to, but I think the voice that comes through in her songwriting is what elevates Spilt T above a nice collection of songs to something truly special. Whether she’s getting vulnerable in a vintage country ballad like “Butterflies & Anxiety” or sassy in the final track “I’m Done,” she puts herself in this music. It took me a little while to properly appreciate what Talitha Jae’s laid down here, but I’m so glad I spent the time getting to know her music.


Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Isy Cappo Shows Her Sassy Side With “Rebound Girl”

Southern Highlands-based singer-songwriter Isy Cappo is just 16 years old, but after two years in the business, she’s releasing music with real maturity. And as you might expect, it’s only getting better. Her latest track “Rebound Girl” is a hook-laden pop track with relatable lyrics and a chorus that will have you singing along.

Isy is getting a lot of love from community radio, Triple J Unearthed, and Atomic Radio at the moment. Give her a follow on Facebook to stay across it.

Image used with permission from Play MPE

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rita B Explores the Highs and Lows of Getting Away With “Travel Companion”

Remember travel? It’s becoming a distant memory for many of us, but Sydney singer-songwriter Rita B makes us nostalgic for holidays with her beautiful new folk ditty, “Travel Companion.”

“Travel Companion” explores the ideas of escapism and isolation. As Rita B explains, it also touches on “safety as a woman in those spaces, in particular, whilst travelling. It’s a relatively stripped-back (singer-songwriter) track – not played with the band. Layers of sound, such as backing vocals and violin are added to create a melancholy, dream-like vibe as the track progresses.”

Creating a music video for a song about travel was always going to be challenging right now, so Rita did the only thing you can do: she went outback. This gorgeous video, directed by Maisie Cohen, captures the dramatic, arid beauty of regional New South Wales.

“Maisie Cohen was the brainchild of the project, who quite literally turned a song about road tripping, into a road trip throughout regional NSW. The destination was Mungo National Park with its unique and arid landscape, visiting many quirky/colonial regional towns along the way, taking advantage of the signature architecture and landscapes there within,” Rita explained. “It was ironic as I was able to share this journey with Maisie as well as Drew Norley and Ariki Hita, who helped with the video production. We all got along really well and were great ‘Travel Companions’. I really wanted to dance the waltz because I thought it complimented the longing feeling in the song and managed to include some scenes of beautiful Kiera dancing with me which added to the dreamlike element of the song. A few of my family members feature in the clip, my sister and her partner are mentioned in the storyline and my niece played the role of my imaginary daughter. Really proud and chuffed that they participated”.

Rita B is scheduled to play the following shows in the coming months. Hopefully they go ahead!

28 October 2021 – Get Folked Punk @ LazyBones Lounge Restaurant and Bar, Marrickville
4 December 2021 – The Townie, Newtown (with Josh Shipton)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: D.H Norley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With A Swift Farewell’s “Sunburn”

Sydney pop-punk act A Swift Farewell are back with “Sunburn,” a track that uses the physical pain of sun exposure as a metaphor for the wrong kind of relationship. By the time that chorus kicked in with powerful vocals from Emma Mather, I was right on board.

Like so many bands impacted by lockdowns, A Swift Farewell had to pivot on the single’s music video.

“We initially wanted to film a live music video of us playing the song at our headline show. However, with the ever-changing situation, we had to find an alternative,” explained the band’s drummer, Dwayne Morris. “Sarah, our bassist, messaged us one day and showed us a homemade green screen idea. From there, we hit up our good friend Robbie and the rest is history. It was a fun experience, especially since I got to hit my drums for the first time in god knows how long.”

Hopefully it won’t be too long before A Swift Farewell plays those live shows they’re craving. Until then, crank this one up!

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Robbie Walcott

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Young Robin Drop New EP “Imago” Today

With Perth act Young Robin dropping their new EP Imago today, I thought it was the perfect time to bring them to your attention. These guys have grown a massive fanbase in Western Australia, selling out shows up and down the West Coast, but I think it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the country is turned on to their sound.

My favourite track on the EP is the current single “Violent.” This catchy indie bop had me grooving from the get-go. Sophian Manik (vocals and guitar) and Jed Begho (lead vocals) co-wrote the track, which has a deep personal meaning for them both.

“For me, this song is about internal struggle and finding peace through personal discovery and faith,” Jed explains. “For Sophian, it’s written from the perspective of his relationship with his significant other during the Covid pandemic. It’s about the struggles he had and how they persevered through it and came out stronger at the end. Even though the song is called ‘Violent’ the song does not refer to any form of physical violence, but more so mental battles that we have faced.”

