Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Fishy About Neon Tetra’s New Single

Funky Adelaide outfit Neon Tetra are spreading good vibes with the release of their single “The End Begins Again.”

Taken from their forthcoming EP Pollen, “The End Begins Again” showcases the band’s commitment to feel-good music with infectious grooves. Josh Allen’s vocals seem to be able to go anywhere and that sax line is irresistible.

The music video sees Neon Tetra joining forces with Mickey Mason of Corduroy Productions.

“As soon as the music is ready, Mickey gets a first listen. Coming up with some wonderfully bizarre concepts that make the process a lot of fun. We’re big fans of his fresh produce,” the band said in the presser. “The music video is an expression of what the record is all about. Dancing, love and expressing yourself. Not taking life too seriously. The entire clip was shot on Super 8 film, creating a warming tone that ties in with the late ‘70s, early ‘80s pop feel of the release.”

Neon Tetra will celebrate the single’s release with the following shows, kicking off in their hometown this week.

5 May 2018 – Chateau Apollo, Adelaide
25 May 2018 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast
26 May 2018 – Netherworld, Brisbane
27 May 2018 – The Evelyn, Melbourne (MATINEE)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

CLIPPED Music Video Festival Heads to Redfern for Vivid

Vivid is always such an exciting time in Sydney, but with the arts festival celebrating its 10th year you can bet this one will be big. One of the highlights of the 2018 celebrations for music lovers is the CLIPPED Music Video Festival.

This unique event celebrates the past, present, and future of music videos through interactive exhibitions, competitions, live performances, VR explorations, and heaps more. Acclaimed music video director Jesse Kanda, known for his work with Björk, FKA Twigs, and Arca, will appear alongside out own Sarah Blasko, McLean Stephenson, and ABC Rage curator Tyson Koh.

“I’m so proud that CLIPPED is heading into our third year as part of Vivid Sydney. It’s a beautiful city and an amazing time to hold such a unique event, now well known for putting a spotlight on the best music videos from Australian & New Zealand.’ says CLIPPED Festival Director Sam Bright.

The CLIPPED Music Video Festival hits Carriageworks in Redfern on June 2. Tickets are availabl now from the CLIPPED Music Video Festival website.

Image used with permission from Inmocean; Photo credit: Kylie Coutts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Compares 2 Prince @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney – 27 April 2018

We’ve just passed the two-year anniversary of Prince’s passing. It doesn’t quite feel like that long, perhaps because his music hasn’t left me. While the CDs keep me company, it’s concerts like last week’s Nothing Compares 2 Prince show that really sustain me. Nights where I can spend time with the talented artists who loved Prince, who miss him as the fans I’m dancing with do.

After seeing New Power Generation last month, I was primed for this gig. Those guys were so good, surely adding members of The Time and The Family to the mix and staging it at the beautiful Sydney Opera House would only enhance the experience. I may also have benefitted from having tickets a bit closer to the stage. While we were dancing at the back of the Enmore Theatre last month, there’s nothing like being just a few rows back from the musicians, basking in their aura. And what musicians they were.

St Paul Peterson, who met Prince at 17 and fronted The Family, served as musical director and an anchor for the show. He was complemented so beautifully by Shelby J, a member of New Power Generation whose stunning voice and stage presence had us all in the palm of her hand. Andy Allo, who also spent time with NPG, was a revelation. I’d assumed we’d see the same NPG members as we did last month, but watching other members of this supergroup, being exposed to their talents, made this show special. And I must take a moment to mention those horns. While I enjoyed last month’s NPG show, having brass piped through the speakers was a letdown. With a three-piece brass section delivering that rich sound live, this show truly had the Minneapolis sound I craved.

I didn’t take a lot of photos because I spent the bulk of the show on my feet. There was no holding back, with big guns like “1999” and “I Want to Be Your Lover” coming out early. The set was full of so many hits, and those lesser known tracks that the true fans love. I was thrilled to hear many of the songs Prince penned for other artists too. Covers of “Manic Monday” and “Stand Back” reminded us of his immense body of work.

While most of the numbers had us dancing, there were also sombre moments for us to reflect on the impact Prince had made on all our lives. Fittingly many came from Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister. She was visibly choked up as she told us how much our love meant to Prince and as she sang his words. Her version of “The Ladder” took me to church and it was only right that she came back for the closer, “Purple Rain.” Shelby J’s performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” with St Paul Peterson, who sang lead on The Family’s original, was spine-tingling. The song that took me down was “Sometimes It Snows in April” though, performed so beautifully by NPG’s Cassandra O’Neal. I had only been talking in the intermission about how that song is the one that still makes me cry, and again I found myself wiping tears away as she delivered this beautiful ballad. The wonderful thing about Prince’s back catalogue though is that you’re never left crying for too long. He might be gone, but he’s left us with so many reasons to dance.

Nothing Compares 2 Prince was a fantastic tribute to one of the music world’s brightest stars. The advertisements told us the event wasn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Prince’s estate, but if he could communicate with us I have a feeling he’d give this show his tick of approval.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Nobody” – The Ruiins

I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, because it’s much more fun to listen to The Ruiins’ new EP Nobody than write about it. I’d have the best of intentions of putting my ideas down, but before long I was singing along to a chorus or grooving my body to the beat. When you’re lost in the music like that, you don’t want to analyse it. You just want to be.

Starting an EP with an instrumental intro is a bold choice, but it gives a great taste of what’s to come. Big driving drum beats, a tune that’s catchy as all get out. It tantalises us like a good entrée, making us salivate in anticipation for the main course.

The next song “Drowning” feels like a single already. It has such strong vocals delivering lyrics with heart, those big drums moving everything forward and encouraging us to tap our feet in time.

“Love Can Start a War” isn’t such a heavy hitter on the surface, with a gentler feel than the tracks that came before, but it packs a real emotional punch with powerful, gritty vocals. These vocals ensure tracks like this and “The Season,” the songs where the band eases their foot from the pedal just a little, never become background music.

It’s so hard to pick a favourite on such a quality collection of songs, but “Water & Waves” might just have the edge here. It’s got such a great summery feel with a hard-hitting sucker-punch of a chorus. It puts a big smile on my face every time.

Bands rarely save their lead singles to the end of an EP, but The Ruiins’ unconventional approach pays off here. I’ve already waxed lyrical about the quality of this song. The title track makes sure “Nobody” ends on a high, ensuring as a listener you feel so good about the EP that you want to press play again. And again. And again. Just six tracks has got me well and truly hooked on The Ruiins.

Nobody is available from all your favourite digital music providers now. The Ruiins will play some local shows to celebrate its release in June.

8 June 2018 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
9 June 2018 – The Union Hotel, Sydney
15 June 2018 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
16 June 2018 – The Pink Motel, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Who Collective

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Hard Expectations” – Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates

Hard Expectations is the third album from Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates. It’s been three years in the making, so the title track may be a commentary on how this tight soul outfit feel releasing some new music into the world. If there were nerves though, they don’t show. This is one of the best soul albums I’ve ever heard.

Soul music, real soul music, seems to be a dying art these days. Today what passes as soul seems to have vocal acrobatics and rap breaks. While musical evolution can be important and exciting, it’s refreshing to hear an album like this that takes a genre back to its roots. Listening to Hard Expectations, it’s easy to mistake it for a collection of covers. Its songs are the kind of songs I thought people don’t write anymore. However, in truth just two tracks aren’t original. Curtis Mayfield’s “Hard Times” and The Pointer Sisters “You Gotta Believe” sit comfortably along numbers penned by The Soul Mates and Mahalia’s longtime family friend Don Walker.

Opening track “Love is Fleeting” starts the album with a bang. There’s such a strength in this song. Love might be fleeting, but she’s going to get her man. There’s more strength in the Don Walker-penned “Hard Expectations,” a track which reminds a man that he needs to measure up and meet the standard.
After a few hard-hitting numbers, Mahalia and her band slow things down with “My Love.” There’s a gorgeous tenderness in this song. Her voice is complemented beautiful by the warm brass section and her superb backing vocalists.

“Shake Things Up” might be my favourite track on the album. It’s got such a great groove and a fantastic message about going your own way. “Three Times + I’m Gone” has such an infectious honky-tonk feel. I can imagine being in a smoky bar somewhere, seeing Mahalia and her band play this, and it sounding just like it does on the record. There’s such a spontaneous energy about what they’ve laid down here.

