Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Say Hello to Meg Hitchcock and Her New Single “Hello Moon”

Meg Hitchcock was born in London, but now she’s living in Byron Bay I think we can definitely call her one of our own. That’s a good thing too, because she’s making some fantastic music. Her latest single “Hello Moon” is an absolute delight, with sublime vocals and a real retro pop sensibility that has me begging for more.

Meg wrote the track while in London, inspired by the beauty she saw in the night sky.

“One night I had walked to get groceries, and on my return, as I turned the corner, there, proud in the sky, was the shining full moon. In awe and disbelief, a tear ran down my cheek. I felt completely disconnected to nature,” she explained. “The first line and melody, “Hello, Moon, it’s been awhile. I’ve been in the city where I can’t see the sky” whispered out. I ran inside, chucked the groceries down, jumped straight to my laptop and found the arpeggiator. ‘Hello Moon’ was born.”

The music video also has me pretty excited. If you love quirky cult movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Beetlejuice, this clip will be right up your alley.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Roth’s New Single “Gold” Glitters

Aussie-born, Hong-Kong based singer Paul Roth isn’t letting the global pandemic stem his creativity. He’s just released his third solo single of the year, “Gold.” It’s more of a slow burner than his previous releases, but I love the way Paul builds the instruments here, layering guitars and vocals to create something really special.

It should be special though, as Paul wrote the song about the special lady in his life. The song might not sound very festive, but tap into those lyrics and you’ll soon realise it celebrates having someone by your side through the good times and bad.

“I just had this moody chorus melody that I couldn’t out of my head and before I had any concrete lyrics, every line finished with ‘with you,'” he explained.

Paul has another new track coming out on October 2. Follow his Facebook page to hear it first.

Image used with permission from Paul Roth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tyrone Noonan Impresses With Solo Single, “On My Knees”

Tyrone Noonan recently dropped his latest single “On My Knees,” and it’s a real charmer. This upbeat, folk-rock ditty is a song about unguarded love, throwing yourself into a relationship regardless of the consequences.

“This is an ode to love; an admission of adoration and vulnerability,” Tyrone explained. “It’s someone who’s saying to their loved one: ‘It doesn’t matter what you say or do, there is no escape for me … I’m on my knees’.”

“This song was written in an artist-filled warehouse in Seven Sisters in North London; my place of residence at the time,” he recalled. “Myself and two other crazy mofos from Brisbane – John Drake and Eden James – had never worked together before, so it was one of those sessions that could have gone either way. Fortunately John came to the party with a melody to get the verse going and so the three of us butted heads and started playing around, and pretty quickly we snapped into it and the song started taking shape.”

Like many Australians, I haven’t followed Tyrone’s career too closely since george disbanded. However, this track has definitely piqued my interest. “On My Knees” is the latest song lifted from Tyrone’s forthcoming album Utopia? Which is scheduled for release later this year.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reckless Empire Releases Rocking New Ballad, “The One”

Australia has a rich tradition of producing mainstream rock acts. But somewhere along the way, they became few and far between. The bands that really rocked seemed to move to the fringes. We have an amazing metal scene, but there’s not a lot of new music you can imagine dominating the airwaves. There’s a gap in the market, but thankfully Reckless Empire are here to fill it. Their latest single “The One” is a masterclass in how a rock ballad should sound.

From Justin Mansour’s powerful vocals to those soaring electric guitars, this song is so exciting. There’s the theatre of glam rock and those classic ‘80s hair bands, but without the cheese. If you love bands like Van Halen, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi though, I think this song will be right up your alley.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken so much from the music industry, but without it, this new music might never have been. Reckless Empire got together in 2016. They gigged relentlessly and released their debut EP, V. But then the lead guitarist Simon Davis moved interstate and the band dissolved.

Enter COVID-19. Justin was songwriting and working remotely with his old buddies Simon and Steve Twist (bass, backing vocals) seemed only natural. Boom, just like that Reckless Empire was back together. They make the tracks in their home studios before handing them over to Sydney producer Luke Bertoz. The founding trio has also enlisted Phil Pender (drums) and Simon Gilmore (guitar) for streaming and live shows. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to learn more about those gigs and check out their website for some sweet merch. It’s a great way to support the band until those live gigs start up again.

Image used with permission from Reckless Empire

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Outer South Delights With Second Single, “Home”

Outer South wowed me with their debut single “By the Morning.” Showing that was no fluke, their second single “Home” has me falling in love with this Melbourne band’s music all over again.

This track has the perfect chilled acoustic vibes for a leisurely Saturday. There’s a beautiful organic warmth about their music. It feels familiar and nostalgic, with those effortless harmonies and acoustic guitar licks.

All this great music is making me pretty excited about the upcoming release of Outer South’s debut EP, We Must Be Dreaming.

Image used with permission from Outer South

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fancy Face Releases Hopeful New Single, “Things are Getting Better”

I admit, there’s a lot of shit going on right now. Lockdown extensions are looming in Victoria, the overseas travel ban just got extended, and many of us can’t see our dads for Fathers’ Day. But in amongst all that, it’s Friday. Personally, I’m planning my first weekend off in about three weeks; extended couch time here I come! In that vein, the optimistic new indie-rock song “Things are Getting Better,” from Melbourne’s Fancy Face, is just what the doctor ordered.

“‘Things Are Getting Better’ … Or maybe they aren’t!? It really depends on how you take this song in. For me it’s definitely a placement in time where I was hopeful that things were going to be better, better times, better experiences and most importantly a better understanding of things that weren’t making sense at the time,” explained Fancy Face’s lead singer and guitarist, Aaron Bach.

Fancy Face formed with a mission to make music that gets people up and moving, a little escape from reality if you will. If you ask me, that’s exactly what we need right now.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Everything” – CAMP 8

New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based artist CAMP 8 has set the bar high with his beautiful debut EP, Everything. This five-song collection is haunting, hypnotic, and just what your soul needs right now.

This EP had me from the title track’s gentle opening strains. There’s a real quiet strength about this music. It’s subtle, but so moving. CAMP 8 creates lush, atmospheric soundscapes that sit so perfectly with his poignant vocals. As each song builds, the emotions behind it are palpable. I can’t remember feeling so moved by a collection of songs in a while. It’s life-affirming listening to something so stirring.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that these songs hit so hard right now, against the backdrop of the pandemic, because CAMP 8 wrote them when he was also struggling through a difficult time.

“I wrote all the songs in the couple the months before, during and after I found out that my ex-partner was cheating on me with my sister’s boyfriend at the time,” he revealed. “We all lived in a house together which all went to shit in a very chaotic 24 hours. Two months later I met my now fiancé.”

Listening to the songs, you can hear when those emotions shift. There a dark melancholy about the opening songs, but by the time “Happier” rolls around things get a little lighter. There’s still lingering sadness, but there’s an optimism about this song too. While it was inspired by very different circumstances, the hope that springs from it really resonates right now as I contemplate what the future might look like. By the time “Shudder” rolled around, I felt lighter, healed.

Listening to Everything is such a cathartic experience. It demands shutting the world out and just sitting with it for a while. How fortunate we are that CAMP 8 has released these special songs right now, when it’s just that little bit easier to do just that.

Images used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mark Wilkinson Enlists Famous Friends For COVID-19 Charity Single

Just how much talent can you cram into one track? Mark Wilkinson tests the theory with his iso charity single “We’re Not Alone.” Spotify credits Mark and the Lockdown Choir. But take a listen and you’ll soon realise this isn’t your average choir.

It features the one and only Ian Moss, Dragon frontman Mark Williams, Australian Idol graduates Rob Mills and Damien Leith, Uncle Jed’s Laura Brooker, and talented up-and-comers Patrick James, Rachael Fahim, and Taylor B-W.

It’s a rousing ballad that looks to lift our spirits in these dark pandemicky times.

“I wrote ‘We’re Not Alone’ just as COVID-19 really started to take hold here in Australia. The song was very much a reaction to and a reflection of the emotions the situation evoked in me,” Mark explained. “Along with the obvious anxiety and uncertainty driven by the pandemic, I was struck by the fact that in a backwards kind of way, despite having to isolate ourselves, the circumstances had truly united the world. I wanted to try and write a song that celebrated the world’s resilience and unity in the face of the many challenges brought about by the pandemic.”

In the tradition of the best star-studded singalongs, funds raised from the recording will be divided between Beyond Blue and Support Act. So make sure you download a copy or get streaming to help out these vital charities.

Image used with permission from Rayne Management

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jack Bratt Releases Fantastic Single “The Outsider”

Brisbane singer-songwriter Jack Bratt recently dropped his new single “The Outsider,” and it’s giving me nostalgic vibes. The press release draws comparison to hot rock acts like Holy Holy and Foo Fighters, but I’m personally hearing pop-rocks from the ‘90s like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms. One thing we can agree on is just how good this song is though. The lyrics, which deal with themes of self-perception and isolation, hit so hard during this global pandemic.

“It’s about being left of centre, about not fitting in. It’s about perception,” Jack explained. “You may have an idea about how others view you, but that’s not necessarily who you are. It’s easy to think somebody might be doing really well, but that could just be a front, while they’re dealing with a lot of problems. I think what I’ve learned from being in lockdown and having conversations with friends, is that nobody is really okay; we all have our own struggles.”

The alien-themed film clip really hammers home the idea of being on the outside.

“I was just thinking about the most extreme version of somebody who doesn’t fit in and stumbled on the idea of a man who falls from space and is trying to find his way home,” Bratt says of the charming clip, “but in the end, he transitions into a normal life on earth, adding a fun little twist.”

Jack was meant to visit New York City for a three-month artist residency after winning the Grant McLennan Fellowship, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans. Instead he’s at home working on his debut album, which should drop early next year. Stay tuned for more new music from Jack ahead of its release.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Montana Sharp Impresses With “Greenhouse”

Melbourne artist Montana Sharp has really set the bar high with her debut single “Greenhouse.” It’s a magical number, with sublime vocals and a theatrical feel that’s dramatic, yet authentic.

“The metaphorical ‘greenhouse’ was once a fantastical sanctuary to seek refuge from the outside, but now it is safe outside and the protagonist is locked inside a madhouse,” Montana said. “I wrote this song at a very disturbed point in my life, engaging in a conversation with those self-protective mechanisms – but the song takes on a whole new meaning in 2020 with the coronavirus. We’re all retreating to our ‘greenhouses’ to keep safe from the outside – but now we’re stuck inside!”

Such a bold debut deserves a music video that makes just as strong a statement. This clip is really a visual masterpiece, with its rich colours and evocative imagery.

“The protagonist is chained to the carousel while onlookers gaze in awe, ride and dance on the carousel, and then are ultimately free to leave,” Montana explained. “The protagonist wakes up and discovers she is also free to leave, but finds herself unable to – she’s stuck on the carousel.”

Montana has made such a strong impression on me with this debut. I can’t wait to hear more from this exciting new talent.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR