Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aurelia Kicks Butt With “Are We Losing”

Most singers rely on musicians to support their vocals. But not Aurelia, who uses the sound of her own martial arts practice as the background for her new single “Are We Losing.” It’s a fitting way to combine the passions of this musical songstress who competes in martial arts at an international level.

Listening to the track, it’s so easy to forget that the background music is a woman working out. It’s unique, sure, but it sounds far more beautiful than anything I’ve heard in a gym! Aurelia’s layered the sound of her training with her own vocal samples to create a really wonderful soundscape. I also love Aurelia’s voice. It has such a special, hypnotic tone which also helps set this song apart.

“Recording the Are We Losing demo was a pivotal experience for me of how magical I think making music should feel,” she explained. “This, and the fact that Are We Losing is essentially about freedom and abandon, lead me to the realisation that I’m free to release whatever I want, so I am.”

After discovering such an original single from Aurelia, I can’t wait to hear what she surprises us with next!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bliss N Eso Unseat Ed Sheeran on the ARIA Albums Charts

It seemed like mission impossible, but Bliss N Eso have triumphed where many acts have failed and unseated Ed Sheeran from the top of the ARIA charts. The hip hop act’s latest album Off the Grid has claimed the number one spot on debut.

Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole’s latest collaboration, The Great Country Songbook Vol. II, has also made an impressive showing in its first week. It sits at number six, just ahead of Mark Vincent’s A Tribute to Mario Lanza.

Where are the Aussies in the singles charts though? Despite some great local releases in recent weeks, the best we can manage is Dean Lewis at number 14!

Top 10 Albums
1. Off the Grid – Bliss N Eso
2. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 – Soundtrack
4. Humanz – Gorillaz
5. DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar
6. The Great Country Songbook Vol. II – Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole
7. A Tribute to Mario Lanza – Mark Vincent
8. Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 – Soundtrack
9. 25 – Adele
10. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars

Top 10 Singles
1. “I’m The One” – DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne
2. “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
3. “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar
4. “Galway Girl” – Ed Sheeran
5. “Symphony” – Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson
6. “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” – Shawn Mendes
7. “Something Just Like This” – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
8. “Stay” – Zedd feat. Alessia Cara
9. “Sign of the Times” – Harry Styles
10. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

TAD App Gets Video Update

Way back in 2015 I wrote about TAD, a cool app which made it easy for musicians to create their own cover art. Technology has evolved at such a rapid pace since then, so TAD’s creators have updating the app with video functionality.

Now artists can use TAD to create awesome video content and add it to their Facebook profiles. Video content is a great way to announce gigs, tease your latest album, take fans into the studio, and heaps more. TAD also lets you brand these videos with you logo, text, and other design elements.

In time the indie musicians behind TAD hope their program will help fellow musos create online video album cover art. Video album covers might not be a thing yet, but folks working in tech always have to be thinking about the next big thing.

If you haven’t discovered TAD, there’s no better time!

Image used with permission from Apps for Musicians

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Gold Mess” – Elli Schoen

I absolutely love finding strong, relatable female voices. One of the latest to strike a chord with me is Elli Schoen, a singer-songwriter from Fremantle who’s just released her new EP Gold Mess.

The EP explores themes of growing up and moving on, whether it’s from romantic relationships in “Hard Heart” or from the family home in “Mumma.” I especially love the EP’s title track and our introduction to the EP, “Gold Mess.” Its lyrics about attraction that’s wrong despite feeling so right should resonate with most listeners.

Elli has such a beautiful, rich tone that sounds even stronger with the heavy drum beats that drive these tracks forward. She also knows how to pen a lyric that’s poetic, yet instantly accessible to the listener. In just four tracks, she’s won me over.

Gold Mess is out now. Elli Schoen is currently touring the recording. You can still catch her at the following shows.

6 May 2017 – The Firestation, Busselton
11 May 2017 – The Astor Theatre, s/ Tash Sultana
20 May 2017 – Babushka, s/ Airling
21 May 2017 – Mojos Bar, s/ Airling
25 May 2017 – The Marly Bar, Sydney
26 May 2017 – Bistroteque, Brisbane
27 May 2017 – The Worker’s Club, Melbourne
5 June 2017 – State of the Art Festival, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Motel” – Emilee South

I discovered Emilee South last year when she released her Halloween single “Howl.” I loved her sultry vocals and the song’s dirty, bluesy feel. There are more stunning vocals and vintage sounds with the release of Emilee’s new album, Motel.

Motel opens with a bold, rockabilly number “My Baby (Don’t Return My Calls).” This track is rollicking good fun and a wonderful way to set the stage for this retro-inspired album. The latest single “Old Flame” feels like pure vintage country. I could imagine it easily slipping into the set of Patsy Cline or Rosemary Clooney. “Howl” makes even more sense when it’s here beside its companion songs.

Emilee South is an old soul with a handle on classic rock, country, and soul sounds, but there’s also something fresh about what she does. The lyrics have a little bit more bite than the vintage-inspired music she was clearly influenced by. She’s no shy violet or damsel in distress, as she reminds us in songs like “Watch Out” and “Bad Things I Do.”

Motel drops on May 11. Emilee will launch the album with a show at The Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood on May 13.

Image used with permission from Emilee South

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Warren Fu Speaking at CLIPPED for Vivid

With so much going on in Sydney for Vivid over the next couple of months, it can be difficult to figure out exactly how you’ll spend your time. If you only attend one event though, I suggest you make it CLIPPED, a music video festival returning as part of the Vivid Ideas program.

You’ll get to see some of the best Australian and New Zealand music videos and attend workshops, but the real drawcard for me is a keynote speech from visionary American music video director Warren Fu. This guy has created mindblowing clips for the likes of Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, and the Strokes. If his name doesn’t ring a bell, check out this video on the CLIPPED Facebook page for a refresher.

CLIPPED is at SUNSTUDIOS on Saturday June 3. Tickets are available now through the Vivid website.

Image used with permission via Inmocean

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Save the Date for Red Deer

Brisbane’s favourite BYO “booze and couch” event, the Red Deer Music & Arts Festival, is gearing up for a big seventh year this October.

There’s bound to be a little Bowie influence in this year’s Space Oddity theme. With a third stage celebrating the talents of regional and emerging artists, there’ll also be more live music than ever. The line-up will be announced in a month or so, but with acts like Art vs Science, The Grates, Regurgitator, and Clare Bowditch playing in previous years you know it’ll be good. You’ll also see unique art installations and an immersive camping experience. I’m not a camper, but that sounds just interesting enough to change my stance.

“Red Deer is basically a house party at your mate’s place, except your mate lives on 40 acres of pristine grazing land beneath the rolling hills of the D’Aguilar Range,” explained festival co-founder Bas Pelly. “Instead of listening to an awful playlist on your mate’s iPod, you’ll boogie to an exciting and eclectic mix of emerging acts from around the country while you sip your BYO bevvie of choice, on your BYO couch, while you ponder which food truck’s menu you’ll explore first.

The Red Deer Music & Arts Festival hits Mount Samson on Saturday October 14. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite.

Image used with permission from Pompadour PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Floating in the Darkness” – Thomas Oliver

Ordinarily Kiwis move to Australia and we claim them as our own. Rarely do we lose Australian talents to the nation “across the ditch,” but that’s the case with Aussie-born New Zealand-based musician Thomas Oliver. He might not call Australia home any more, but he’s making music so special I think he still deserves a place on Sounds of Oz. His album “Floating in the Darkness” has just dropped, and it’s a real stunner.

He drew me in with the first song “Tenderly.” Its immediately accessible with a laidback, sexy groove. The sensual sounds continue with “Shine Like the Sun,” an intimate song that totally charmed me. I also fell for “Budapest is Beautiful,” a delicate track about appreciating a new city but feeling wistful because you’re not there with a loved one.

Thomas is an artist who shines in quiet moments. Songs like “Losin'” and the closer, “Tell Me Something New” are stripped back, with just an acoustic guitar and a voice, but they are some of the most powerful tracks on the album.

Floating in the Darkness gets you in with soulful hooks but settles into a gentler place. Some people might relegate it to background music, but it’s an album worth staying engaged with. Thomas Oliver has such a wonderful sound, from his husky low tones to his killer falsetto. He reminds me musically of a few artists I really admire, Ben Harper and Amos Lee. Floating in the Darkness might be a slow burn for some music lovers, but I think it’s a pretty special release.

See Thomas Oliver promoting Floating in the Darkness at the following shows.

7 June 2017 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
9 June 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
10 June 2017 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne
11 June 2017 – Leadbelly, Sydney
Thursday 15 June – Babushka, Leederville WA

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

From Cruise Ships to Aussie Pubs: Meet Hunter deBlanc

I love so many things about cruising: alcoholic beverage packages, afternoon trivia, and having the freedom to do as much or as little as you like. I also love discovering talented musicians on board. The latest to catch my attention is Hunter deBlanc, who I’ve had the pleasure of checking out on my last two cruises on the Pacific Jewel. He hails from New Orleans, but he embraced Aussie tunes and delighted the masses in the Orient Bar with his stellar piano renditions of tracks from John Farnham, The Angels, and Daryl Braithwaite, to name a few. My husband and I were also thrilled with his knowledge of our favourite ’90s tunes. In amongst the covers, if you were lucky, he’d play one of his incredible original songs.

Which brings me to the point of this post. His contract on the Jewel is coming to a close, but he’s had such a blast with Australian audiences he’s already planning a return visit to play pub gigs in Melbourne, Sydney, and Newcastle. I’ll be sure to bring you the dates once they’re announced, but I just wanted to put him on your radar with my favourite of his originals, “California Orleans.”

Enjoy!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Deni Hines is Back With “I Got Your Back”

When I was growing up, Deni Hines seemed to be everywhere. If she wasn’t burning up the charts with her band The Rockmelons she was taking the stage by storm in musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar. However, like so many icons of the 90s, she seemed to fade from the music scene, popping up only occasionally on reality TV. I’m so glad to see her back doing what she’s best at with a brand new single “I Got Your Back,” a cut from her November album The Soul Sessions.

While much of the album features covers of the soul songs that shaped her own sound, “I Got Your Back” is an original song Deni penned with Clive Young and Damian Smith about the hardships she saw people in her life facing. The music video, directed by award-winning filmmaker Dean Francis, features Deni bathed in projection mapping images and backgrounds including photos from her trips to Africa supporting the Oasis Africa Foundation.

It’s such a welcome return to form and a real reminder that Deni is one of the greatest soul singers we’ve produced.