Wrap your ears around it and I know you’ll want to listen to the rest of the tunes from Imago. Get onto it music lovers!

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Mastu Photography

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Brisbane’s Selfish Sons Deliver Anthemic New Pop-Punk Track, “Hard Enough”

In the tradition of bands like Good Charlotte and My Chemical Romance comes Brisbane’s own band of brothers, Selfish Sons. The trio is made up of brothers Jordy and Finn and their pal Jonty. Jonty met the brothers in a commercial audition room at the age of eight, so surely he’s considered part of the family now! Together they’ve just released their new single “Hard Enough,” and I can’t stop listening.

This is a slick piece of pop-punk with an infectious guitar-driven melody and a chorus you’ll find yourself singing along with before the song’s out. No wonder these guys have recently inked deals with LA management teams Connexion Music and Goodlife Management. Expect to hear a lot more from these guys once the country opens up and they can tear up stages again!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“We Must Be Dreaming” – Outer South

Melbourne’s Outer South captured my heart last year with the singles “By the Morning” and “Home,” so I was thrilled to wrap my ears around their debut album, We Must Be Dreaming. It’s an apt title for this dreamy collection of indie-folk tracks. With the reality of the pandemic looming large for so many of us, drifting off with Outer South is a great option.

Opening with “By the Morning” reminded me of all the reasons why I love this band. It sounds like a modern lullaby, tender and calming. By the time the first new-to-me track “Half Way” began, I was already in such a blissful, receptive state. Outer South delivered more of what I love with the other tracks, warm acoustic tones overlayed with gentle electric guitars, sublime vocals, lyrics that run like short vignettes, giving us a glimpse at relationships we don’t know but feel a part of for a time. The lyrics of “Everything’s Alright,” which explore the idea of pretending life’s okay, really resonated right now. “Drag” starts off so subtle but builds to a gorgeous crescendo of longing. It’s so easy to get swept away by this music.

With just seven tracks and a runtime of a little more than half an hour, We Must Be Dreaming is the definition of short and sweet. By being selective about their material, Outer South ensures every song on this album is special. If you find yourself wanting more, just remember you can always hit play again.

Images used with permission from Outer South

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“3” – Ngaiire

It’s been five years since Ngaiire delivered her outstanding sophomore album Blastoma, but she’s finally graced us with another LP, the aptly named 3. That’s a long time between releases in the music world, but perfection takes time. Her latest release is a thoughtful collection of music that’s impressed me every bit as much as the tunes that came before.

Ngaiire introduces us to her vocal chops with the lush title track. The album takes a left turn with “Shiver,” a cool soul-pop number with bounces along with an infectious rhythm. Beats give many of these tracks a fresh poppy feel. I found myself grooving along to tunes like “Takeover” and “Moonshine.” Just when you think you’ve figured the album out, she takes another left turn, stripping away the beats for the piano-driven, spoken word beauty of “Akura.” She follows it up with “Him,” a modern gospel anthem that shows another side of this talented performer.

Ngaiire is an artist who loves surprising us. I swear I heard the distinctive sound alert for train announcements layered under Ngaiire’s vocals in “Shoestring.” And why not? Her sound is complex but never confused. It can be out of the box, but delivered with such confidence that you happily go along for the ride. And it’s all anchored by that incredible voice, dripping with soul, an honest expression of her heart. So many singers these days push their vocals, as if they want to prove to us that they can sing all the notes and do all the runs. Ngaiire is a lot more understated, ensuring that it’s her message that takes centre stage rather than the notes she hits.

Ngaiire set such a high bar for herself with Blastoma, but 3 is every bit as good. If you loved the music that came before, you’re going to adore this. If you’re yet to discover how special Ngaiire is, there’s no time like the present. Unless this nasty virus gets in the way, Ngaiire will tour 3 around Australia and New Zealand later this year. Here are all the dates you need:

5 November 2021 – Altar Bar, Hobart
6 November 2021 – The Croxton, Melbourne
7 November 2021 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
12 November 2021 – City Recital Hall, Sydney
18 November 2021 – The Gov, Adelaide
19 November 2021 – The Rosemount Hotel, Perth
25 November 2021 – The Tuning Fork, Auckland
26 November 2021 – Meow, Wellington
4 December 2021 – UC Hub, Canberra
13 January 2022 – The Triffid, Brisbane

Images used with permission from Remote Control Records; main photo credit: Dan Segal