Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reuben Koops’ New Single “Oblivious” Showcases Bolder New Sound

If you’re struggling to get through the remnants of the working week, Reuben Koops has the perfect remedy. The gentle acoustic guitar and deceptively simple melody of his new track “Oblivious” is so satisfying and soothing.

This single marks somewhat of a departure for Reuben. His guitar and vocals are still front and centre, but there’s a little more production on this one than we normally hear.

“This was a fun one to work on. It had a strong personality before production; after working with Jack [McClaine] it went to another level sonically that I’m really happy with,” Reuben said. “I love the beats that Jack framed around the acoustic and vocal. Ben Edgar (Angus & Julia Stone, Passenger) played the stunning guitar parts; they add so much vibe. The heavier production on this track is eluding to where I see my sound heading in the future.”

It ushers in a fresh new chapter for Reuben, but the song has actually been around for some time, just waiting for the right moment.
“This track is another one I’ve had with me for quite a while. It’s about losing someone or something important to you. Maybe someone or something you knew wouldn’t last forever, but when that time comes, it’s always harder than you expect,” Reuben explained.

As for what’s to come, Reuben says “more music is my plan. There are many more songs to come and I’m excited to be in the mode of making and releasing music again. I’m hoping to continue being productive and purposeful in releasing more singles this year.”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timothy Wolf Channels Old-School Soul Sounds With “In Your Arms Again”

Timothy Wolf is a brand new soul artist, but you wouldn’t know it listening to his new single “In Your Arms Again.” There’s a real old-school sensibility to this one, and I can’t get enough. From those restrained horns to Timothy’s incredible falsetto, it’s the best kind of throwback.

He recorded the track in Byron Bay at Bernard Fanning and Nick DiDia’s famed La Cueva Studios, enjoying a moment of respite before lockdowns in his hometown of Melbourne kicked in.

“It was such a special time away. We didn’t know we were within the eye of the Covid 19 hurricane or that we’d head straight back into a gruelling stage 4 Melbourne lockdown. Timing came together for us perfectly as we were gifted the opportunity to hide away in the Byron Bay Hinterland, connect as the musical family we’d always seen the potential for and bring these songs to life,” he explained.
As you might expect, Timothy grew up around music from Otis Redding, Etta James, and other classic acts.

“It inspires me that they came from a time where they literally founded and defined the rules of balladry and songwriting. I think ‘In Your Arms Again’ is pretty true to some of these classic influences whilst lending itself to a contemporary soundscape. I’ve been quite ambitious pushing the boundaries yet trying to serve this song with the influences it deserves whilst also incorporating the sound and identity myself and The Howlers have to offer,” he said. “The song comes from a dreamy, old soul, rosy-eyed state. I’m lucky enough for all of my grandparents to have had 50+ year marriages. This song highlights the commitment relationships like this take whilst also drawing from within my own rosy-eyed beginnings. There’s also a chance it might have come from one of the weddings I’ve played trying to support my original project.”

The video captures Timothy Wolf and his band The Howlers playing a sold-out debut show at the Night Cat last month. If it looks like a lot of fun, make sure you catch Timothy at Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on May 6. It’s still more than a month away, but given how quickly tickets for his last local show sold, I’d jump on this one now!

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Mike Ridley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meadow Adds New Acts, Food and Drinks, and Glamping Packages for April Festival

If you’ve considered getting along to Meadow this year but haven’t got your tickets yet, you’d better stop procrastinating. The latest raft of announcements is sure to make them some of the hottest tickets around.

A stack of new bands, including Private Function, Prequel, King Stingray, C.Frim, Kult Kyss, Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 x Tim Shiel, and The Seven Ups have just joined the already stacked bill. They’ll play alongside already announced acts including King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizzard and Angie McMahon.

All the great musical talent will be complemented by a top selection of local food and beverages. We’re talking tasty treats from Hulms Pies, Pete’s Woodfired Pizza, and Perla Tacos. Wash it all down with craft beers from Salt Brewing Company, gin from Great Ocean Road Gin, wines from Heroes Vineyard, Dinny Goonan Wines, and Livewire Wines. And that’s just for starters.

Meadow hits Bambra Bowl on Victoria’s surf coast from April 23 to 25. Tickets are on sale now. In addition to the regular general release tickets you can also buy new glamping packages, which include beds with linen, towels, rechargeable warm light USB lanterns, chairs, and more. Tickets are limited to keep the event COVID-safe, so don’t muck around or you just might miss out.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit Kayzar Bhathwalla

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Casey Barnes Releases Provocative Country-Pop Single, “Come Turn Me On”

Country darling Casey Barnes is dabbling in pop with his latest single “Come Turn Me On.” The country influence in the violin and steel guitar is unmistakable, but those catchy hooks and upbeat energy should give this track plenty of crossover appeal.

“I’d like to think that we’re trying to shape our own unique sound at the moment. I don’t really want to sound like anyone else,” Casey explained. “With this single, it has that blend of modern country meets commercial pop which I’ve really connected with over the last few years. The song is about a guy who’s basically travelled around the world, seen his fair share of girls but nothing compares to coming home to the one he loves.”

The clip is also Casey’s most ambitious.

“We’ve gone all out with this video and I think it’s easily the most expensive clip I’ve shot to date – but we wanted to make sure this one was pretty special,” he enthused. “My wife Michelle is a creative genius and the whole concept for this video has been her baby. Colin Jeffs from Ten of Swords Media has brought it to life. We found this incredible venue in Brisbane called Smoked Garage which is a multi-level event space where each floor has a completely different look to it, so it was the perfect place to shoot. The concept is that it’s one big party and everything has been made to look like it was shot in one take within the venue, culminating in a big high energy finale out in the side street at the end.”

Casey hasn’t let the global pandemic slow him down. His latest album Town Of a Million Dreams topped the country charts and earned him an ARIA nomination. This track’s already clocked up more than 100,000 Spotify streams just a couple of weeks after its release and been featured on the platform’s Fresh Country and New Music Fridays playlists. He’s also just announced a bunch of festival and headlining dates.

“I can’t wait to add ‘Come Turn Me On’ into the set for all our upcoming shows!” he said. “We’ve actually created a brand-new live show for 2021, and it’s great to finally see some major festivals and events coming back after the pandemic, which we’re thrilled to be playing at in the weeks and months to come.”

Check him Casey’s brand-new set at the following venues.

25 March 2021 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne (18+)
27 March 2021 – Mathinna Country Club, Mathinna (18+)
10 April 2021 – Winton’s Way Out West Fest, Winton (ALL AGES)
24 April 2021 – Gippsland Country Music Festival, Mossvale Park (ALL AGES)
30 April 2021 – Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba (18+)
26 & 27 August 2021 – Gympie Music Muster (ALL AGES)
1 October 2021 – Savannah in the Round, Mareeba (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Luke Marsden

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Freedman @ Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford – 12 March 2021

The Whitlams were one of my concert casualties of last year. While that gig has been postponed to August, Tim Freedman is putting himself in front of smaller crowds with his Hot Autumn Nights shows.

Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Sam Buckingham warmed up the crowd. Holding the attention of a sold-out theatre there to see someone else with only an acoustic guitar and your voice is no mean feat, but you could have heard a pin drop during her performance. I remember seeing her play at a little bar in inner-city Sydney what has to be at least 15 years ago, and it’s thrilling to see how far she’s come. She’d delight us with a witty, light-hearted number, then go for the emotional jugular with something weightier. She chatted easily with the crowd, clearly delighted to be out in the world amongst music lovers again. Her set was a big reminder that I need to catch up on the music I’ve missed because she’s such a talent.

