Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Asha Jefferies Drops Gorgeous New Single Ahead of BIGSOUND Shows

Following her fantastic single “Chaos,” Brisbane’s Asha Jefferies offers another personal insight into her life with her intimate newie, “Everybody Talks.” It’s a gorgeous song, with Asha’s unique voice soaring as it interplays with delicate guitars and crashing cymbals. Those lyrics should give anyone who’s seen a friendship fracture all the feels.

“’Everybody Talks’ is about a falling out I had with a friend,” she explained. “We never spoke again; I heard a lot though. The whole experience left me feeling voiceless and powerless and it wasn’t until I wrote this song that I felt like I took my power back and made room for some closure about it all.”

Following recent supports for the likes of Radnor & Lee, Bec Sandridge, and Oh Mercy, Asha will step into the spotlight for BIGSOUND 2018. Queenslanders can catch her at the following venues.

4 September 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
6 September 2018 – The Foundry, Fortitude Valley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jaguar Jonze Destined For Big Things With “You Got Left Behind”

As I heard the cry of the slide guitar, I thought Jaguar Jonze was a country artist. But those distinctive instruments don’t tell the full story. While there’s a Southern twang to her latest single “You Got Left Behind,” her haunting voice takes the song somewhere different. Then there are those orchestral strings adding another layer of drama. These elements shouldn’t work in harmony, but there they are.

“’You Got Left Behind’ is about a few things – namely growing up and seeing people have a resistance to do so,” Jaguar Jonze explained. “With that came the torment of watching loved ones fall into a cycle of self-victimisation, self-harm and self-medication. I wrote the song around the time I was drawing a particular piece for my artistic project, Spectator Jonze.”

Despite never playing in front of a live audience before, Jaguar Jonze has been invited to performance at the Singapore Music Matters Festival and International Indie Music Festival in Indonesia. She’s just that good. In between she’ll launch the single for hometown audiences in Brissie. Catch Jaguar Jonze before everyone learns how special she is.

7-12 September 2018 – Music Matters Festival, Singapore
14 September 2018 – The Foundry, Brisbane (Single launch)
26 September – 1 October 2018 – International Indie Music Festival, Indonesia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kav Temperley Releases First Solo Single “Pollyanna”

When Kav Temperley releases music, you know you’re in good hands. The solo thing might be new for him, but the frontman of Eskimo Joe is such an accomplished musician it was never going to be a difficult transition. His new single “Pollyanna,” our first taste of his solo album All Your Devotion, is just what the doctor ordered.

“A friend once told me that our happiness is always relative, whether we live in a war zone or paradise – our happiness always swings back to the same place,” explained Kav of the song’s inspiration. “I had just lost my marriage and the band had decided to take a break, all of these things that defined me were now no longer around. It was one of the first times in my life I felt like a stranger just rolling along, but I realised that amongst all of this I was a Pollyanna, someone despite the bad news always looks on the bright side. This was a song I was singing to myself to remember to stay light.”

That headspace informs All Your Devotion, an album about figuring things out, letting ourselves be vulnerable, starting over, and moving on. It also sees Kav exploring more of a pop-folk sound than many of his previous rock releases. It sounds superb.

All Your Devotion gets a digital and vinyl release on September 28. He’ll celebrate its launch with shows all around the country. Sorry kids, they’re all strictly adults only. Snap up your tickets soon because they will not last.

5 October 2018 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
6 October 2018 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Sunshine Coast
7 October 2018 – Public Bar @ Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (FREE)
11 October 2018 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
12 October 2018 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 October 2018 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
19 October 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
20 October 2018 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2018 – Mojos, Fremantle
2 November 2018 – River Hotel, Margaret River
3 November 2018 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Franks’ First Single “Heart Wants”

A full-time ferry master, Brisbane’s Franks hopes to make us swoon with his debut single “Heart Wants.”

Its release has been a long time coming. Franks wrote the track nearly 20 years ago about a young man running away to the sea. The song celebrates having the courage to follow through on your instincts. He penned the track while at sea, sailing around Great Keppel Island, then the seas off Alaska on a salmon fishing boat.

I love the simplicity of this song. The melody isn’t elaborate and the lyrics are so straightforward, but there’s nowhere to hide here. After discovering Franks’ music, I can’t wait to hear more.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Sundown” – DIET.

DIET. might be one of our own, but there’s a decidedly British feel to their sophomore EP Sundown. It seems the Victorian five-piece, which formed in a ramshackle share house at the end of the Northern line of London’s Tube, hasn’t totally shaken off the influence of the Mother Country. That’s a very good thing.

There’s a confidence in the way the British bands play that imbues every track on Sundown. DIET. might play the pub circuit, but they’re got a great stadium rock sound. Surely graduating to those big venues is only a matter of time.

This EP had me punching my fist in the air in time with the drum beat from the opening track “Don’t Need It.” DIET. doesn’t take its foot off the accelerator for “Game Plan.” In fact, it keeps its foot firmly planted to the floor as we’re introduced to one stellar track after another.

The shimmery synths have a nostalgic feel that calls to mind The Cure and Tears for Fears. The electric guitars provide the rock edge. The powerful vocals from Ben O’Loughlin are so compelling.
They might not book stadiums yet, but if DIET. continues creating such accomplished music it’s only a matter of time. Until then, catch them at the following venues celebrating Sundown’s recent release.

4 September 2018 – Woolly Mammoth, Fortitude Valley (Official BIGSOUND Showcase)
5 September 2018 – GYROstream’s Hump Day Happy Hour @ The Valley Drive In, Fortitude Valley (BIGSOUND)
6 September 2018 – The Brightside, Fortitude Valley (Official BIGSOUND Showcase)
27 September 2018 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
28 September 2018 – ‘Hills City’ at Corner Hotel Carpark, Melbourne
30 December 2018 – 1 January 2019 – NYE on the Hill, Gippsland

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wing Defence Releases Poppy Charmer, “Listerine”

Adelaide Wing Defence has put a smile on my face with their minty fresh new single “Listerine.” It’s got a poppy charm about it, which balances the heavy subject matter of loving someone with a drinking problem.

“You want to help them with every fibre of your being, but they won’t allow it and you don’t fully understand the struggles of the addiction,” explained Wing Defence’s guitarist Paige.

Lead singer Skye added “The very core of this song comes from a place of love and care, although it also delves into the reality that it can make you both go absolutely insane”

Wing Defence will warm up for the sold out Til the Wheels Fall Off festival with a free show at Yah Yahs in Melbourne on September 14.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bell City Square Start Strong With Debut Single “Make Me Feel Nothing”

Melbourne-via-Darwin trio Bell City Square have got me grooving with their debut single “Make Me Feel Nothing.” It’s so hooky, a real dance-floor smash, anchored by such personal, powerful lyrics about battling anxiety.

“I love house music and more minimal electronic music,” said the outfit’s frontman Sam Weaver, explaining the song’s sound. “And with that kind of music every element just fades in and does its part – adds to the rhythm or something – then drops out.”

Bell City Square might be just starting out, but they’ve got a team of agents here in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America working for them. Aussies, you might just be listening to our next global success story.

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alexander Biggs Drops Beautiful New Single Ahead of Amy Shark Supports

If you’ve got tickets for Amy Shark’s sold out shows around Australia, make sure you arrive for the support act. Melbourne musician Alexander Biggs has given me goosebumps with his beautiful new single “Dog Boy.” A song penned in a blanket fort in a ground floor apartment in inner-city Melbourne, Alexander says the song is about realising he hadn’t been taking care of himself or loving himself enough and that he needed to do better.

“It’s an old riff from a phone demo that I eventually put together in the fort, writing the lyrics in one sitting because a good song is a finished one,” he said. “The song builds into an explosion of mess and harmony and melody, and I made it that way searching for catharsis, which I hope listeners can feel, and that I feel when I play it.”

“Dog Boy” comes from Alexander’s new EP Whatever Helps You Sleep, which drops tomorrow.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Prickly About Sian Evans’ “Thorns”

You don’t earn a couple of Queensland Music Award nominations unless you’re a special musician. A QMA finalist in 2016 and 2018, when Sian Evans releases music you need to pay attention. Her new single “Thorns,” nominated in the folk category at this year’s awards, is a gorgeous acoustic track with a moving message.

“Thorns is a folk song. It’s also a love song,” Sian explained. “It’s no secret songwriting is a powerful tool for expression and healing pain, but metaphorically ‘Thorns’ definitely depicts how anything worthwhile has elements of both beauty and pain, and that’s just how life is. Take the good with the bad. It’s not going to be comfortable all of the time. Or even half the time.”

Sian will play a few shows next month to celebrate the release of “Thorns.” Catch her at the following venues.

1 September 2018 – Maleny Music Festival, Sunshine Coast (10am – Maleny Lane, 12.30pm – Platypus Lounge)
2 September 2018 – The Junk Bar, Brisbane
8 September 2018 – Open Bar, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Back With Awaited Album “Home”

It’s been more than four years since the country’s highest-selling independent artist delivered a new album. But John Butler Trio is rewarding fans for their patience with a brand newie, appropriately titled Home.

Home will drop on September 28, but John Butler won’t leave you waiting that long for some new music. The title track is out right now. And isn’t it special.

I must admit, as the first notes piped through my speakers I was taken aback. Where were the acoustic guitars? What was with the electronic sounds? It was all so dark and brooding. But give it a minute people. Just a minute. Because this is really good stuff. Yes, it’s a departure. But true artists evolve. I didn’t expect this new direction, but I like it a lot.

“Given the very personal subject matter of these new songs I pondered what it might mean to record in mainly a solo format for the first time ever,” John Butler explained. “(This track) scratches the surface of the emotional and sonic landscape that eventually became the bedrock of the album.”

you’re interested in the new material, point your browser to John Butler Trio’s website. The album is available for pre-order now. The website has a whole range of exclusive bundls including signs CDs, LPs, and other merchandise.

If you’ve missed seeing John Butler Trio live, you won’t be kept waiting too long. The band will launch Home with shows in Australia, Japan, Europe, and North America in the last quarter of the year. With just one Aussie show on the current list, I think we can safely say more dates will come shortly. But for now, put these in your calendar JBT fans!

29 September 2018 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach
3 October 2018 – Bigcat, Osaka
4 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Shinjuku-ku
5 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Tokyo
11 October 2018 – Barrowlands, Glasgow
12 October 2018 – Albert Hall, Manchester
13 October 2018 – Vicar St, Dublin
15 October 2018 – Great Hall, Exeter
16 October 2018 – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
17 October 2018 – Eventim Apollo, London
19 October 2018 – Palladium, Koln
20 October 2018 – Mehr! Theater, Hamburg
21 October 2018 – Huxleys, Berlin
22 October 2018 – Tonhalle, Munich
23 October 2018 – Arena Wien, Wien
26 October 2018 – Atlantico, Rome
27 October 2018 – Gran Teatro Geox, Padova
28 October 2018 – Alcatraz, Milan
30 October 2018 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg City
31 October 2018 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
1 November 2018 – AB, Brussels
2 November 2018 – Halle 622, Zurich
3 November 2018 – Les Docks, Lausanne
6 November 2018 – La Laiterie, Strasbourg
7 November 2018 – La Cooperative de Mai, Clermont-ferrand
8 November 2018 – Le Radiant, Caluire et Cuire
9 November 2018 – L’Olympia, Paris
10 November 2018 – L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, Paris
16 November 2018 – Warner Theater, Washington, D.C.
17 November 2018 – The Fillmore, Philadelphia
20 November 2018 – Beacon Theatre, New York
21 November 2018 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston
23 November 2018 – Corona Theatre, Montreal
24 November 2018 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa
25 November 2018 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
27 November 2018 – Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
29 November 2018 – The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
30 November 2018 – Taft Theatre, Cincinnati
1 December 2018 – The Caverns, Pelham
2 December 2018 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta
4 December 2018 – Soul Kitchen Music Hall, Mobile
5 December 2018 – The Joy Theater, New Orleans
7 December 2018 – Paramount Theatre, Austin
8 December 2018 – House of Blues, Houston
9 December 2018 – House of Blues, Dallas
13 December 2018 – Rialto Theatre, Tucson
14 December 2018 – The Theatre @ Ace Hotel, Los Angeles
15 December 2018 – Fox Theater, Oakland

Image used with permission from KAOS