Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The 2020 ARIA Awards Wrap-Up

Judging by the fairly dismal ratings, it seems many of you missed the 2020 ARIA Awards last night. These nights are rarely ratings bonanzas, but there’s always some gold amongst the broadcast. I was also fascinated to see how this year’s awards would function given the current global pandemic. Funnily enough, crosses to artists around the country and a virtual mosh pit felt more natural than that year outside the Opera House. I could have done without the international acts, but I suppose they added a bit of glamour to proceedings.

Tame Impala continued their winning run, taking home five awards including album of the year. Major props to Sampa the Great who no doubt raised her profile with three ARIA wins. On a personal note, I was thrilled to see Miiesha take home the best soul/R&B release for Nyaaringu, one of my favourite releases of the last year.

I think the ARIA awards are a great platform for helping the average Australian catch up with the local music scene. Performances from Lime Cordiale and Amy Shark were especially stellar. But there were two moments for me that really hit my heart. Watching Archie Roach taking his place in the ARIA Hall of Fame, hearing him sing “Took the Children Away” with Paul Kelly, Linda Bull, and other real talents was so moving. The final number, a tribute to Helen Reddy, brought Australia’s leading female artists together for her feminist anthem “I Am Woman.” Generations of strong Aussie female performers were represented, from Marcia Hines and Kate Ceberano to Tones & I and Montaigne. A video wall brought more famous voices into the chorus. This was packed, and as a woman I’ve got to admit I got a little misty by all that strong feminine energy.

If you missed the show, I encourage you to check out these performances if nothing else. And listen to those albums and songs celebrated this year. Here are all the winners:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST MALE ARTIST: Archie Roach – Tell Me Why
BEST FEMALE ARTIST: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST DANCE RELEASE: Dom Dolla – San Frandisco
BEST GROUP: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST: Lime Cordiale – 14 Steps To A Better You
BEST POP RELEASE: Amy Shark – Everybody Rise
BEST HIP HOP RELEASE: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST SOUL/R&B RELEASE: Miiesha – Nyaaringu
BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE: Sampa The Great – The Return
BEST ROCK ALBUM: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: Archie Roach – Tell Me Why
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM: Fanny Lumsden – Fallow
BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY ALBUM: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Chunky Shrapnel
BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM: The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Forum
BEST CHILDREN‘S ALBUM: Teeny Tiny Stevies – Thoughtful Songs for Little People
BEST COMEDY RELEASE: Anne Edmonds – What‘s Wrong With You?
BEST VIDEO: Guy Sebastian – Standing With You
BEST AUSTRALIAN LIVE ACT: Amy Shark – Amy Shark Regional Tour
SONG OF THE YEAR: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Teeth
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST: Harry Styles – Fine Line
BEST COVER ART: WASHINGTON – Batflowers
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM: Richard Tognetti & Erin Helyard – Beethoven & Mozart Violin Sonatas
BEST JAZZ ALBUM: Paul Kelly & Paul Grabowsky – Please Leave Your Light On
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OR MUSICAL THEATRE CAST ALBUM: Chelsea Cullen – I Am Woman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM: Joseph Tawadros – Live at the Sydney Opera House

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LUPA J Wows Me With “This Suburb” From Latest Album

LUPA J’s new album To Breathe Underwater is out now, a fascinating collection of songs that showcase the diversity of this daring Aussie artist. It’s such an eclectic mix of tracks created during the COVID lockdown. Even when the tracks don’t resonate with me (and on such a diverse album, I think it’s hard to please everyone all the time) I appreciate LUPA J’s bold bravery.

The track that’s hit me hardest is the current single, “This Suburb.” It’s a lot quieter and more introspective than most of the tracks on this album, which ensures it really stands out.

“‘This Suburb’ is one of the most raw and vulnerable songs I’ve ever made. It sits a little outside my ‘usual’ pop-dance style but I think it might be my personal favourite on the album. I don’t always feel up to being so lyrically honest and emotional, sometimes I just want to make techno tracks with little to no vocals – but when I feel capable & ready of writing a song like this it’s a really incomparable, cathartic experience,” they explained. “This one still makes me teary to listen to sometimes – it’s about the intensity of an attachment that’s to not only a person but a place and a life you’ve become so wrapped up in together.”

LUPA J worked closely with Kat Silverosa to translate her musical vision into a gorgeous music video.

“While writing the song I had all this fantastical imagery in my head of a body becoming one with a place, almost like this singular organism, as seen in the chorus lyrics:

I’ve grown to love this suburb
My skin is a sticky sap
It’s grown into your walls
And around the vines out the back

Kat Silverosa, the video director, translated this into a really beautiful stop motion style concept where we used paint and liquid to visually meld me into a space. I’m very proud of how it turned out.”

To Breathe Underwater is a dynamic listening experience, but if you’re short on time make sure you at least check this song out. It’s really something special.

Image used with permission from Arow Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Apollo Blue Introduces Us to “Moonchild”

Apollo Blue celebrates classic rock sounds with his new single “Moonchild.” One look at the cover and you know this South Australian-born, Melbourne-based performer isn’t your average musician. His androgynous look takes its cues from David Bowie and I can hear a hint of Freddie Mercury in his commanding vocals. There are elements of glam rock and psychedelic rock here that help this single really stand out among the current crop of releases.

“’Moonchild’ was written in the middle of the night after I had left a grungy gig and was strutting home in the rain through wintry Melbourne with my favourite black boots and silver glitter pants on,” Apollo Blue recalls. “I felt free and powerful still reeling from the excitement of the nightlife. I noticed an onlooker from their balcony and wondered who they were and what they thought of me: a mysterious platinum blonde racing through a storm in the middle of the night. I developed this into an ominous character, The Moonchild, who only emerges at night and lives off of rain clouds and stormy skies. I had a rock energy coursing through my veins and I couldn’t wait to get home and transform that feeling and fantasy world into music. The song was written before I could even reach the keyboard … the Moonchild is a metaphor for the powerful, confident force that we all possess inside of us.”

This is such a cool track, but something tells me listening to the recording isn’t the best way to experience it. Can you imagine hearing those insane vocals in person? Hopefully with Melbourne opening up, it’s not too long before music lovers can see Apollo Blue on stage.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydney’s Sloan Peterson Drops “Nightmare”

Nothing makes you understand your flaws quite like the downtime we’ve had through the pandemic. With my husband working from home since mid-March, we’re discovering just what nightmares we both can be. So “Nightmare,” the latest single from Sydney’s Sloan Peterson, is ticking all the boxes for me. It’s a sugary sounding indie-pop track with a dark undercurrent that’s perfect for these pandemic times.

“The beauty of songwriting is creating a story or poem with emotive concepts; it could be elements of truth, exaggeration or completely fictional” she explained. “‘Nightmare’ is shining a light on the fact that perhaps my expectations in life could come across unrealistic at times, but on the other hand does that really make me a nightmare or just a strong-minded woman who knows what she wants. It’s written in a playful relationship sense but questioning the construct of being deemed bossy or controlling rather than assertive or driven. I think it’s something a few people might relate to, whether it be a personal, social or professional circumstance.”

With a new EP slated for release early next year, we’ll be hearing a lot of Sloan Peterson in the near future.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Icehouse Plays Flowers Live” – Icehouse

Icehouse released their debut album the year I was born, so it seems like they’ve always been a part of my life. I’m sure the tracks seeped into my subconscious as they blared from my parents’ radio. We didn’t own an Icehouse album though. While I liked them well enough, I didn’t consider myself a fan until I saw them support Hall & Oates in 2012. They blew the roof off the Sydney Entertainment Centre, outshining the headliners and making me appreciate them in a way I never had before. That’s how good this band is live, even now so many years past their heyday. So I was pretty excited to see Iva and the lads release a new live album to brighten up the horror that is 2020. Celebrating 40 years since the band released their debut album, Icehouse Plays Flowers Live delivers what it says on the tin, and then some.

It’s amazing to think this album was recorded at the St Kilda Music Festival on 9th February 2020. It doesn’t seem like so long ago, but listening to the rapturous crowd captured on this recording made me wistful. The band is so tight and Iva’s voice strong as they deliver those songs that made their first album one of the best debuts in history. Not just the big singles including “We Can Get Together,” “Walls,” and the iconic closer, “Great Southern Land,” but those album tracks that really deserve a spot on live sets. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you there’s a little more to this live album though. Choice covers of David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie,” T. Rex’s “Get It On,” and Sex Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant,” three songs they used to play as an up-and-coming band, are an absolute joy.

If you’ve experienced Icehouse live, you know what a gift this album is. If you’re yet to have the pleasure, you’ll want to wrap your ears around this to understand what you’ve been missing all these years. Either way, let this album tide you over until gigs of this calibre return.

Images used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

King Canyon Release Old School Soul Single “Long Distance”

King Canyon are making me all nostalgic with their latest soul single, “Long Distance.” This retro track about yearning for a love that’s far away is sure to resonate with many during the pandemic. Lead singer Jimmy Cupples’ voice is full of yearning and tenderness. I love the way it matches with those electric guitar notes from James Ryan, who also produced and mixed the track.

“Long Distance” is my favourite song from the current single, but if you love its laidback vibes you might also appreciate the band’s cover of Stevie Wright’s classic, “Evie (Part 1).” This bluesy acoustic cover gives a brand new complexion to the timeless Aussie rock anthem.

King Canyon will play their first gig since Victoria’s lockdown at Arcobar on the 30th of November. If you can’t make it, make sure you follow the band’s Facebook page for livestreams every Saturday at 5 pm.

Image used with permission from Michael Matthews Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leonie Kingdom Releases New Pandemic Folk Anthem, “2020”

It’s safe to say that 2020 hasn’t turned out the way any of us expected. Queensland’s Leonie Kingdom has paid tribute to a year that’s been memorable for all the wrong reasons with her folky new single “2020.” However, don’t expect your typical pandemic soundtrack. This song examines the little things that pile up rather than the enormity of the global health crisis.

“It magnifies all the ‘non-event’ things that went wrong this year whilst subtly ignoring the elephant in the room that is the global pandemic. This is not your ordinary ‘sad’ song; the upbeat production married with pitiful lyrics give the overall song a lighthearted feel.”

Leonie teamed up with animator apricotbanana for this cute clip.

Leonie is currently supporting Sons of the East on their You Might Think tour. It wraps up on Friday night, November 20, at Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Songs for a Long Walk” – Jack Davies & The Bush Chooks

I expected Jack Davies & The Bush Chooks to be a novelty act. The Western Australian band’s EP Songs for a Long Walk features tracks like “Loving You’s Like a Mouldy Cup of Tea” and “Half Frozen Beer.” However, I quickly learned this act shouldn’t be underestimated.

As those song titles suggest, there’s certainly humour in these tracks. The lyrics are infused with a uniquely Australian voice, that blokey one that speaks to the heart but uses laughs to make sure things never get too heavy. The walls come down completely on tracks like “Broken Glass” and the closer “Michael,” two powerful songs played straight for maximum impact.

These guys also sound like a serious band. This was my introduction to their music, but their folky sound felt instantly familiar to me. In a world where so much music is overproduced, there’s something so refreshing about a band that simply sounds like they’re jamming. There’s a warmth about the way the harmonica, piano, acoustic guitar, and other instruments come together. It’s so natural, so organic and comforting.

“Each time Jack brings the band a song, it’s like greeting an old friend you haven’t seen in a very long time; joyous, surprising, exciting and feels so right. Like a piece of you you didn’t realise you were missing,” explained one of the Bush Chooks, Elise Hiatt. “They’re raw, jangly and full of love. It’s our cup of tea made just the way we like it, mould and all. We hope it’s yours too.”

It most certainly is. Songs For A Long Walk is out now.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Good Pash’s New Single “Delete Me”

The indie-punk scene is a bit of a boys club, but Good Pash show that women can be every bit as brash and energetic as the men. The female-dominant five-piece has just released their new single “Delete Me,” which comes complete with a fab B-side “Get Your Mind on Other Things” so you can get to know them better.

Good Pash says their current single “is for everyone who has ever had to tear themselves away from something they loved – a job, a friend, a relationship, a drug dependency – that just wasn’t working out for them anymore. You fight your mates, your parents, and yourself over it but deep down know that it’s no good and have to find the courage to say ‘I love you, I’m leaving’ and let it go.”

“Delete Me” comes from Good Pash’s forthcoming EP. Expect to hear a few more songs from that release when the band launches the current single with two COVID-safe shows at Waywards (The Bank Hotel) in Newtown on December 4. Those extremely limited tickets are available now from Oztix. They’ll also play Waywards’ Best Served Loud event on November 20.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is Just 10 Days Away!

Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is fast approaching, and it’s more important this year than ever before. More than just a chance to rep your favourite band, Ausmusic T-Shirt Day raises vital funds for Support Act. These guys have been there long before the pandemic assisting musicians, crew, industry workers, and their families doing it tough. As you might imagine with so many gig cancellations this year, they need your help now more than ever. Requests for Crisis Relief have increased by 883% since the pandemic began and calls to Support Act’s Wellbeing Helpline are up 52%.

So wear a T-shirt from one of your favourite Aussie bands on November 20. Might I recommend an up-and-coming act your friends might not know to spread the word about their music? If you’re not sure what to wear, check out Support Act’s premium T-shirt range, with exclusive, limited-edition designs from top Aussie acts including Amy Shark, Dope Lemon, Kate Miller-Heidke, and The Teskey Brothers. 100% of the net proceeds from all these shirts will go to Support Act. Alternatively, visit the merch section of your favourite bands’ websites. Use #ausmusictshirtday and tag @supportact, @triplej, and @aria_official to spread the word. And if you can (because I know many of us are hurting through this pandemic), give generously to Support Act. Their work will help our industry so much, ensuring it can return in full force once this nasty pandemic is over.

Isol-Aid will also run a very special Ausmusic T-shirt Day stream featuring Alex Lahey, Dave Graney and Clare Moore, Emily Wurramara, Gordon Koang, L-Fresh the Lion, Mahalia Barnes, Melinda Schneider, Memphis LK, Romy Vager (RVG), and Yirinda. Check that out from 3:55 pm on November 20.

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM