Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sons of the East Announce Fleeting Visit Home

Sons of the East have been wowing crowds in the United States following their appearance at South by Southwest, but we won’t need to wait too long to see them. The Sydney indie-folk trio are heading home for three shows before jetting off to the United Kingdom in August.

With the band putting the finishing touches on a new EP, these gigs are likely to be the perfect place to road-test some new material. Look forward to hearing some new stuff and plenty of your old favourites at the following shows.

9 June 2018 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
14 June 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
30 June 2018 – Mojo’s Bar, Perth

Image used with permission from IMC Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Simon Paparo Sings of New Love in “Gold at Midnight”

Perth-born folk act Simon Paparo has charmed me with his new single “Gold at Midnight.” It’s such a sweet song, full of the hope and optimism you feel when a new love grows. The Claire Nica-directed clip, featuring a young couple basking in the sun and one another, is also so endearing.

“Gold at Midnight is inspired by my fiancé. She is a truly beautiful soul,” Simon gushed. “It is about us, a couple on their journey in the younger stages of courtship. It dives into my emotions early on in the relationship when I couldn’t talk about the feelings I felt for her, as it was too early and may have caused conflict.”

Simon will launch his single at the Workers Club in Melbourne on May 13. He says “Fans can expect a full and rich sound – I’ve been working closely with Charlie Heart who is a great songwriter, pianist and vocalist and have guitarist Paul Mason, bass guitarist David Kean and drummer Jon Ritchie ready to keep the fans ears alight. I’m really looking forward to hitting the stage with these amazing musicians. All of these guys are accomplished vocalists too, so I can’t wait to unleash these new tunes to everyone.”

Tickets are available now from Oztix.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Attrition” – Arig

Arig was born in Sudan after her father and 15-year-old mother fled conflict in Eritrea. They were both determined to find a better life for little Arig, so they applied to come to Australia. Only Arig’s mother was granted a visa, so she bravely left her partner and headed Down Under. When she arrived here, Arig was just two years old. Life wasn’t easy for the pair. Arig’s mother fell into one toxic relationship after another and money was always tight. Music was Arig’s solace then, something that could take her away from the struggles of her life and give her hope for a better future.

Hard experiences like these shape us. If we’re lucky, we can channel them into something beautiful, as Arig has done with her EP Attrition.

Opening track “Mama Said” is an absolute showstopper. It’s dark and brooding, with a killer chorus. When the bar is set so high, it’s exciting but also a little unnerving, because you wonder where the artist will go.

Arig’s vocals on “Leash” are angelic, and it’s got the great groove of a classic slow jam. It’s not all sweetness and light though. The lyrics bite, providing such an enticing juxtaposition.

“Welcome Home” clocks in at just one minute, but this subversive nod to doo-wop is really special.

The complexity of relationships and our desires is explored so eloquently in “77.” “Playlist” strips everything bare, revealing a flawed portrait of the place lost love can often leave us.

After the slick beats that dominate this EP, the closing number, piano ballad “What’s Real,” really stands out. I love the tenderness and vulnerability this song captures. It was unexpected, but in a wonderful way.

Arig’s vocals are undeniable, but the way it interplays with her soundscapes elevates this to another level. Her EP Attrition is so strong, so creative, so soulful, and so interesting. Arig will launch the EP tonight in Brisbane at the Milk Factory. If you’re in the Queensland capital, you don’t want to miss this show.

Image used with permission from Emily Fernandez

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mariah McCarthy Releases Sweet Charmer, “Hail Mary”

She might be from Heathcote, but there’s an Irish charm about Mariah McCarthy’s new single “Hail Mary.” The former Deer Prudence songstress sings of memories lost, wrinkles gained, and the adventures that lie ahead in this charming ballad.

“The idea for the song came to me when an elderly man, who was sitting behind me on a bus, recited the prayer for the first 40 minutes of the trip,” Mariah explained. “I thought there must be a story behind that.”

“Hail Mary” is the second single lifted from Mariah’s forthcoming debut album Counting Sheep, set to drop on May 25. She’s playing a few shows around Victoria in the coming months; catch her at the following gigs.

11 May 2018 – Gold Dust Lounge, Bendigo
26 May 2018 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne
27 May 2018 – Taproom, Castlemaine
2 June 2018 – Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo
Saturday 16 June – Martian’s Cafe, Dean’s Marsh
Sunday 17 June – The Door Gallery Cafe, Geelong
Saturday 30 June – The Kilmore Celtic Festival, Kilmore

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliza Hull Releases Strong Single, “Hard Way”

Castlemaine-based songstress Eliza Hull has always impressed me with her passion. She doesn’t write songs that simply sound good; they get right underneath my skin and speak to my heart. New single “Hard Way” is another knockout from this talented singer-songwriter.

“It’s about letting go of someone who wanted to change you, and realising that you don’t have to hold onto that person, you can learn from the experience and move on, in a sense it’s about self-love and acceptance,” Eliza explained.

“Hard Way” has a great raw, honest energy about it, which might come because it was recorded live with the band. I love the way it all comes together, with Eliza’s voice and the musicians so perfectly in sync.

“Hard Way” comes from Eliza’s forthcoming EP How We Disappeared, due out in the middle of the year.

Eliza will launch “Hard Way” with a show at Melbourne’s The Penny Black on June 22 followed by an appearance at the Oxford Art Factory Gallery in Sydney the following night, June 23.

Image used with permission from Rare Finds

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Village Release Rocking New Single “Say It Now”

I’m not one for mornings or Mondays and this one seems to have hit me harder than most. It’s one of those days where you need a little encouragement to get fired up and on with the day. Thank god for Melbourne rockers South Village and their new single “Say It Now.”

These guys formed back in 2014, and that experience shows. The track has a confidence about it that calls to mind acts like The Smiths and Buffalo Tom. There’s a classic feel to the music, with influences worn proudly without sounding copycat.

Say It Now” is available now through all good digital outlets.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Pressure” Makes a Pop Gem For Georgia June

Sydney five-piece Georgia June is back with their new single “Pressure,” an irresistible slice of pop that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt pressured to choose a life path that wasn’t right for them.

“None of us ever want to be stuck in an office, yet I think when you’re young and trying to do music, everyone around you expects you to just be ‘realistic’ and have a backup plan of some sort,” explained the band’s eponymous frontwoman, Georgia June. “Which is why the video is set in a setting which we all are so scared of ending up in, just caving into what we should do and what’s expected. James Adams shot and edited the video, he created exactly what we had in our head and is always so on board with our ideas.”

This is such a fun track. It’s got a great retro sensibility that makes you want to reach for your hairbrush-microphone and take time for a dance break, no matter what you’re doing.

“Pressure” is set to appear on George June’s first full-length album later this year. They’ll play the Red Earth First Birthday Party at The Lady Hampshire in Camperdown on May 19.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fool Child Bring Back Summer Vibes With “Dance On Your Own”

British expats Scott Harrison and Matthew Green have clearly embraced Australian vibes since arriving on our shores and joining forces with our own Hannah Jackson and Callum Fitzpatrick.

While the Brits’ band Fool Child was originally a two-piece, their new single “Dance On Your Own” shows working as a quartet works well for them. The song has a cool beachy feel that has me feeling nostalgic for summer.

Fool Child will launch “Dance On Your Own” with a show at Collingwood’s Gasometer Hotel on May 16.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kiwi Expats Glencoe and Rory McKenna Join Forces for “Is This Home”

He might have been born in Christchurch, but now that Glencoe has made Melbourne home we’re happy to claim him, especially if the producer keeps making music as special as his latest single “Is This Home.”

The track features the talent of another Kiwi-born Melbourne-based artist Rory McKenna. It came together easily and was recorded in the spare room of Rory’s house, where Glencoe stayed when he moved to our shores.

“The song basically wrote itself,” Glencoe confirmed. “That day, Rory and I were having a conversation about how, where we come from, there is a very small minded mentality. When we attended high school together in 2010, the main message was that we could be anything we wanted to be, to reach for the stars and not let anything get in the way of our dreams. Yet when it came to the question of; what do you see yourself doing as a career? When given the reply, “a full time musician” we were laughed at, told that was a fantasy, that we need to get our heads out of the clouds and find a real, secure job. But here we are, living the dream together eight years later.”

“Is This Home” is available from your favourite digital stores now.

Image used with permission from The A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Kat O Army’s New Single Rocks

I have such a soft spot for angry female-fronted acts. Get fired up sisters and I’m there. So “I Don’t Wanna Fight” from Melbourne’s The Kat O Army has ticked all the boxes for me at the end of a very long week.

Frontwoman Kat O penned the track in just 10 minutes, purging all the emotions she felt after a trying 2017. It’s so raw, honest, and catchy as all get out. And isn’t it refreshing to hear music in our accent Aussies?

“I Don’t Wanna Fight” is available now from all your favourite digital outlets.

Image used with permission from A&R Records