In truth I could tell you how good every single song is though. There are no filler tracks here. That’s unsurprising considering the level of talent in this band. Think Joe Bonamassa, Kirk Fletcher, Prinnie Stevens, and Jade McRae, to name but a few. And of course, the incomparable Mahalia Barnes. Its no coincidence her name is out front and centre. If there was any doubt about it, this album establishes Mahalia Barnes as one of the greatest soul voices in this country.

Hard Expectations is in stores now.

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RIP Paul Gray

I was saddened to wake up this morning to the news of Paul Gray’s passing. The Wa Wa Nee frontman lost his battle with myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

With his band Wa Wa Nee, Paul tore up the charts with tracks like “Stimulation” and “I Could Make You Love Me.” I wasn’t so familiar with his music at the time; my dad was more likely to blast Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil than ’80s pop. But I’ve seen him and his band countless times at various ’80s music celebrations. He was such a champion for the music of that era. He’d play a Wa Wa Nee set, but then settle in as part of the house band, a big smile on his face leaving no doubt about his excitement at playing cheesy 80s music with some of the biggest names in the business. Sometimes Wa Wa Nee didn’t even get a slot on the bill, but there he was. He didn’t need the spotlight; he just loved the music.

My husband snapped this photo at the Absolutely ’80s gig at the Enmore a few years back. That’s how I’m going to remember him: keytar strapped on, relishing the chance to play for fans who connected with this music as much as he did. Thanks for the memories Paul Gray.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fifth Dawn Explores Lucid Dreaming With “Defying Symmetry”

If you love Evanescence and Paramore, you’re going to love “Defying Symmetry,” the latest single from Western Sydney’s Fifth Dawn.

This is such an exciting track, with incredible vocals from Samantha Faul and instrumentation that manages to match her power. Samantha wrote the track after experiencing several lucid dreams.

“I was having a lot of lucid dreams at a point in my life due to various stressors, and with that came an unsettling, warped reality that became my constant dream state,” she explained. “In other words, I would often dream about things or settings in real life that would appear completely backwards when I would dream, and it was just so bizarre. That’s where I intended the music video to capture a lot of that imagination and feeling trapped within a dream.”

Fifth Dream have played shows with Hands Like Houses and Columbus, but they’re still waiting on that big break. Surely with songs like this under their belt, it’s only a matter of time.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Andrew Samuels Does It Again With “New India Times”

Last year Sydney-based singer-songwriter Andrew Samuel wowed me with his single “Luck Feels Good.” It’s taken some time for the follow-up, but “New India Times” is worth the wait.

This track has such a great lazy groove and all the heart and soul that won me over the first time I discovered Andrew’s music. The dirty guitar solo is also right on point.

“New India Times” comes from Andrew’s forthcoming EP Enmore Road. Listen and fall in love!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“All Worthwhile” – Figurehead

The members of Fremantle band Figurehead might be fresh out of high school, but they’ve just released their second EP All Worthwhile.

This collection of songs has all the passion and enthusiasm you’d expect from a bunch of teens. While this is their second EP, these guys are still delightfully rough around the edges. Acts with indie pop-punk leanings shouldn’t have too much polish though. I think their rawness is one of their strengths.

This is a band who writes about what they know. They’re young guys, so it’s only fitting that their song of heartbreak opening the EP is about a cancelled bus route, not a woman.

Tracks like “Ear to Lend” and “Fade” explore relationships in the way only teens can. I felt a sense of nostalgia listening to these songs about navigating those complex couplings and figuring people and their true motivations out.

“Suits” might be my favourite track on All Worthwhile. It’s got such an infectious energy about it. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to dance like no one is watching.

The whole EP is solid stuff though, the kind of recording that hints at big things from these guys. They’re a little green right now, but they’ve got considerable charm and a massive future ahead.

All Worthwhile is available now from all your favourite digital outlets.

Image used with permission from Jared King PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MOBS Celebrate the ’80s With “Some Kind of Wonderful”

Melbourne band MOBS take us right back to the ‘80s with their new synth-driven pop single “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

The track is a homage to John Hughes’ underrated romantic teen film of the same name.

“It’s a story about not realising that sometimes the things we most want or need are right in front of us,” says guitarist, Michael Ashfield.

As a fan of all things John Hughes and the music of the 1980s, “Some Kind of Wonderful” is right up my alley. Critics might say MOBS are stuck in the past, but when it sounds this good, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment