Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gareth Jay Tackles Alcoholism With “The Fox & The Rabbit”

Gareth Jay has floored me with his incredibly beautiful new single “The Fox & The Rabbit.”

This gorgeous song, featuring British drummer Ben Hooper, explores the theme of alcohol dependency in a poetic and profoundly moving way. I love the way the delicate fingerpicking guitar mimics the interplay between the metaphorical fox and rabbit. This is truly special stuff.

“For people that suffer from alcoholism, there is an ever present want for alcohol even though you know what the outcome will be. Similar to a rabbit attracted to the chase of a fox. There’s a risk at play there. That fundamentally the rabbit will succumb to the fox’s vicious objective, but the rabbit still wants to take the risk. To chase to see if he can escape this time,” Gareth, who co-wrote the song with his wife, explained.

Are you as impressed with this song as I am readers?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Asta Gets Us Pumped For the Weekend With Dance-Pop Gem

The weekend is finally here! To put you in the mood, wrap your ears around the delightful dance-pop stylings of “Doin’ What You Want,” the latest track from Asta.

“Doin’ What You Want is about never giving up. It’s about acceptance also and being the person you were born to be, never being afraid of your identity and sexuality because they are what make us who we are,” Asta explained. “Screw judgment and fear, just keep doing what you’re doing, the universe has got your back.”

“Doin’ What You Want” is the latest track lifted from Asta’s Shine EP, which is out now.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Patrick McKinney Hits a Home Run With “Want You to Know”

It’s probably no secret that while I love an eclectic range of music, there’s something about modern folk that really moves me. So I was thrilled to hear “Want You to Know,” the debut single from Queanbeyan singer-songwriter Patrick McKinney.

This song is so raw and honest. It really got me in the heart. It builds from a simple strumming acoustic guitar to a symphony of sound that’s big but not overblown or overproduced. The lyrics, which speak of moving through life and the trials it can bring, really speak to me.

Take a listen to this one. You won’t be disappointed.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kings of Cough Syrup Impress With “Take Me Out”

After honing their musical talents in other bands, Hamish and Nick, two pals from the suburbs of Melbourne, have joined forces as Kings of Cough Syrup. The name might be new, but bonding over music isn’t for this pair.

“Nick was the first person I shared music with,” Hamish reminisced. “Before Nick, there was only me in a bedroom, fumbling a few chords on one of my dad’s guitars. We would have only been 13 or 14 years old; even then Nick, as he has always done, and continues to do, brought a uniting vision. It was obvious immediately; Nick’s talent dwarfed mine, and that of anyone else we played with. Nick could hear things no one else could hear, play things no one else could play, though most importantly; he was the one who was able to arrange any musical rabble into something inspiring. And, so it has been through out our lives; Kings of Cough Syrup is no different.”

Kings of Cough Syrup has just released a sublime new single “Take Me Out” which hints at the good things to come. It’s a delicate track, subtle and honest that really draws you in. “Take Me Out” is the first track lifted from Kings of Cough Syrup’s self-titled debut EP, which drops on April 21.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Polish Club Rocks Its Way Around Oz for Album Tour

Fresh from performances at the St. Kilda Festival and The Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, Polish Club is set to rock stages across the country to promote the release of the highly anticipated debut album Alright Already.

The album, which drops on March 31, features the latest single “Come Party.” It feels like an instant pub rock classic and has a film clip that’s set to impress anyone who likes looking at beautiful women. They’re gorgeous!

Polish Club’s headlining tour mid-year is their biggest to date, so if you’re a fan there should be no excuse for missing it.

5 May 2017 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
6 May 2017 – Narara Festival, Kariong
11 May 2017 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
12 May 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
13 May 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
19 May 2017 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
20 May 2017 – Amplifier, Perth
25 May 2017 – The Foundry, Brisbane
26 May 2017 – Elsewhere, Gold Coast
27 May 2017 – Big Pineapple Festival, Woombye
1 June 2017 – The Transit Bar, Canberra
2 June 2017 – Workers Club, Geelong
3 June 2017 – The Corner, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jazz Party Knocks It Out of the Park With “Talking in Your Sleep”

Melbourne band Jazz Party has taken me back to a 1930s speakeasy with the soulful new single “Talking In Your Sleep.”

The song is the perfect combination of soul and jazz, with on-point vocals from Loretta Miller and an irresistible old school feel. I love the way it builds from this demure little thing to a heartbreaking climax. You just try to resist this.

If you like what you hear, make sure you get out and see Jazz Party launching the single with shows around Victoria this month.

11 March 2017 – Golden Plains Festival, Meredith
24 March 2017 – Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine
31 March 2017 – Howler, Brunswick
1 April 2017 – By the Meadow, Bambra

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ILUKA Tours “Blue My Soul” EP

ILUKA’s “Blue Jean Baby” was one of my favourite songs of 2016. Good news is there’s more where that came from; ILUKA’s sophomore EP Blue My Soul is out now and available through a number of channels including iTunes and Spotify. The EP was mostly self-produced and tracked to tape as a live band at Linear Recording Studios in Sydney, giving it a real spontaneous, raw feel.

ILUKA is soon ready to take all the songs from Blue My Soul to the masses with a tour around the East Coast. Check her out at the following venues.

16 March 2017 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
17 March 2017 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
18 March 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
30 March 2017 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
31 March 2017 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
1 April 2017 – The Workers Club, Geelong
7 April 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
8 April 2017 – Hudson Ballroom, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Lee-Richards Updates “Madness” With “What Could Otherwise Be Had”

Last year Melbourne-based musician Tom Lee-Richards captured my heart with his single “Madness.” He’s now reinvented this track, dubbing it “What Could Otherwise Be Had.”

The lyrics that originally drew me in remain intact, but the treatment is so strikingly different. Working with Tony Espie (The Avalanches), Tom has laid down a live acapella loop with retro synths and quirky mouth-percussion.

Take a listen to this, then check out my original post to see where the song started its journey. It’s so exciting to see Tom evolving as an artist, so I can’t wait to see what’s to come with his debut EP drops later this year.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Ocean” – Xander Holmes

He hasn’t even graduated from high school yet, but already Brisbane teen Xander Holmes is creating the kind of songs that musicians many years his senior would be proud of. His debut EP Ocean is an epic release made up of five tracks set to excite fans of artists like Matt Corby and Jeff Buckley.

Opening song and title track “Ocean” is an anthemic song that builds to a stirring crescendo. “My Will” and “Islands” are two of the strongest songs on the recording, in my opinion, with Xander’s dreamy vocals showing they’re up to the task, whether they’re contrasting with the urgent wailings of an electric guitar or keeping time with a driving drum beat. “Tidal” is an exquisite, atmospheric instrumental. A real master stroke. The closing track “Let There Be Light” is perhaps the EP’s most accessible song, a romantic piano ballad that really speaks to the heart. It’s much more stripped back than the other songs, yet for a track that speaks of love the way this one does I think the gentler touch works.

I love Xander’s voice and the way he’s built such beautiful soundscapes that complement it perfectly. Ocean is an accomplished EP that gives listeners a glimpse at a potential superstar of the future. It’s available now on a range of digital channels including iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Monet Gets Sentimental in “Nobody’s Wrong”

Monet isn’t just the name of one of the art world’s most revered painters. It’s also the moniker of one of Brisbane’s most exciting new musicians. He’s just dropped his second single “Nobody’s Wrong,” a stripped back and passionate ballad exploring the difficulties of love.

“This song is written for those who have had a broken heart, and also for those who are going through the ‘We don’t talk any more, but we still care about each other’ phase,” he explained.

This is top notch stuff from this Chinese-born talent.