While we were appreciative of Sam, there was a buzz of excitement when Tim took the stage. We were thrilled to see him and it seems the feeling was mutual. I’ve seen him play live so many times over the years, both with the Whitlams and on his own, but I can’t recall him being in such a chatty, upbeat mood. He stopped to pause and talk between most songs, regaling us of tales of their origins. Not even the steady stream of people exiting and entering the venue for the bars and toilets seemed to faze him, as he joked that while he’d lose them for a while they always seemed to come back.

In some ways, a Tim Freedman show isn’t too dissimilar from a Whitlams show. The hits and fan favourites from the band’s back catalogue still make up the bulk of the set. Nothing was neglected, from the songs that climbed the charts like “No Aphrodisiac” and “Blow Up the Pokies” to earlier singles like “Gough” and “I Make Hamburgers,” released before the band really gained mainstream attention. A selection of choice covers peppered the set. I saw Tim paying homage to Harry Nilsson years ago, so I was thrilled to hear him deliver the poignant “Mr Richland’s Favorite Song.” He nearly forgot to deliver the Randy Newman cover the show’s ads promised, but “Short People” was a fun addition to the encore. Nilsson and Newman covers were natural choices for a piano-playing singer-songwriter, but his take on Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” was more unexpected. I’m so glad I could witness it.

I don’t have photos from the night to share; Laycock Street Theatre forbids photography. I don’t mind that rule too much though. It forces you to stop looking for that perfect shot and simply appreciate what’s happening in front of you. After the year we’ve all had, so starved of live music, sharing in those moments with Tim, Sam, and the appreciative Central Coast audience was so welcome. Tim will take his Hot Autumn Nights tour to the following venues in the coming weeks:

18 March 2021 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
19 March 2021 – Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey
20 March 2021 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
21 March 2021 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
24 March 2021 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
25 March 2021 – Soundlounge, Gold Coast
26 March 2021 – The Triffid, Brisbane
27 March 2021 – The Triffid, Brisbane
30 March 2021 – Rockford Winery, Tanunda
31 March 2021 – The Gov, Adelaide
1 April 2021 – The Gov, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Doug Parkinson

The Australian music industry took another hit last night with the passing of Doug Parkinson. The larger-than-life, absolute legend was just 74.

My first introduction to Doug came when he took on the role of the Big Bopper in the musical Buddy. I was still in primary school when my family made the trip to Sydney. I didn’t know anything about Doug at the time, but I was struck by how he stole the show in a relatively minor role.

Over the years I’ve caught him live a couple of times: a set at Jazz in the Vines and his Joe Cocker tribute show a few years back. It saddens me some flaws in the Joe Cocker show will be my last memories of this incredible talent. I’d love a do-over. But while the gigs might not have always been perfect, Doug’s voice never faltered. It is one of the most striking, soulful Australia will ever hear, and the music landscape will be much poorer without it.

I want to leave you with this video for Doug’s version of “Dear Prudence,” always the highlight of his sets. It might be a controversial opinion, but I think it’s far superior to The Beatles’ original.

Vale Doug Parkinson.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saint Lane Drops Vibrant Video for “The Water”

Saint Lane has reminded me why I fell in love with his music earlier this year with the release of a video for his current single “The Water.” The clip’s Somerset Dam setting is the ideal backdrop for this laidback but insightful cut from his brilliant debut EP If I Leave You In the Fire.

“I was going for a Chance the Rapper meets Harry Styles things both sonically and with the outfit,” Saint Lane said of the video. “We wanted the location of the track to feel as big as the song. Massive mountains, huge river, full of life. Lots of brightness.”

Saint Lane will support Bootleg Rascal at their upcoming April 9 show at Sunshine Coast’s Sol Bar.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Marbee Announces Her Arrival With Stunning Debut Single, “Music Box”

Melbourne musician Marbee has thoroughly charmed me with her new single “Music Box.” It builds beautifully, starting with angelic, soft vocals and the gentle tones of a xylophone before the rock undertones really kick in with the chorus.

“I intend to awaken happy and nostalgic feelings from childhood, mixed with shades of ‘rains and thunder’ that even a childlike past cannot escape from,” Marbee explained. “The repetitive melody imitates the cyclical tone of the music box, evoking the protective, albeit fragile, shelter of human relations as well as the enchanting and lulling attraction of music in its simplest mechanical form. I recorded the xylophone in a 100 year-old building to capture its ancient atmospherics … ‘When I play the music box, it takes me back to home.’”

I’m always on the lookout for music that feels really fresh, and this track really fits the bill. It’s only Marbee’s first single, and it makes me pretty excited to hear more.

Marbee will launch “Music Box” in Melbourne tomorrow night, March 13, at The Tote Upstairs. Tickets are available now from the venue and Oztix.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Parker Blows Me Away With “Lie Low”

Parker dropped her new single “Lie Low” a couple of days ago, just in time for International Women’s Day, but there’s never a bad time for female empowerment, right? So if you didn’t catch it then, make sure you listen now.

When you do, really listen to those lyrics. It’s so easy to get swept up in her angelic, ethereal voice, but those lyrics are what really sold me on this song. They’re so strong and wise. While I think they’ll really hit a chord with female listeners, I can imagine plenty of men will take something from them as well. If you’ve ever tried to shrink yourself down and or present a front that’s more palatable for the world than your authentic self, this one’s for you.

“I’ve always held myself with a belief that I should exist in the world with quiet grace. Not be too loud or stand out too much … Even though my friends, parents and partners have encouraged me to follow my dreams I always felt this responsibility to not be too loud or abrasive, to look pretty, to sound pretty, to not challenge people too much, make music and art that is beautiful and easy to listen to and look at,” she admitted. “Hans and I were working remotely on the track and we had the ‘be less, be less’ section looping at the end. I felt this rage inside me in response to that idea. This feeling of frustration at all the times I’ve controlled my emotions so that I didn’t make others feel uncomfortable. I set up my mic in my bedroom and just started screaming and yelling until finally it felt like my heart cracked open. The floodgates opened up and I wept loudly for about 10 mins.”

The emotions kept flowing for the music video. Parker explained the artistic choices she made in this beautifully surreal clip.

“We talked about the courage it takes as a woman to put yourself first in a world where there are still so many expectations for women to play support roles in both career and domestic spaces. Thinking about the concept of sacrificing time and energy for another we found a way to represent this with the metaphor of colour being drained from one character to another. I like that it is not explicit that the colour is being taken or given. When the character drops to her knees she could be crying or she could be praying. When we worship our loved ones we can fall into our own pattern of giving too much of ourselves to them.”

This isn’t the first time Parker’s impressed me, but I think “Lie Low” might be her best single yet. What do you think readers?

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

SENNSES Gets My Blood Pumping With “Outside”

SENNSES’ latest single “Outside” feels more like the kind of track you’d listen to in the wee small hours in a sweaty club than first thing on a weekday morning. However, this electro-synth tune is helping me shake off that morning sluggishness, so I figure it might do the same for you.

“Outside” is incredibly catchy but it also has a beautiful, bittersweet quality. Trent Broussard’s vocals are so haunting and those synth sounds are just gorgeous.

“For me, this song is all about staying in your own lane, not listening to the noise and not listening to people when they say you can’t do something,” explained the other half of the Melbourne duo, Hayden Gordic. “It’s something we have lived by from day one, and something that has pushed us forward.”

“Outside’ is about the negative energy that all of us have to deal with in day-to-day life, especially when we choose to pursue a goal/vision,” Trent added. “The chorus of the song captures the sense of ‘calm’ you feel when you realise that people’s opinions don’t matter, and that only you can determine your own success.”

It might be Thursday, but crank “Outside” up anyway and remember the weekend isn’t too far away!

Image used with permission from Beehive PR